Proposal:

Full Planning Application – PA/14/03594

Demolition of existing buildings at Hercules Wharf, Union Wharf and Castle Wharf and erection of 16 blocks (A-M) ranging in height from three-storeys up to 30 storeys (100m) (plus basement) providing 804 residential units; 1,912sq.m GIA of Retail / Employment Space (Class A1 – A4, B1, D1); Management Offices (Class B1) and 223sq.m GIA of Education Space (Class D1); car parking spaces; bicycle parking spaces; hard and soft landscaping works including to Orchard Dry Dock and the repair and replacement of the river wall.

The application is accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment

Listed Building Consent application - PA/14/03595

Works to listed structures including repairs to 19th century river wall in eastern section of Union Wharf; restoration of the caisson and brick piers, and alteration of the surface of the in filled Orchard Dry Dock in connection with the use of the dry docks as part of public landscaping. Works to curtilage structures including landscaping works around bollards; oil tank repaired and remodelled and section of 19th century wall on to Orchard Place to be demolished with bricks salvaged where possible to be reused in detailed landscape design.

Recommendation:

That Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent should be GRANTED in accordance with the recommendation set out in the original report.

Update report tabled.

Councillor Marc Francis and Councillor Julia Dockerill proposed an additional informative that was unanimously agreed by the Committee encouraging the  applicant and the occupants of Trinity Buoy Wharf and LBTH to reconcile any potential tensions between the parties.

On a unanimous vote the Committee RESOLVED:

1.            That planning permission be GRANTED at Hercules Wharf, Castle Wharf and Union Wharf, Orchard Place, London E14 for the demolition of existing buildings at Hercules Wharf, Union Wharf and Castle Wharf and erection of 16 blocks (A-M) ranging in height from three-storeys up to 30 storeys (100m) (plus basement) providing 804 residential units; 1,912sq.m GIA of Retail / Employment Space (Class A1 – A4, B1, D1); Management Offices (Class B1) and 223sq.m GIA of Education Space (Class D1); car parking spaces; bicycle parking spaces; hard and soft landscaping works including to Orchard Dry Dock and the repair and replacement of the river wall accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment (PA/14/03594), SUBJECT to

2.            Any direction by The London Mayor.

3.            The prior completion of a Section 106 legal agreement to secure the planning obligations set out in the 10 March 2016 Committee report and Update Report.

4.            That the Corporate Director Development & Renewal is delegated power to negotiate the legal agreement indicated above acting within normal delegated authority.

5.            That the Corporate Director Development & Renewal is delegated authority to recommend the conditions and informatives in relation to the matters in the Committee report and the additional informative agreed by the Committee encouraging the  applicant and the occupants of Trinity Buoy Wharf and LBTH to reach an agreement to reconcile any potential tensions between the parties.

On a unanimous vote the Committee RESOLVED:

6.            That listed building consent be GRANTED at Hercules Wharf, Castle Wharf and Union Wharf, Orchard Place, London E14 for works to listed structures including repairs to 19th century river wall in eastern section of Union Wharf; restoration of the caisson and brick piers, and alteration of the surface of the in filled Orchard Dry Dock in connection with the use of the dry docks as part of public landscaping. Works to curtilage structures including landscaping works around bollards; oil tank repaired and remodelled and section of 19th century wall on to Orchard Place to be demolished with bricks salvaged where possible to be reused in detailed landscape design (PA/14/03595) subject to the conditions in the Committee report.

Update report tabled.

Owen Whalley (Service Head, Planning and Building Control) introduced the application for the demolition of existing buildings on the site and the erection of 16 blocks ranging in height from three-storeys up to 30 storeys providing 804 residential units;  Retail / Employment Space; Management Offices and Education Space; car parking spaces; bicycle parking spaces;  and associated works.

It was noted that Members previously considered the application at its 10 March 2016 meeting and resolved to defer the consideration of the application pending information on the following:

·         The operation of the viability review mechanism.

·         The viability of the application with different mixes of affordable housing

The Committee also asked that the Greater London Authority be requested to confirm whether their concerns about the application had been addressed.

Jermaine Thomas (Planning Officer, Development and Renewal) presented the detailed report, reminding Members of the site location and surrounds, comprising three different wharves and the nature of the proposal. The Committee viewed slides showing the scale and mass of the development.

In relation to the first issue, it was noted that details of the  review mechanism for the affordable housing (to be secured in the S106) were in the committee report setting out the circumstances in which it would be triggered to secure additional affordable housing. Both the applicant and Officers were satisfied with these arrangements.

In relation to the second issue, it was noted that the delivery of the affordable units with 3-4 bed affordable rents would allow for the provision of 27% such units. However, should the 3 to 4 beds units be delivered at social targets rents, the scheme could only afford 23%. Nevertheless, the applicant had undertaken to provide 27% affordable units with such rent levels absorbing a deficit.

In addition, since the last meeting, the GLA had provided a post stage 1 response stating that their concerns about noise mitigation had been addressed. Any outstanding issues could be addressed at stage 2.   Further consultation had been carried out and the Port of London Authority  had confirmed that their concerns had been addressed now only raising questions of clarification that had been addressed in the update report. A  further 11 objections had been received about  the impact of the scheme  on Trinity Buoy Wharf but these did not raise any new issues so had not impacted on the recommendation. 

In light of above and the information presented to the Committee, Officers continued to recommend that the planning permission and listed building consent was granted permission. 

In response to questions of clarification, Officers confirmed that the separation distance to the nearest neighbouring property at the eastern side of TBW measured 0.5 metres. However, it should be noted there were no habitable rooms facing the application site at this point. The separation distance to the nearest residential units measured 2.25 meters. The Council were the freeholder of TBW and its Asset Management Team did not believe that the proposal would impact on that asset. It was noted that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5