Agenda item
Sleaford House, Fern Street, London E3 (Report No. DC019/056)
Minutes:
Mr Michael Scott (Interim Head of Development and Building Control) introduced the report, drawing particular attention to the site plan at the back, and the floor plan and photographs which had been tabled and displayed. The proposal was to convert a vacant workshop unit on the ground floor of Sleaford House to provide a crèche with external play area, and a hairdressing salon. The crèche would be operated by the local Surestart scheme to provide a facility for young children currently attending the Linc centre opposite. It would represent a substantial improvement on the present facility which was too small and had no outside space. The crèche would be regulated by OFSTED and a summer scheme on the site appeared to have gone well. The hairdresser wished to relocate her business from Gayton House nearby, where there were no known complaints about its current operation.
The Chair then invited Ms Carol Payne, a resident of Sleaford House to address the committee on behalf of the objectors. Ms Payne stressed that she spoke on behalf of a number of residents. They had not been directly consulted on the proposal by HARCA to whom control of the block had recently transferred from the local authority. They believed that use of the base of a tower block in this way was inconsistent with it’s residential purpose and would cause nuisance. Many residents felt that the crèche provision at the Linc centre and another new local scheme should be adequate, and were concerned at the potential disruption caused by parents dropping off and picking up children, as well as lack of parking. They were also concerned by potential misuse of the play space by older children until late in the evening. Finally they felt that there were sufficient other hairdressers nearby, and that residents should have priority for use of the vacant space.
In response to Members’ queries, it was confirmed that Sleaford House was 17 storeys high, and that all the objections had come from residents.
The Chair then invited Mr Matt Sheldon to address the committee on behalf of the applicant. Mr Sheldon first explained that he was the manager of Bromley to Burdett SureStart and would speak primarily about that component of the application. He emphasised that the provision would be intended for local families, who also often suffered from a lack of outdoor space at home. The crèche was intended to help them access employment, training and other facilities at the Linc centre in particular. They had run a summer scheme from the site and knew of no complaints arising from that. There would be 2.4m high fencing around the outdoor play space to help avoid the potential for anti-social behaviour.
In response to Members’ queries, he confirmed that HARCA allowed a similar facility to operate from Butler House, which had not given rise to any known complaints. SureStart believed that the vast majority of parents using the crèche would be local, and if necessary would ringfence places to ensure this. He also emphasised that it was intended as a crèche rather than an all-day facility. Poplar HARCA would remain SureStart and the hairdresser’s landlord, and would want to avoid any nuisance to other residents.
Mr Scott stated that the application covered two separate units and it was not currently recommended to condition the hours of use of either. Members could consider this if there were relevant planning grounds but it should be noted that the existing hairdressers was not covered by any such condition. It was not a planning issue whether the hairdressing business succeeded or not. He also confirmed that both units would be constrained by the class of use applied for. Personal or limited period permissions were only an option if there were valid planning grounds, and would also have to allow sufficient time for any investment, including public funding, to be recouped.
On a vote of:
5 FOR
0 AGAINST
2 ABSTENTIONS
It was AGREED that planning permission be GRANTED for the change of use from workshop (B1 Use) on ground floor to provide a crèche (D1 Use) with external play area including play equipment, new boundary brick and metal fencing and a hairdressing salon (A1 Use) plus external alterations to north and east elevations. The planning permission is subject to the following conditions:
Conditions
(1) Time Limit
(2) Construction Hours
(3) External finishes and works to match existing building.
Supporting documents: