Issue - meetings

RESOLVED to defer the decision for the following reason(s):

·       As the majority of Members on the Committee had indicated that they were minded to refuse the application, it was agreed to defer a final decision to a future Committee meeting in order to enable a further report to be provided addressing the indicative reasons outlined as the basis for refusal, including:

i)               insufficient provision of affordable housing;

ii)              insufficient parking provision on site and impact of congestion on surrounding streets;

iii)            lack of community space;

iv)            lack of on-site play space for older children;

v)             insufficient provision of family sized housing;

vi)            harm to neighbouring amenity including loss of daylight; and

vii)           impact on non-designated heritage asset and character to the streetscene.

Voting on the above decision was unanimous and accordingly, the application was deferred to allow for further assessment and consideration of the matters identified by the Committee.

PROPOSAL

Demolition of existing buildings to provide within buildings of between 3 and 6 storeys, 108 residential units (Use Class C3) and car parking spaces together with associated public realm, landscaping and highway improvements, cycle parking and stores, and all other associated and ancillary works.

RECOMMENDATION

That the Committee resolve to GRANT planning permission subject to:

(1)           The prior completion of a satisfactory legal agreement; and

(2)           The conditions and informatives, as set out in the committee report.

Gary Murphy (Principal Planning Officer) introduced the report, advising members that the application sought full planning permission for the demolition of the existing Old Wembley Hospital buildings on the site, along with the former Ambulance Station and to redevelop the site to provide replacement residential buildings ranging from 3 to 6 storeys comprising of;

• 108 dwellings (99 flats and 9 houses);
• Which include 11 affordable homes (all at London Affordable Rent level);
• New public realm, including landscaped publicly accessible pedestrian route connecting Chaplin Road and Fairview Avenue;
• Outdoor amenity space, including private balconies, terraces, communal courtyard, and children’s play space;
• Associated landscaping, including new trees; and
• Vehicle parking and cycle parking spaces

Attention was also drawn to the supplementary report circulated in advance of the meeting, which noted the receipt of a further representation from Councillor Lorber, together with the officers’ responses. The recommendation remained to grant planning permission, subject to the conditions and informatives set out within the main committee report, together with the prior completion of a satisfactory s106 legal agreement.

The Chair thanked Gary Murphy for introducing the report. As there were no Committee questions raised at this point, the Chair then moved on to consider a request which had been received to speak on the application and invited Sylwester Zabielski (who had registered to speak as an objector) to address the Committee in relation to the application, who highlighted the following points:

• Sylwester Zabielski began by stating that he and his partner had purchased their property at 15 Fairview Avenue approximately 6 years ago, having regarded it as their long-term forever home.

• The property was described as a 2 storey red brick bungalow situated at the end of Fairview Avenue and adjoining the rear of the former Old Wembley Hospital site. It was stated that the property's features included its natural light, convenient location, relative tranquility, and the privacy afforded to both the dwelling and its garden.

• The speaker objected to the proposed development of the semi-detached houses that were designed to replace the parking lot at the back of the Old Wembley Hospital, specifically the construction of 4 dwellings which, in his view, would result in irreversible harm to the levels of daylight, sunlight and privacy currently enjoyed.

• The objector stated that both their dwelling and a garden outbuilding would be adversely affected by the proposed development and raised 3 principal concerns:

1)    Firstly, Sylwester Zabielski described the kitchen as the heart of his home, being used for dining, entertaining guests and daily living activities. It was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4