Agenda item
20/2473 6 and 6A Coombe Road, London, NW10 0EB
Decision:
Granted planning permission as recommended subject to an amended condition 2 as set out within the supplementary report.
Minutes:
PROPOSAL:
Demolition of the existing buildings and redevelopment of the site comprising the erection of a part three, four, six and seven storey building providing flexible employment workspace on ground and part of first floor, and self-contained flats with associated car and cycle parking spaces, refuse and recycling stores, amenity space, landscaping and associated development.
RECOMMENDATION:
GRANT planning permission subject to the prior completion of a legal agreement to secure the planning obligations set out within the Committee reports.
That the Head of Planning be granted delegated authority to negotiate the legal agreement indicated above.
That the Head of Planning be granted delegated authority to issue the planning permission and impose conditions and informatives to secure the matters set out within the Committee reports.
That the Head of Planning be granted 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.
That, if by the application "expiry date" the legal agreement has not been completed, the Head of Planning be granted delegated authority to refuse planning permission.
That the Committee confirms that adequate provision has been made, by the imposition of conditions, for the preservation or planting of trees as required by Section 197 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
Ms June Taylor (Principal Planning Officer) introduced the report setting out the key issues, outlining the differences between the current application and the extant consent and answered Members’ questions. She referenced the supplementary report that clarified the scheme provided affordable housing at London Affordable Rent levels, amended plans to show the removal of short-term cycle parking stands from the public footway (amendment to condition 2) and to provide more information on the relationship with neighbouring properties, and confirmed Environmental Health officers have no objection subject to conditions.
Ms Mary Duffy objected to the proposed development for several reasons including the following:
· The proposed height of the flats (now seven storeys), being several times the height of the existing structure and those of the nearby street of Braemar Avenue and that of nearby Roger Stone Court would be imposing.
· The excessive height would crowd and overlook and possibly block light to existing residential properties to an unacceptable degree, resulting in overlooking and being detrimental to Braemar Avenue, a residential street, with houses of no more than two storeys
· The proposal would not be appropriate in an area that mixes many low-rise residential houses, few flats and very few commercial properties.
· The application would be detrimental to the environmental and residential amenities.
Mr Luke Cadman (agent) addressed the Committee and answered members’ questions. He submitted several points including the following:
· The application would allow a better configured scheme than the consented scheme in terms of number of units, mix and layout and replacement employment space provision.
· The application complied with the wider site allocation in the emerging Local Plan for the area and whilst the heights proposed would slightly exceed the site allocation, the surrounding area is high density urban area that would benefit from maximised affordable housing and family sized units.
· Roof level high-quality amenity space has been maximised with improved pedestrian links along river to Welsh Harp Reservoir to offset the slight shortfall in amenity for residents.
· Despite its urban location, the proposal would ensure sufficient separation distances to existing neighbouring residents and that the scheme would not be unduly detrimental to the daylight/sunlight of neighbouring windows given its urban context.
Members discussed the application and noted officers’ responses on questions relating to noise, compliance with the emerging Local Plan and the character of the Coombe Road area.
With no further issues raised and having established that all members had followed the discussions, the Chair thanked all speakers for their contributions and asked members to vote on the recommendation. Members voted by a majority decision to approve the application.
DECISION: Granted planning permission as recommended subject to an amended condition 2 as set out within the supplementary report.
(Voting on the decision unanimous as follows: For 8; Against 0)
Supporting documents: