Agenda item
Entrance To Claire Place Between 46 and 48, Tiller Road, London (PA/17/02781)
Proposal:
Installation of automated vehicular and pedestrian entrance gates at the vehicular entrance to Claire Place
Recommendation:
That the Committee resolve to REFUSEplanning permission for the reasons set out in the Committee report.
Minutes:
Update Report tabled
Jerry Bell (Area Planning Manager (East), Planning Services) introduced the application for the installation of automated vehicular and pedestrian entrance gates at the vehicular entrance to Claire Place
The Chair then invited registered speakers to address the Committee.
Lee Tanswell, Carolyn Apcar and Councillor Andrew Wood spoke in support of the application. They stated that the road was a private road and that Claire Place had no pedestrian routes. Apart from this entrance, the development was fully enclosed and there would be no need for anyone to enter the development unless they were visiting the properties. The proposal would therefore not harm pedestrian routes. The installation of gates would also help address the many problems with crime and anti-social behaviour as shown by the crime statistics submitted by the supporters. The site tended to encourage such behaviour due to it’s secluded nature. This was not helped by the lack of CCTV. The Police supported the proposal as a means of reducing crime in the area. The proposals accorded with the Chief Planning Officer’s 2017 guidance regarding the role of Planning in crime prevention.
The proposal would also help minimise instances of illegal parking due to the shortage of car parking space and would therefore address the problems with access by emergency vehicles. Many of the residents supported the proposal.
It was also considered that there would be sufficient space for vehicle access on Tiller Road. With regard to this point, the speakers expressed concern about the proposed reason for refusal on this ground, given the number of other developments that had been approved with much shorter crossings between the site entrance and the highway.
In response to questions, the speakers clarified their concerns about the levels of both reported and unreported crime in the area. They highlighted examples of the types of offences committed, particularly during the last three months. They considered that the perception of crime levels was much higher that the statistics suggested. They also explained in further detail that the proposal would help keep the community safe without harming public access given its layout. In terms of its design and appearance, it was felt that the proposal would be barely noticeable from the street as it would in effect form a continuous boundary with that for nearby properties. In terms of the other solutions explored, it was felt that this proposal would provide the most appropriate solution for this particular development.
Hoa Vong (Planning Services) presented the application highlighting the nature of the location and the site itself. He advised that two previous applications had been received for gates at this site in 2007 and 2010. Both applications were refused under delegated authority. The Committee also noted the outcome of the Council’s consultation resulting in representations expressing support for the application in view of the levels of crime and anti-social behaviour at the site.
The Committee noted the main planning issues. It was reported that the proposal would restrict access and result in a gated community and therefore be contrary to policy. Further, the scale, finish and design of the gates was considered to be highly imposing and would thus dominate Claire Place and Tiller Road.
In terms of the security issues, Officers considered that erecting gates did not in itself prevent anti-social behaviour. Whilst Officers were mindful of the concerns, it could not be considered, based on the statistics provided by the Police, that the crime levels were above average and that this was an exceptional case. Furthermore, there was no evidence that other solutions had been explored
The Committee were also advised of the highway concerns relating from the setback between the gates and the back edge of the footway on Tiller Road. As a result, the refuge area would be insufficient to prevent vehicles queuing onto Tiller Road, should more than one vehicle seek simultaneous access to the site.
As a result of these concerns, Officers considered that the application should be refused planning permission
The Committee asked questions about the possibility of vehicles queuing outside the development given the scale of the development. Officers referred to the Highway Services report who felt that the arrangements were unacceptable. Whilst it was not possible to say for certain whether this scenario would occur, Highways considered it necessary that developments allowed for this. However, it was acknowledged that this issue alone could be dealt with through amending the plans
The Committee also asked questions about the levels of crime in the area, particularly the crime levels for 2018. The Committee also asked questions about the impact on permeability given the entrance did not lead to any other routes and also about the size and appearance of the proposal in the context of the local area.
Officers reported that the most recent figures for 2018 had yet to be collated by the Police. It was felt that the development would merely displace crime to another area, rather than address it and the Council had a duty to have regard to the wider community. It was also emphasized that the proposal would create a segregated community, contrary to the policy.
Councillor John Pierce proposed and Councillor Marc Francis seconded a proposal that the consideration of the application be deferred for the reasons set out below
On a vote of 5 in favour and 1 against the Committee RESOLVED:
That the consideration of planning permission at the Entrance To Claire Place Between 46 and 48, Tiller Road, London be DEFERRED for the installation of automated vehicular and pedestrian entrance gates at the vehicular entrance to Claire Place. (PA/17/02781)
The Committee were minded to defer the application for the following reasons:
· To carry out a Committee site visit
For further information about:
- Relevant appeal decisions.
- The Guidance from the Chief Planning Officer issued in 2017 regarding the role of the planning system in relation to crime prevention
- Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour rates during 2018 for the site.
Supporting documents: