Issue - meetings
153-157 Commercial Road, London, E1 2DA (PA/12/01133)
Meeting: 10/10/2012 - Development Committee (Item 7)
7 153-157 Commercial Road, London, E1 2DA (PA/12/01133) PDF 185 KB
Additional documents:
Decision:
Update Report tabled.
On a vote of 4 in favour and 1 against, the Committee RESOLVED:
1. That planning permission (PA/12/01133) at 153-157 Commercial Road, London, E1 2DA be GRANTED for the change of use of an office block to a secondary school (Use Class D1) subject to:
2. The prior completion of a legal agreementto secure the planning obligations set out in the report.
3. That the Corporate Director Development & Renewal is delegated authority to negotiate the legal agreement indicated above.
4. That the Corporate Director Development & Renewal is delegated authority to recommend conditions and informatives in relation to the matters set out in the report.
5. That if, within three months of the date of this committee the legal agreement has not been completed, the Corporate Director of Development & Renewal is delegated power to refuse planning permission.
Minutes:
Update Report tabled.
Jerry Bell (Applications Team Leader) introduced the report at 153-157 Commercial Road, London, E1 2DA for the change of use of an office block to a secondary school (Wapping Free School)
The Chair referred to some late written information submitted shortly before the meeting. He reported that as it had not been sent in by the required deadline, he could not accept the information.
The Chair invited the registered speakers to address the meeting.
Jamal Hussain spoke in objection to the scheme. He objected to the impact on the highway. The scheme would restrict traffic flow; increase pedestrian and parking congestion from drop offs/pick ups to the detriment of residents. There was a lack of parking in the area. He feared that the area would become more dangerous for students and residents. He referred to data personally collated of use of the Commercial Road and New Road. This showed that the roads and the junction were already heavily congested at peak times. The plans would worsen this. 100 people had objected to the scheme and only 8 supported it. He considered it premature to implement the scheme without the conditions in place first. There was a lack of evidence supporting the need for an additional secondary school in the area given the number and proximity of similar schools in the area.
In reply to Members about accidents on the two roads, (Commercial Road and New Road) he reported that over the last 3 years, 30 accidents had been registered with many more unregistered accidents in his opinion. In relation to the consultation with the applicant, the objectors did put their objections to them and the applicant did make changes in light of these. However he felt that they were purely done to appease them and were unsatisfactory. The pavement around the school was fairly narrow with very little room to walk. Congestion would easily build up at peak times to unacceptable levels.
Suroth Miah spoke in objection highlighting the lack of support for the scheme as shown by the local consultation. He objected to the impact on the New Road from the comings and goings. The road was one of the busiest roads in the Borough and provided access to A roads. It already carried about 700 people per hour as shown by the objectors study. The entrance to Commercial Road was similarly as busy. The reality from the nearby schools was that students were frequently dropped off/picked up by car contrary to the report. The Council’s Environmental Team had concerns about the proposal and so did the LBTH Children’s Services Directorate. An alternative site should be looked at. He urged Members to take into account the residents opposition and refuse the scheme.
The Chair clarified that the LBTH Children’s Services Directorate had not objected to the scheme.
Councillor Shahid Ali spoke against the scheme. He stated that he was speaking on behalf of other ward Councillors. The site lacked the essential ... view the full minutes text for item 7