Agenda item
Bromley-by-Bow Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) (CAB 113/112)
Decision:
Decision
1. That the representations received during the consultation on the draft Bromley-by-Bow Masterplan SPD, attached at Appendix 3 to the report (CAB 113/112), be noted;
2. That the summary of the main representations and the proposed responses to these representations, as contained in Appendix 3 to the report (CAB 113/112), be agreed; also that subsequent necessary amendments to the Bromley-by-Bow Masterplan SPD be approved;
3. That, subject to the Corporate Director Development and Renewal ensuring reflection of (a) to (e) below, the final Bromley-by-Bow Masterplan SPD be approved for adoption and officers be authorised to prepare and publish an adoption statement:
(a) The Mayor’s objective of 35% affordable housing in new developments.
(b) The Mayor’s objective of an increased proportion of family sized homes in new developments.
(c) The Mayor’s request that the affordable housing element of developments should preclude open plan design (Kitchen/ Dining Room/ Living Room).
(d) The Mayor’s request that the Masterplan optimises connectivity of the community with particular reference to the divide of the A12.
(e) That mechanisms be examined to ensure that local people benefit from future employment opportunities in the area; and
4. That the Corporate Director of Development and Renewal be authorised to make any necessary factual or minor editing changes prior to publishing the final Bromley-by-Bow Masterplan SPD.
Action by:
INTERIM CORPORATE DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT AND RENEWAL (J. ODUNOYE)
Service Head Planning and Building Control, Development and Renewal (O. Whalley)
Strategic Planning Manager, Planning and Building Control, Development and Renewal (M. Bell)
Minutes:
Councillor Rabina Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing, at the request of the Mayor, in introducing the report, summarised the key points contained therein, emphasising that the Bromley-by-Bow Masterplan had already been the subject of consultation and re-iterating the key objectives of the masterplan set out in paragraph 5.1 of the report.
A discussion followed, during which the proposals in the report were broadly welcomed, and which focused on the following points:-
Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Deputy Mayor, commented that clear articulation of the Mayor/ Administration’s commitment to the building of more affordable homes, with new developments to comprise at least 35% affordable housing, appeared to be absent from the Masterplan, and he strongly considered that this commitment should be reflected in the final document to be approved for adoption. Accordingly an alternative option in relation to recommended decisions was proposed for the Mayor’s consideration [see Decision 3(a) below].
Councillor Rania Khan, Cabinet Member for Culture, expressed concern regarding a lack of consultation with stakeholders in relation to planning applications for new shop frontages for shops in Stroudley Walk, commenting that residents and shopkeepers were concerned at the impact of this on existing local shops. Similarly they were concerned regarding the regeneration plans for Bromley-by-Bow, contained within the Masterplan, and the potential impact of these on existing local shops. There was likely to be a small supermarket and many existing shop owners, including some in business for over 30 years, could be priced out of business; and this would be unfair and counter-productive for regeneration. It was requested that the Corporate Director Development and Renewal look into this matter. Councillor Rabina Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing, responded that she and the Mayor had discussed the issues at Stroudley Walk in detail and gave an assurance that they both shared the concerns raised and were working to address them.
Councillor Rofique Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, sought clarification from the Cabinet Member for Housing as to whether figures were available on rejections of housing offers where the units were open plan. He commented that local residents waiting to be housed by the Authority had made it clear to him that they did not want houses with an open plan kitchen/ living room; and given this context questioned why the Authority was still allowing new developments to include affordable homes that were open plan, rather than ensuring housing was built which met the needs of the community. He strongly considered that the Authority should address this issue urgently and also that it be reflected in the final Masterplan to be approved for adoption. Accordingly an alternative option in relation to recommended decisions was proposed for the Mayor’s consideration [see Decision 3(c) below].
The Mayor concurred, commenting that during the recent election campaigning for the Mayor of London and Weavers Ward by-election criticism from residents had focused on two issues: overcrowding and the unsuitable nature of open plan housing for families with children. It had become apparent that families were being allocated housing but then rejecting the offer because the home included open plan kitchen/ dining room/ living room. He and Councillor Rabina Khan had encountered a horrific situation where a child had been horribly burned in an open plan home, and he empathised because he felt it was impossible for a mother to keep an eye on her children 24 hours/ 7 days, and such an environment was therefore dangerous for the children. Consequently he had made it absolutely clear to Council officers that the affordable social housing element of any new developments must not be open plan. The approach of private developers was not within his control but any development where the Council was engaged with partners in creating affordable housing would now adhere to this directive. He emphasised that he did not want a situation to continue whereby a large section of the community was disenfranchised in respect of social housing allocations and instructed Ms Odunoye, Interim Corporate Director Development and Renewal to take all necessary steps to effect his directive.
Councillor Shafiqul Haque, Cabinet Member for Jobs and Skills, commented that although the Masterplan incorporated the objective of delivering up to 2500 new affordable homes, which accorded with the Mayor’s priorities, it was insufficiently explicit in articulating the Mayor/ Administration’s commitment to an increased proportion of family sized homes in new developments, and he considered that this commitment should be reflected in the final document to be approved for adoption. Accordingly an alternative option in relation to recommended decisions was proposed for the Mayor’s consideration [see Decision 3(b) below].
Councillor Abdul Asad, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, commented that recent media reports had highlighted how the Mayor/ Administration had successfully negotiated the securing of over 1000 jobs at the 2012 Olympic Games site for local people. He considered it equally important that mechanisms be examined to ensure that local people benefited from future employment opportunities in the Bromley-by-Bow area, and this should be reflected in the final Masterplan to be approved for adoption. Accordingly an alternative option in relation to recommended decisions was proposed for the Mayor’s consideration [see Decision 3(e) below].
Councillor Ann Jackson, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, commented that it was widely acknowledged that the community in the Bromley-by-Bow area had long been divided by the physical and psychological barrier of the A12 trunk road, and current subway connectivity was totally inadequate/ unsatisfactory. Additionally the area had been neglected historically and as a result was badly depressed and in need of regeneration. Although there were funding constraints, Councillor Jackson considered it important that officers review the Masterplan to ensure that everything possible would be done to meet the needs of the community in the Bromley-by-Bow area. Accordingly an alternative option in relation to recommended decisions was proposed for the Mayor’s consideration with a view to this [part of this alternative option is seen at Decision 3(d) below].
The Mayor subsequently agreed the recommended decisions set out in the report, taking account of:
· The proposed amendments to the options being considered from Councillors Ohid Ahmed, Rofique Ahmed/ himself, Shafiqul Haque, Abdul Asad.
· The aspects of the amendment to the options being considered from Councillor Jackson relating to connectivity and the A12.
· The following amendment in relation to recommended decision 2.1: “That the representations received during the consultation on the draft Bromley-by-Bow Masterplan SPD, be noted.”
and considering that it would be appropriate to adjust the decisions accordingly; consequently agreed the following:
Decision
1. That the representations received during the consultation on the draft Bromley-by-Bow Masterplan SPD, attached at Appendix 3 to the report (CAB 113/112), be noted;
2. That the summary of the main representations and the proposed responses to these representations, as contained in Appendix 3 to the report (CAB 113/112), be agreed; also that subsequent necessary amendments to the Bromley-by-Bow Masterplan SPD be approved;
3. That, subject to the Corporate Director Development and Renewal ensuring reflection of (a) to (e) below, the final Bromley-by-Bow Masterplan SPD be approved for adoption and officers be authorised to prepare and publish an adoption statement:
(a) The Mayor’s objective of 35% affordable housing in new developments.
(b) The Mayor’s objective of an increased proportion of family sized homes in new developments.
(c) The Mayor’s request that the affordable housing element of developments should preclude open plan design (Kitchen/ Dining Room/ Living Room).
(d) The Mayor’s request that the Masterplan optimises connectivity of the community with particular reference to the divide of the A12.
(e) That mechanisms be examined to ensure that local people benefit from future employment opportunities in the area; and
4. That the Corporate Director of Development and Renewal be authorised to make any necessary factual or minor editing changes prior to publishing the final Bromley-by-Bow Masterplan SPD.
Reasons for Decisions
These are detailed in paragraphs 3.1 to 3.2 of the report (CAB 113/112).
Alternative Options Considered
These are detailed in paragraphs 4.1 to 4.3 of the report (CAB 113/112).
Supporting documents:
- BBB Masterplan SW3004121114am, item 6.1 PDF 372 KB
- Appendix 2 Masterplan SPD_2012 SW2604121251pm, item 6.1 PDF 23 MB
- Appendix 3 Consultation and Engagement Stgy 090512 SW2604121149am, item 6.1 PDF 523 KB
- Appendix 4 EA Screening SW2604121149am, item 6.1 PDF 342 KB
- Appendix 5 SA Review SW2604121149am, item 6.1 PDF 487 KB