Members are reminded to consider the categories of interest in the Code of Conduct for Members to determine whether they have an interest in any agenda item and any action they should take. For further details, please see the attached note from the Monitoring Officer.

Members are reminded to declare the nature of the interest and the agenda item it relates to. Please note that ultimately it’s the Members’ responsibility to declare any interests form and to update their register of interest form as required by the Code.

If in doubt as to the nature of your interest, you are advised to seek advice prior to the meeting by contacting the Monitoring Officer or Democratic Services

There were no declarations of pecuniary interest.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Strategic Development Committee held on 10 January 2023.

The minutes of the committee meeting held on 10 Janaury 2023 were agreed and approved as a correct record of proceedings. 

To RESOLVE that:

1)   in the event of changes being made to recommendations by the Committee, the task of formalising the wording of those changes is delegated to the Corporate Director Place along the broad lines indicated at the meeting; and

2)   in the event of any changes being needed to the wording of the Committee’s decision (such as to delete, vary or add conditions/informatives/planning obligations or reasons for approval/refusal) prior to the decision being issued, the Corporate Director Place is delegated authority to do so, provided always that the Corporate Director does not exceed the substantive nature of the Committee’s decision.

3)    To NOTE the procedure for hearing objections at meetings of the Strategic Development Committee.

The Committee RESOLVED that:

1.              In the event of changes being made to recommendations by the

Committee, the task of formalising the wording of those changes is

delegated to the Corporate Director Place along the broad lines

indicated at the meeting; and

2.              In the event of any changes being needed to the wording of the

Committee’s decision (such as to delete, vary or add

conditions/informatives/planning obligations or reasons for

approval/refusal) prior to the decision being issued, the Corporate

Director Place is delegated authority to do so, provided always that the

Corporate Director does not exceed the substantive nature of the

Committee’s decision.

3.            To note the procedure for hearing objections at meetings for the Strategic Development Committee.

There were none.

Paul Buckenham introduced the hybrid planning application to demolish all existing structures and redevelop a number of buildings for mixed uses including; residential, retail, workspace, food and drink use, car and cycle parking, a new pedestrian route via repurposing Abbott Road and a revised underpass.

Nelupa Malik provided a presentation to accompany the application, which highlighted the key features of the proposal’s site and surroundings, the planning history, acceptability of tall buildings, the daylight and sunlight image transport impacts from network changes, heritage, consultation process and strategic infrastructure improvement plans. The Officer’s recommendation was to grant planning permission subject to conditions and obligations.

Further to the presentation, the Committee asked questions to the Officers regarding the following issues:

·       The closure of the underpass and proposed density of the application.Details were provided on the strategic infrastructure improvement plan to address deficiencies noted.

·       Further details on crime, lighting and CCTV within the underpass.

·       Clarification on proposing a tall building outside a tall building zone. Details were provided that the underpass revision adheres to the policy and is integral to the proposal.

·       Further details on how the PTAL calculations were compiled. Details were provided on the TfL programme and the manual assessment.

·       The viability testing of affordable and intermediate housing.. Details were provided as to how the London Plan policy informs discount market rents and tenancies.

·       Displacement of existing residents.

·       Clarification on the open space and play space proposed.

·       Details of the finances acquired for the proposal.

·       Retail and affordable workspace proposed. Details were provided on the 25% discount offer by the applicant for 15 years exceeding the initial 10% discount for 10 years.

·       Daylight and sunlight issues for residents. Details were provided on revisions made to the application to improve the outlook and enhance the quality of environment to the scheme.

The Chair invited Foysol Hussain, Leila Lawal, Abdrhiram Hassan and

Cllr Iqbal Hussain to address the meeting in objection to the application. They highlighted concerns regarding the following:

·       Lack of playground space for children.

·       Inadequate affordable housing provision.

·       Traffic diversion and disruption.

·       Failure to take into account the petition objecting to the proposal.

·       The closure and repurpose of the underpass.

·       Alleged pressure placed on existing residents by Poplar Harca to agree the proposal.

·       The height of the proposed building, including daylight and sunlight impacts.

The Chair invited Babu Bhattacherjee, Suraiya Begum and a representative of Shakira Choudhury to address the meeting in favour of the application. They highlighted the following benefits:

·       Alleviate overcrowding in existing homes.

·       The development of 440 new affordable homes, with 220 of those family sized.

·       The provision of 51 social rented homes.

·       Improved access to local amenities and health and wellbeing by the increase of green open spaces.

·       The applicant had participated in community partnerships and were committed to contributing to local employment, skills and training, as part of the scheme.

Following the points raised by the Officers and registered speakers, the Committee debated the application and noted the following:

-       Reservations with the Abbott  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.