Agenda item
152 Olive Road, London NW2 6UY (Ref.14/2548)
- Meeting of Planning Committee, Wednesday 12 November 2014 7.00 pm (Item 5.)
- View the declarations of interest for item 5.
Minutes:
PROPOSAL: Demolition of former Cricklewood Library building and erection of a four storey building comprising 6 self-contained flats (1 x 1 bed, 4 x 2 bed and 1 x 3 bed) and 187m2 of D1 (multi-functional community) floor space, with provision for bike and bin stores, associated landscaping and temporary retention of site hoarding for site security (to be removed on completion of development). |
RECOMMENDATION: Grant planning permission subject to the completion of a satisfactory Section 106 or other legal agreement and delegate authority to the Head of Planning or other duly authorised person to agree the exact terms thereof on advice from the Director of Legal and Procurement.
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With reference to the supplementary report, Andy Bates (Area Planning Manager) reported that the applicant had reconfirmed their intention that the Friends of Cricklewood Library (FoCL) would occupy the community floor space and that significant pre-application discussions had been held with the FoCL to influence the size and layout of the community space.. He understood that the FoCL had submitted an outline business plan to the applicant, a condition precedent to the offer of a lease to the FoCL.
In accordance with the provisions of the Planning Code of Practice, Councillor Colacicco declared that she had been working with the FoCL on the library. Councillor Colacicco spoke in support of the application and welcomed the offer of ground floor space for community use. She then withdrew from the meeting and took no part in the discussion or voting.
Councillor Carr, ward member, indicated her support for the application.
Sally Long (Chair and Edward Lazarus (Finance Director) of FoCL spoke in support of the application, adding that the FoCL were in a position to run the library using the ground floor D1 space which they considered most suitable as a hub for the community to meet. In response to members’ questions, Edward Lazarus stated that the FoCL were still negotiating on the annual service charge of £2,500, however, this would not pose a significant problem as FoCL had access to grant giving organisations to fund the project.
Mandip Sahota (applicant’s agent) informed members that the ground floor D1 community use had been arrived at following consultations with community groups including FoCL. He confirmed that the applicants had notified FoCL that the space would be let out to them. He continued that the scheme had the support of residents and the general community and that the residential flats also complied with space standards. Mr Sahota then invited the applicant’s architect to respond to members’ questions on technical aspects of the scheme. The architect stated that an amended elevation which would ensure additional daylight was provided had been submitted since the report was published. He clarified that the ground floor D1 use had been given a stronger presence and that the residential element had been set back appropriately.
In respect of the bin store and waste management, members’ attention was drawn to condition 3 as set out in the main report. The Head of Planning advised against a member’s suggestion for an informative on FoCL as the preferred tenant adding that this was best captured in the Section 106 legal agreement.
DECISION: Granted planning permission as recommended.
Notes: Councillors Colacicco and Choudhary having declared prejudicial interests in the application at the start of the meeting took no part in the discussion or voting.
After the consideration of the above applications, the Councillor Marquis (Chair) had to leave the meeting. The remainder of the meeting was chaired by Councillor Colacicco (Vice-Chair). |
Supporting documents: