Agenda and minutes
Venue: Committee Room 4, Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley, HA9 9HD. View directions
Contact: Joe Kwateng, Democratic Services Officer 020 8937 1354, Email: joe.kwateng@brent.gov.uk
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Declarations of personal and prejudicial interests Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, any relevant financial or other interest in the items on this agenda. Minutes: None declared. |
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Minutes of the previous meeting PDF 112 KB Minutes: RESOLVED:-
that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 13 February 2013 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting. |
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Wembley Area Action Plan - Publication and Submission PDF 3 MB This report provides a summary of the consultation responses, explains the main changes that are being proposed to the draft Wembley Area Action Plan and recommends that the Plan be published on 25 March and made available for comment for 6 weeks. It is also recommended that it be submitted for examination subject to Full Council approval.
I have printed the appendices to the report (in black and white) separately and sent to members only. Spare copies will be available at the meeting for inspection. Members are advised to use your iPads to access the colour version of the appendices which are available only on the internet. Minutes: This report provided a summary of the consultation responses, explained the main changes being proposed to the draft Wembley Area Action Plan and recommended that the Plan be published on 25 March and made available for comment for 6 weeks.
Ken Hullock, Head of Planning and Transport Strategy in setting out the background stated that the reasons for producing the Area Action Plan (AAP) derived from the need to update and provide clarity to, the UDP policy, particularly the Wembley Regeneration Area chapter taking account of changing circumstances. It was a logical step in drawing up the folder of Development Plan Documents (DPDs) that would make up the borough’s development plan and ultimately supersede the UDP. The AAP also consolidated detailed policy and guidance currently contained in a number of documents, including the Wembley Masterplan 2009, the Wembley link SPD 2011 and the Wembley West End SPD 2008.
The Head of Planning and Transport Strategy continued that the Council had undertaken a series of public consultation on the AAP including the draft Plan, Preferred Options. These followed wide publicity including online, advertisement in the local press, Brent Magazine, road shows in Wembley Central Square, libraries, One Stop Shops. In addition, drop-in sessions were held at the Town Hall and in a shop unit at Wembley Triangle.
He drew members’ attention to the summary of responses to the consultation which generated 240 comments in total and for which reasons it was proposed that the Plan be amended. He also drew members’ attention to the timetable for progressing the Area Action Plan and Development Management DPD as set out in the report from the Assistant Director of Planning and Development.
In reference to the vision and objectives for Wembley, Councillor Hashmi stated that the reduction of car parking spaces was likely to have adverse impact on retail function of the area. He also pointed out that affordable housing provision was inadequate to meet the growing demand in the Borough.
The Head of Planning and Transport Strategy responded that the target was to achieve approximately 50% of housing development as affordable housing however, delivery of affordable housing was also based on viability of each scheme. In respect of parking provisions, he submitted that whilst parking provision in the stadium area had been reduced it had been counter-balanced by improvements to public transport network in the area in particular, Wembley Stadium, Wembley Park and Wembley Central stations. This view was also echoed by Councillor Singh.
The Head of Planning and Transport Strategy in response to the Chair’s enquiry stated that the Council was in constant dialogue with Transport for London (TfL) about existing bus routes and that junction improvements were also being sought as and when a development came forward.
Members enquired as to whether any negotiations were taking place with Chiltern Railways, the rail operator. Councillor Daly observed that the areas along River Brent was densely populated and requested officers to consideration to the provision of amenities including play spaces, gyms ... view the full minutes text for item 3. |
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Permitted development rights for change of use from commercial to residential PDF 86 KB The Government announced that from Spring 2013 permitted development rights will be introduced to enable change of use from office (B1a use class) to residential (C3 use class) without the need for planning permission. This report provides a summary of the main implications for Brent and areas of concern, including the potential permanent loss of employment land of strategic economic importance. The report also informs the committee that due to these concerns an exemption to the new rights has been sought from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) for the borough’s Strategic Industrial Locations (SIL), Locally Significant Industrial Sites (LSIS) and Opportunity. Minutes: Members considered a report which provided a summary of the main implications for Brent and areas of concern, including the potential permanent loss of employment land of strategic economic importance. This followed an announcement by the Government that from Spring 2013, permitted development rights would be introduced to enable change of use from office (B1a use class) to residential (C3 use class) without the need for planning permission.
Chris Walker, Assistant Director of Planning and Development outlined some of the concerns as follows:
(i) The employment opportunities created through construction of housing development would be temporary and also result in a permanent loss of employment land with potential adverse impact on long term growth and jobs.
(ii) Conversion of office buildings to residential within Strategic Industrial Locations (SIL), Locally Significant Industrial Sites (LSIS) and Opportunity Areas could compromise the distinct industrial character of those locations with consequent prejudice on their future development for employment uses.
(iii) Conversion of office to residential within Wembley would lead to a loss of, as well as undermining the ability to introduce, active frontage in the town centre, thus prejudicing its viability and the potential to expand Wembley town centre eastwards into the Stadium area as set out in the Wembley Area Action Plan.
(iv) Due to the volume of traffic, current council policy was to manage air quality sensitive development within restricted areas in close proximity to the North Circular Road (NCR), such as housing, hospitals and schools. Under the permitted development rights, offices in proximity to the NCR could be converted to residential uses without having to demonstrate there would be no adverse health impact on residents through poor air quality.
(v) There was no provision for the council to seek Section 106 contributions from developers for open space, education and health care, thus resulting in pressure on existing schools, open space and infrastructure, especially in areas of the borough where an increase in residential accommodation was not envisaged.
(vi) Clarity was required on how the provision of affordable housing would be dealt with through the permitted development rights. If no affordable housing was required as a result of change of use then this would have a dramatic effect on the supply of affordable housing in the borough.
(vii) It was unclear as to the extent that the new homes provided through office to residential conversions would be expected to comply with design guidance such as the Mayor’s Housing Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) and Brent Council’s Design Guide for New Development SPG.
(viii) Permitted development rights would be subject to a prior approval process covering significant transport and highway impacts, development in safety hazard zones, areas of high flood risk and land contamination. It was currently unclear as to who would manage the prior approval process and how this would be resourced given current pressures on council resources and budgets.
The Assistant Director of Planning and Development submitted that given the concerns set out above the council had applied to ... view the full minutes text for item 4. |
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Any Other Urgent Business Notice of items to be raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Democratic Services Manager or his representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 64.
Minutes: None.
The meeting ended at 8:05pm
COUNCILLOR KETAN SHETH Chair |