Issue - meetings

Granted planning permission subject to:

(1)        The application’s referral to the Mayor of London (Stage 2 referral) and the prior completion of a legal agreement to secure the planning obligations as detailed in the main and updated within the supplementary committee reports.

(2)    The conditions and informatives, as detailed in the main and amended within the supplementary committee reports.

PROPOSAL

Demolition of the existing building and redevelopment of the site with a residential-led (Use Class C3) building with flexible commercial/community floorspace (Use Class E/F) at ground level; new basement excavation; cycle stores and blue badge parking; refuse stores and plant rooms/equipment; hard and soft landscaping including part-naturalisation of the Wealdstone Brook; new play space; and all associated engineering and ancillary works.

RECOMMENDATION

That the Committee resolve to GRANT planning permission subject to:

(1)  Stage 2 referral to the Mayor of London along with the prior completion of a satisfactory s106 legal agreement to secure the planning obligations as detailed within the report; and

(2)  The conditions and informatives as set out in the main Committee report.

Sean Newton (Development Management Planning Manager) introduced the planning application committee report, detailing the proposal to demolish the existing College of North West London building and the erection of two mixed-use linked blocks, A and B, which would be respectively 31 and 18 stories (including mezzanine level). The eastern part of the site which fronts Olympic Way would contain the tallest block, Block A. The development would provide 307 residential units (Use Class C3) along with flexible commercial/community use at ground level (Use Class E/F2), basement excavation, shared external amenity space, blue badge parking, cycle parking, refuse stores, plant rooms/equipment, and hard and soft landscaping including the part naturalisation of Wealdstone Brook, a Grade II SINC.

Attention was drawn to the supplementary report, detailing amendments to the main report, additions, corrections and clarifications to the heads of terms. The recommendation remained to grant consent subject to the additional and amended heads of terms, and stage 2 referral to GLA as contained in the main committee report. 

The Chair thanked Sean Newton for introducing the report. As there were no Committee questions raised at this point, the Chair then invited Terry Gamble (who had registered to speak as the applicant’s representative) to address the Committee in relation to the application, who highlighted the following points:

• The high-quality design was believed to complement the Wembley area and respond to the height and style of the surrounding buildings.

• Despite the constraints of the site, it was noted that Hill Group had managed to retain and improve the existing open space, providing a new residential garden for all residents and achieving an Urban Greening Factor of 0.45.

• The scheme included new public realm developments, designed in collaboration with Secured by Design, The Football Association (FA), and the Metropolitan Police. These measures aimed to ensure safety and protection during stadium events, preventing a through route from Wembley Park Drive to Olympic Way, while maintaining resident access.

• The development would utilise high-performance building fabrics and air source heat pumps for heating, cooling, and hot water. Additionally, over 90% of the apartments would be dual aspect.

• The importance of delivering meaningful social value through the enabling development approach. The combined social value across both application sites included:

Ø  Over 110 apprenticeships

Ø  Over 155 local job starts

Ø  20% local  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5