Agenda item
Caspian Wharf 39 - 75 Violet Road, London E3 3FW. (PA/15/01846)
Proposal:
Erection of a vehicular and pedestrian gate at Voysey Square, instalment of a gated link through Block A3, retention of a vehicular and pedestrian gate located at Seven Seas Gardens, removal of pedestrian gates on Ligurian Walk and reconfiguration and location of cycle parking and refuse storage within Voysey Square
Recommendation:
That the Committee resolve to GRANT planning permission subject to conditions.
Minutes:
An update report was tabled.
Paul Buckenham (Development Manager , Planning Services) introduced the application for the erection of a vehicular and pedestrian gate at Voysey Square, instalment of a gated link through Block A3, retention of a vehicular and pedestrian gate located at Seven Seas Gardens, removal of pedestrian gates on Ligurian Walk and reconfiguration and location of cycle parking and refuse storage within Voysey Square. Officers were recommending that the application was granted permission.
The Committee noted that a late application to speak, from Ward Councillor Hassell, had been accepted by the Chair since in his view it offered the Committee a better consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of the application and would assist the Committee to achieve a better informed decision. The applicant had been informed of the late speaker request and the Chair’s decision and also wished to make a representation.
The Chair invited the registered speakers to address the Committee.
The Committee first heard representations From Councillor Hassell. He contended that, while he was not opposed to the application since it addressed crime issues in the area of the application, he had concerns that the proposal included retaining open access at Ligurian Walk where issues of antisocial behaviour had existed for some time. Councillor Hassell informed the Committee that recently he had attended a neighbourhood meeting organised by the applicant and discussed these concerns with the agent. Subsequent to this, the applicant had informed him of an amended proposal to “erect pedestrian and vehicular gates at Voysey Square, install a gated link through Block A3, retain vehicular and pedestrian gates at Seven Seas Gardens, remove pedestrian gates on Ligurian Walk and reconfigure the location of cycle parking and refuse storage within Voysey Square”(??) this proposal was tabled at the meeting and subsequently published as an update report.
Responding to a question from the Committee, Councillor Hassell advised that the removal of pedestrian gates on Ligurian Walk was to allow public access to the nature reserve and canal side and to comply with the Council’s Policy on access to leisure areas.
The Committee then received a representation from the applicant’s representative. He addressed the Committee informing Members that:
- The application wished to meet the joint objectives of allowing public access to leisure areas while addressing antisocial behaviour and criminal activity.
- Following a neighbourhood meeting, he had met again with Councillor Hassell to discuss a further amendment to the application, namely a proposal to install gates at Seven Seas Garden, which may address some of the issues raised by residents.
Responding to Members’ questions the Committee was also informed that
- Other security proposals included CCTV and a concierge.
- There had been a fall in complaints made to the Police in 2016/17 because the gates at Ligurian Walk were locked overnight.
The Committee then heard from the Planning officer, Kevin Crilly who advised Members on the technical elements of the key features of the application as published in the agenda. The planning officer’s presentation highligted the main aspects of their report to the Committee.
The Committee reflected that the revised proposal referred to by both speakers had been placed before Members at the meeting and there had been no formal submission of amended plans, officer appraisal of the proposal nor consultation; this would be expected under normal procedures.
Accordingly, Councillor John Pierce proposed and it was seconded that the the application be deferred to allow further negotiations and formal submission of the proposed amendments and on a vote of 6 in favour, 0 against it was
RESOLVED:
That the application at Caspian Wharf 39 - 75 Violet Road, London E3 3FW. (PA/15/01846) for:
· Erection of a vehicular and pedestrian gate at Voysey Square, instalment of a gated link through Block A3, retention of a vehicular and pedestrian gate located at Seven Seas Gardens, removal of pedestrian gates on Ligurian Walk and reconfiguration and location of cycle parking and refuse storage within Voysey Square
BE DEFERRED for further negotiations and formal submission and consideration of the proposed amendments.
Supporting documents: