Agenda item
Land adj to Quality Hotel and Dexion House, Fulton Road Wembley (Ref. 14/4330)
- Meeting of Planning Committee, Wednesday 11 February 2015 7.00 pm (Item 3.)
- View the declarations of interest for item 3.
Decision:
Granted approval of the Reserved Matters subject to conditions after paragraph 45, subject to updates to conditions and omitting condition 8 and amendments to the description of development and approve details pursuant to conditions 1, 9, 23 and 28 in relation to plot NW06.
Minutes:
PROPOSAL:
Proposed erection of 1- to 20-storey building comprising 370 residential units, 693 sqm of non-residential floor space (use class A1 (retail), A2 (financial and professional), A3 (cafe/restaurant), B1(Business), D1 (community) or D2 (assembly and leisure)) and associated residential parking spaces, private communal landscaped garden, ancillary spaces, and associated plant, landscaping, cycle storage and refuse provision.
The application is submitted pursuant to conditions 1 (Reserved Matters in relation to Layout, Scale, Appearance, Access and Landscape), 9 (Noise), 23 (Sustainability Implementation Strategy) and 28 (Affordable Housing Storage) in relation to Plot NW06 of outline planning permission reference 14/3054 which varied outline planning consent reference 13/1323 (section 73 application) and 10/3032 (original consent), with details also submitted pursuant to paragraphs 4 (Affordable Housing), 10.5 (Demolition), 12 (sport and play space) and 19 (Brent Access Forum) of the first schedule of the Section 106 legal agreement.
RECOMMENDATION: Grant approval of the Reserved Matters subject to conditions after paragraph 45 and approve details pursuant to conditions 1, 9, 23 and 28 in relation to plot NW06.
Members agreed that the Area Planning Manager be allowed to introduce application reference numbers 14/4330, 14/4541 and 14/4555 simultaneously as they were interlinked. Rachel Murrell (Area Planning Manager) explained the description of the applications with the help of a slide presentation. In reference to condition 8 which required the provision of at least 8 additional three-bedroom flats within the building she confirmed that the applicant had submitted revised drawings showing that 3 bedroom flats had been incorporated into the development on floors 15 to 19 of the proposed building. The revised plans therefore updated condition 1 and omitted condition 8. Members heard that the three applications that are being considered would deliver 370 homes together with some key elements of social and physical infrastructure including the 0.4 Ha park and the 300 square metre community hall.
The Area Planning Manager added that the design and layout of the proposed park and pocket park was considered to be acceptable subject to the approval of further details regarding hard landscaping, planting and play provision pursuant to conditions already attached to the outline consent. The proposed road layout was also considered to be acceptable subject to a new condition requiring a 10m kerb radii and raised table at the junction of “Wealdstone Road” and Fulton Road. Rachel Murrell also recommended a further condition to ensure that noise and disturbance from construction was minimised.
Anne Clements (on behalf of the applicant) stated that the linked applications would provide a reduced number of 362 homes, each dwelling unit with an appropriate quantum of open space, a proportion of which would be for affordable homes. She continued that the development would also provide a community hall (D1 use) and combined heating for sustainability. Members heard that the development would also provide employment to assist with the on-going wider regeneration of the Wembley Park area.
Members raised questions about affordable homes that the proposed development would deliver in terms of quantity and size of dwelling units. Anne Clements was also asked to clarify issues regarding Section 106 social infrastructure including the provision of education and the review mechanism for the value of homes built on NW01 lands which could trigger an increase in affordable homes that could eventually become available. In general members expressed a view that the Council was disappointed in the total number of affordable homes that would be made available from such a significant development in the Wembley regeneration area.
In response Anne Clements stated that all of the homes would be built to Lifetime Homes standard with 10% wheelchair accessible or easily adaptable and 33 affordable homes were proposed. Quintain would partner a registered social landlord (RSL) and housing officers to deliver the allocation of homes. She added that under the Section 106 agreement the number of affordable homes would be reviewed in 2016 when the buildings on NW01 lands were completed. This allowed for the current 10% level of affordable homes to be increased up to 17.5%. Members heard that a Section 106 infrastructure requirement would provide space for D1 use which could be used either as a General Practitioner (GP) surgery or community hall. She continued that some £11million had been provided towards the provision of education subject to the Council identifying a suitable piece of land for that purpose. Anne Clements continued that Quintain would also provide a sum of £60,000 towards the improvement of bus shelters in the local area.
In bringing the discussion to a close, the Chair reiterated the Committee’s disappointment at the low number of affordable homes that would be made available regardless of the review clause. The Chair also expressed hope that the developers would listen to the concerns of the Committee and work with the Council to increase the level of affordable housing in their future developments to be more in line with the 50% target set by the Council.
DECISION: Planning approval granted as recommended.
Supporting documents: