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

Further Advice contact: Linda Walker, Interim Director of Legal and Monitoring Officer, Tel: 0207 364 4348

There were no declarations of pecuniary interests, however the following Members received correspondence from members of the public in relation to application reference: PA/24/00184 & PA/24/00187 former London Chest Hospital: Councillor Amin Rahman, Councillor Kamrul Hussain, Councillor Gulam Kibria Choudhury, Councillor Iqbal Hossain, Councillor Shahaveer Hussain and Councillor Asma Begum. 

It was proposed by Councillor Kamrul Hussain and seconded by Councillor Gulam Kibria Choudhury and RESOLVED that:

1.    Councillor Iqbal Hossain was appointed the Vice-Chair of the Strategic Development for the municipal year 2024/25.

The Strategic Development Committee RESOLVED to:

1.    Note the Quorum, Membership and Meeting Dates as set out in appendices 2 and 3 of the report.

2.    Agreed to the amended terms of reference, as set out in appendix 1.

3.    Agreed hold all Strategic Development Committee meetings at 6.30pm in the Council Chamber for the municipal year 2024/25.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Strategic Development Committee held on 14 May 2024.

The Committee RESOLVED that:

That the minutes of the Sub Committee meeting held on 14 May 2024 were approved and signed 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 Housing and Regeneration 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 Housing and Regeneration 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 Housing and Regeneration 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 Housing and Regeneration 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 no deferred items to consider.

The order of business on the agenda was changed at the meeting. This application was swapped with the second. The Committee Adjourned for a short while, then Reconvened.

Update report noted.

Paul Buckenham introduced the application to grant planning permission with conditions for the demolition of existing building and erection of a mixed-use residential led building containing 450 residential units (Class C3) and new podium level to accommodate flexible retail, community, creative, and amenity uses (Class E and F2) as well as basement level blue-badge parking, new public realm and landscaping, and all associated works.

    Jane Jin provided a presentation to accompany the application, which highlighted the proposal’s site and surroundings. The proposal will provide 450 residential units in total of which 120 will be affordable housing units, which amounts to 35% by habitable room. There will also be a mixture of retail uses, creative uses and community uses within the scheme.

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

·       Confirmed that the scheme proposes to demolish the existing office building to create  450 residential units. 83 of those units will be  affordable rent, with 37 units intermediate rent and 330 at market rent.

·       Clarified that the applicant will be required to submit anenergy efficiency statement, to evaluate the new builds functionality. Source heat pumps will be incorporated to heat the building as well as providing hot water. A planning obligation will be secured to ensure carbon lifecycle assessment is conducted.

·       Noted that new regulations mandate two staircases for evacuation purposes. The waste management plan also includes a gravity-fed waste disposal on each level, which is disposed to the basement level and will be brought up to ground level for waste collection. The collection points are off the highway and will not hinder congestion on the local highway network.

Councillor Saied Ahmed requested a deferment  of the vote to undertake a site visit, so that Members could better understand the likely construction impacts arising from the proposed development.  This was seconded by Councillor Iqbal Hossain. A vote was then taken.

On a vote of 7 in favour, 1 against and no abstentions, the Committee RESOLVED:

1.    That the consideration of the application at 4 & 5 Harbour Exchange Square, London E14 9TQ be DEFERRED for a Committee Site Visit.

The order of business on the agenda was changed at the meeting. This application was heard first.

Update Report noted.

Paul Buckenham introduced the application to grant planning permission for demolition of all existing building and structures on site (excluding main hospital building, South Wing and Sanitation Tower) and to redevelop the site to provide residential dwellings (Use Class C3) and flexible commercial and community floorspace (Use Class E(b) / F2(b)) within a converted and extended hospital building and five new buildings ranging from five (5) to nine (9) storeys, with associated works to built heritage, selected removal of TPO trees, plus new tree planting and landscaping works including new shelter surrounding Mulberry Tree (T82), the provision of disabled car parking spaces, cycle parking, refuse storage, mechanical plant and other works incidental to the development, and a Transport for London bus driver facility. The application is accompanied by an Environmental Statement.

and

Listed Building Consent for works to the main hospital building and Sanitary Tower including, demolition of extensions to the rear of the main building, construction of extension across the rear of main building, retention and repair of the front of the main roof, including repairing (or replacing in replica where repair is not feasible) the existing chimneys and roof lanterns, the introduction of new roof dormers, alterations to the building including the removal and replacement of windows, various internal alterations, and associated works of repair across the main  building; works to the South Wing including the retention and repair of the roof, a comprehensive repair of both roof slopes at the gable end, the removal of the external fire stair from the gable elevation, and various internal alterations, and associated works of repair across the South Wing; the demolition of all other buildings on site; repair and reinstatement of the gas lamp; and works to boundary features.

Nicholas Jehan, provided a presentation to accompany the application, which highlighted  the proposal’s, design features, site and surroundings. This included the Grade II listed church and Vicarage, as well as Bonner Gate Piers the tree preservation order. The Committee were informed of the consultation process and 176 objections to the proposal, primarily related to  the height of building E and the impact the new buildings will have on heritage, the conservation area, daylight / sunlight to neighbouring residents.

Other objections received related to the loss of trees, affordable housing provision and lack of commercial space within the proposed scheme. Mr Jehan provided planning history of the site and  noted that an initial application was submitted in 2018 and granted in 2020. This was challenged in the High Court due to the proposal requesting the removal and replacement of a veteran Mulberry tree. The new proposal will remove 20 trees and 51 new ones will be planted, with the veteran Mulberry tree protected by a barrier to ensure its survival.

The new proposal encompasses 274 new homes, with 50% of those will be affordable by habitable room, and 72% of those affordable  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.2

The order of business on the agenda was changed at the meeting. This item was heard last. The Committee were asked to vote on hearing the remaining planning matters since the meeting was nearing 3 hours. Members voted to continue.

Observations requested by the Greater London Authority (GLA) in relation to 'Application for all Reserved Matters Approval (Access, Appearance, Landscaping, Layout and Scale) in respect of Plot 1 (GLA reference 2023/0836), pursuant to LB Tower Hamlets outline planning permission reference PA/14/02011 (GLA reference GLA/1200cd/12); LB Hackney planning permission reference 2014/2427 (GLA reference GLA/1200cd/13) dated 25/03/2022, for the erection of a building comprising 51,309 sq m of office floorspace (Class B1), 831 sq m retail uses (Use Class A1-A5), 6,392 sq m plant and ancillary space, landscaping, public realm, and all associated works.'

Rikki Weir provided a presentation to accompany the application, which outlined Officer objections and comments to all reserved matters, following the initial Committee approval given at the meeting heldon 14 May 2024.

Mr Weir requested the Committee allow officers to raise additional objections andcomments on the following:

Ø  The Station Square is not in accordance with the design guide and provides no additional public realm, as required by both the design guide and local plan.

Ø  The close proximity of Plot one’s built massing would result in unacceptable amenity impacts on future residential plots. This should be reduced to the minimum parameter massing extent, at the east end of the building.

Ø  The Overground station signage should be visible rather than one for the development, as outlined in the application.

Ø  The heritage assets would be negatively impacted and adverse light pollution caused by the application.

Ø  An additional comment to request a winter view, in the Townscape and a Visual Assessment Statement of Conformity (TVIA SoC) report, including night views from the boundary estate. This was a late objection received from the Boundary Estate TRA.

Upon a unanimous vote, the Committee RESOLVED;

That Officers recommend that the following objections to the RMA are raised with the GLA:

1.    Rationalisation between plans and visualisations to confirm design intentions particularly in respect of doors to internal Plot 1 walkway, balustrades to terraces, western stairs off ‘Middle Road,’ gantry over Braithwaite Street, clarification of material number 10.

2.    Servicing yard entrance off Bethnal Green should be better visually integrated into the proposed building, in line with Design Guide and clarification on gate treatment.

3.    Review of soffits to balconies and terraces including potential integration of public art.

4.    Review of design of the eastern elevation to look at lightening the top part of the building with clarification on colours of structure in relation to spandrel panels.

5.    Review of design of the eastern elevation to look at lightening the top part of the building with clarification on colours of structure in relation to spandrel panels.

6.    Review of north and south elevations windowless parts of the building to look at better activation of facades including strategy of enlivening  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.1