Agenda item
19/3571 - Street Record, Malvern Mews, London
Minutes:
PROPOSAL:
Proposed installation
of metal vehicular/pedestrian gate at entrance to private
mews.
RECOMMENDATION:
Resolve to grant planning permission subject to the conditions and informatives as set out in the report.
That the Head of Planning and Development, or other duly authorised person, is 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 they are 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.
Damian Manhertz, Planning Team Leader South, introduced the report, set out the key issues and answered members’ questions.
In reference to the supplementary report, the Planning Team Leader South drew members’ attention to the following points:
· One additional objection had been received since the report was published which related to access to the rear of properties along Malvern Road. The proposal was not intended to alter the existing parking situation.
Simon Wookey, supporter, then addressed the Committee on several matters including:
· The north mews was an unadopted and unregistered road under the control of the Malvern Mews Tenants' Association. The Tenants' Association was responsible for controlling access, use and maintenance of the north mews.
· Malvern Mews had been subject to a range of issues including fly-tipping, antisocial behaviour and criminal activity. Residents were concerned for both their safety and privacy.
· The Tenants' Association had experience of managing long-term projects, such as the bin-store for all residents of the mews which was implemented with the cooperation of the Council as the land owner.
· The application was in keeping with the design principles of the South Kilburn Regeneration Masterplan by recognising the high incidences of crime in South Kilburn, ensuring communities were safe from crime or the fear of crime and ensuring clearly defined ownership boundaries.
In response to questions from members, Simon Wookey made the following points:
· The gates would be funded and managed by the Tenants' Association which would enter into a maintenance contract with the supplier to ensure that the gates were regularly maintained.
· Waste collection providers would have access to the gates through fob and key code technology.
· The Tenants' Association was in the process of an adverse possession claim over the north mews in order to regularise matters. The Tenants' Association had been liaising with the Council’s Legal Team on this matter.
· The proposal had been in process for two years. All local residents had been consulted there was unanimous support across the Tenants' Association.
In the ensuing discussion, members raised several issues including impact on neighbour amenity, character and appearance and highways impact. Officers then clarified a number of key points including:
· Officers and the police were in agreement that measures such as vehicular and pedestrian gates can reduce incidences of crime where there is insufficient natural surveillance. It would also bring a sense of security to residents.
· The erection of the gate would not result in a lack of social cohesion given that there would only provide access to a close-ended mews development, primarily used by the residents of the mews.
· The north mews was an unadopted and unregistered road. The Tenants' Association have advised that they were currently responsible for controlling access, use and maintenance of the north mews. The land on which the gate would be erected was Council owned, however the gates would be funded and managed by the Tenants' Association.
· Access for emergency services, maintenance services and tradesmen, deliveries and visitors would be provided through a number of access means. This included an intercom system with keypad linked to each of the residents within the mews. A Fireman's key switch would allow access for emergency vehicles. A key protected manual release would be incorporated in the case of a power cut.
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.
DECISION: Granted planning permission subject to the conditions and informatives as set out in the report.
(Voting on the recommendation was as follows: For 7)
Supporting documents:
- 19/3571 - Street Record, Malvern Mews, London, item 4. PDF 211 KB
- 19.3571 Malvern Mews, item 4. PDF 74 KB