Agenda, decisions and minutes

None.

None.

Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, the nature and existence of any relevant disclosable pecuniary or personal interests in the items on this agenda and to specify the item(s) to which they relate.

Councillor Rajan Seelan declared a personal interest in relation to Agenda Item 5 (23/3021 - 291 Kenton Road, Harrow, HA3 0HQ) as he lived in an adjacent road to the application site address.

Councillor Rajan-Seelan declared a declared a personal interest in relation to Agenda Item 5 (23/3021 - 291 Kenton Road, Harrow, HA3 0HQ) as he lived in an adjacent road to the application site address.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 13 December 2023 as a correct record of the meeting.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 13 December 2023 be approved as a correct record of the meeting.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 13 December 2023 be approved as a correct record of the meeting.

Refused planning permission on the basis that the Committee felt the application did not meet a Brent housing need, and the proposal resulted in a poor quality of accommodation due to lack of dual aspect units; and the scheme’s limited benefits did not adequately outweigh the harm caused by the scheme.

PROPOSAL

Change of use of part of ground floor, 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors from student accommodation, change of use of 1st floor retail storage, erection of extension at 2nd floor level and erection of 2 storey extension to create a co-living scheme (45 units - Use Class Sui Generis) including communal kitchen/lounges on 1st, 2nd and 3rd floor levels, creation of communal courtyard on 1st floor level and common area on ground and 1st floor levels with minor alterations to the ground floor to accommodate cycle parking and refuse facilities and replacement double glazed timber sash windows.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Committee resolve to GRANT planning permission subject to:

(1)        The prior completion of a legal agreement to secure the planning obligations detailed in the Committee report.

(2)        The Head of Planning being delegated authority to negotiate the legal agreement detailed in the Committee report.

(3)        The Head of Planning being delegated authority to issue the planning permission and impose the conditions and informatives as detailed in the report.

(4)        The Head of Planning being delegated authority to make changes to the wording of the committee’s decision (such as to delete, vary or add conditions, informatives, planning obligations or reasons for the decision) prior to the decision being actioned, provided that the Head of Planning is satisfied that any such changes could not reasonably be regarded as deviating from the overall principle of the decision reached by the committee nor that such change(s) could reasonably have led to a different decision having been reached by the committee.

Neil Quinn, Principal Planning Officer, South Team, introduced the report and set out the key issues. In introducing the report, members were advised that the application sought a change of use from the existing student accommodation to provide 45 co-living units, including the creation of communal kitchens and lounges, internal amenity space including a cinema, gym, and workspace at ground floor level. The site did not contain any listed buildings; however, it was located within the Harlesden Conservation Area and the Harlesden Neighbourhood Area.

The Committee’s attention was drawn to the supplementary report that detailed some minor amendments to the main report, with members having noted that no further comments or objections had been received.

The Chair thanked Neil Quinn for introducing the report. As there were no Committee questions raised at this point, the Chair invited the first speaker Colin George, Trustee of the Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum, to address the Committee (online) in relation to the application.

The following key points were highlighted:

·             The Forum was broadly supportive of the application, however had concerns in relation to the operational impact of the development and the lack of engagement between the developers and the Neighbourhood Forum.

·             The Forum was concerned that the size of the development could have an operational impact in terms of waste disposal and fly tipping. The Forum sought assurances that all tenancy agreements would include instructions not to place waste outside on the pavement and to use all communal  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Granted planning permission subject to the conditions and informatives as set out in the Committee report.

PROPOSAL

Proposed two storey side extension, first floor rear extension, hip to gable roof extension and rear dormer window with 4x front rooflights, front porch and replacement of rear extension door and window with new door for proposed conversion of dwellinghouse into 4x self-contained flats with associated refuse and cycle storage and subdivision of rear garden.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Committee resolve to GRANT planning permission subject to:

(1)        The Head of Planning being delegated authority to issue the planning permission and impose conditions and informatives as detailed in the report.

Jeanne Gleize, Senior Planning Officer, North Area Planning Team, introduced the report and set out the key issues. In introducing the report members were advised that the proposal sought the conversion of a dwellinghouse into 4x self-contained flats with a proposed two storey side extension, first floor rear extension, hip to gable roof extension and rear dormer window with 4x front rooflights, front porch and replacement of rear extension door and window with new door, associated refuse and cycle storage and subdivision of rear garden. The site was not located within a conservation area, nor did it contain any listed buildings.

The Committee noted the existing dwellinghouse was currently undergoing building works that included a ground floor rear extension.

The Chair thanked Jeanne Gleize for introducing the report, as there were no speakers registered to address the Committee on the application, the Chair invited the Committee to ask officers any questions or points of clarification they had in relation to the application. The Committee raised queries in relation to car parking, the separation boundary distance and the proposed development’s footprint.

The following responses were provided:

·             Following a Committee query in relation to the increased demand the development could have on parking spaces, the Committee was assured that the small size of the scheme was unlikely to cause any significant issues, with predicted overspill from the scheme equating to one parking space.

·             A further discussion took place, with the suggestion that if a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) was introduced in the area in the future, that a condition was added to remove the right for residents of the new development to obtain a parking permit.  Having sought members views, on balance the Committee felt that this would not be necessary, given the limited predicated impact from the proposed development.

·             It was clarified that the proposed 2-storey side extension would still leave a 1 metre distance to the neighbouring boundary line.

·             Following a query in relation to the footprint of the proposed development, officers confirmed that the proposed development would be mainly within the existing footprint, with the additional wraparound extension.

As there were no further questions from members and having established that all members had followed the discussions, the Chair asked members to vote on the recommendations.

DECISION:

Granted planning permission subject to the conditions and informatives as set out in the Committee report.

(Voting on the above decision was unanimous)

Notice of items to be raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Head of the Chief Executive and Member Services or her representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 60.

None.

None.