Agenda item
20/1424 100 Beresford Avenue, Wembley, HA0 1QJ
Decision:
Granted planning permission subject to s106 agreement and conditions and informatives as recommended in main report, with revisions to condition 2 as set out in the supplementary report.
Minutes:
PROPOSAL:
Demolition of existing commercial building and erection of two buildings (6 storeys and part 7 storeys in height) comprising 100 residential dwellings (Use Class C3) and commercial floorspace (Use Class B1c) on ground floors with associated servicing, parking and refuse stores, amenity space, a commercial yard and soft landscaping.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Committee resolve to GRANT planning permission subject to conditions and the prior completion of a Section 106 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 "expiry date" of the planning application 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 Victoria McDonagh (Development Management Team Leader) introduced the report, set out the key issues and answered Members’ questions. In reference to the supplementary report, she drew Members’ attention to amendments to plan numbers (condition 2) and provided further clarity on industrial floorspace, information on the type of heating source proposed for the scheme and the applicant’s agreement to provide approximately £46,500 towards improvements to the park in Heather Park.
Ms Sally Furminger and Mr Nicolas Khalili (agent and architect respectively) addressed the Committee and answered members’ questions. Members heard that the scheme would provide a significant percentage of affordable housing comprising 50% along with a policy compliant tenure split. Additionally, it would provide new employment space with 3 new commercial units and an attractive publicly accessible canal side frontage and path. Ms Furminger continued that the S106 legal obligations would more than offset the marginal shortfall in amenity space. Mr Khalili clarified issues relating to design and added that the scheme would enhance the streetscape.
Whilst welcoming the provision of affordable housing, Members questioned the adequacy of space for future occupants and requested officers to clarify that and issues relating to heating system together with future costs for occupants.
Officers explained that the scheme would provide sufficient amenity space on site but additionally would provide a suite of amenities including access to the canal site, pocket parks, canal towpaths and Abbey Wharf in addition a financial contribution of nearly £46,510 to upgrade Heather Park open space. In respect of the heating system, officers reported that the Council’s Sustainability Officer had advised the applicant to negotiate to connect to the heat network further along Beresford Avenue at the Grand Union Development. Additionally, with the main heating system for the residential units being communal gas boiler, the system can be connected with any potential heat network. To capture that, officers had recommended a condition for the feasibility of connecting to a future heating district network.
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 unanimous decision to approve the application.
DECISION:
Granted planning permission subject to s106 agreement and conditions and informatives as recommended in main report, with revisions to condition 2 as set out in the supplementary report.
(Voting on the decision was as follows: For 8; Against 0)
Supporting documents: