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.

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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

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

The following Members received emails from residents regarding the submitted applications: Councillor Iqbal Hossain, Councillor Asma Begum, Councillor Amin Rahman and Councillor Kamrul Hussain.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Strategic Development Committee held on 13 November 2024.

To follow

The minutes of the Strategic Development Committee meeting held on 13 November 2024 will be submitted on 09 December 2024.

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.

Vice-Chair Councillor Iqbal Hossain declared that he is unable to vote on this deferred application and as such a Chair was required. Councillor Kamrul Hussain moved to nominate Councillor Amin Rahman and Councillor  Suluk Ahmed seconded.

Councillor Kamrul Hussain moved and Councillor Gulam Kibria Choudhury seconded to vote in favour of Councillor Amin Rahman as Chair. Upon a vote of 2 in favour, none against and two abstentions,

It was therefore RESOLVED;

1.    Councillor Amin Rahman was appointed the Chair of the Strategic Development Committee for the deferred item 4.1.

Update Report noted.       

Paul Buckenham introduced the application for a redevelopment of the site to provide purpose built student accommodation with associated amenity space and Class E(a)(b) floorspace within a building of up to 46 storeys with basement; together with plant, car and cycle parking facilities, associated servicing, access and landscaping and all associated ancillary works and structures.

Nicholas Jehan  provided a brief presentation to accompany the application. The proposal will provide 912 student bedrooms within a 46 Storey tower block with two levels of basement community spaces in the centre. There will be a mix of student bedrooms, studio properties and cluster rooms, as well as dedicated kitchens, post room and study spaces. The scheme will offer 35% student accommodation. Approval was granted to construct a similar size building; however this is shorter than the initial structure.

It was noted that this application was initially considered by the Strategic Development Committee on 13 November 2024. At the time concerns were raised in relation to anti-social behaviour (ASB) and on-site security. The application was deferred for a site visit which took place on 21 November 2024. Councillor Asma Islam, who voted against the deferral, requested the minutes reflect that a site visit was offered prior to the meeting which Members declined.

Mr Jehan informed the Committee that a Student Management Plan will be secured by condition if the application is granted. This includes 24/7 on-site security, an ASB escalation procedure, which if breached can result in eviction, an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement, including obligations to ASB and a complaints procedure for neighbouring residents.

Details of obligations and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) were outlined which included standard employment obligations, 25 construction apprenticeships, a carbon offset contribution of £343, 867. The borough CIL will be chargeable on this scheme.

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

·       Clarified that contributions to the local school are not included in the application, as it will not be impacted by the construction.

·       Explained that the existing approval was given on the plot within the outline application and designated for housing. The applicant has delivered 3,300 homes above the minimum requirement of 1,700. The current application is considered acceptable as an alternative use for the plot.

·       Confirmed that a Student Management Plan deals with any ASB issues that may arise and is secured as a condition on the scheme. The building has been designed to mitigate  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.1

Vice-Chair Councillor Iqbal Hossain resumed his position as Chair for the remainder of the meeting. Councillor Asma Begum could not vote on this application since she was not present when it was initially heard on 09 October 2024.

Update Report noted.

Paul Buckenham introduced the application to grant permission for amendments to planning permission Ref: PA/21/00288, Dated 14/07/2022: Amendment(s) sought: Amendment to the wording of Condition 22 – Operational Requirements.

Aleksandra Milentijevic  provided a presentation to accompany the application. It was noted that this application was initially considered by the Strategic Development Committee on 09 October 2024. The application was deferred for further information to clarify the impact on residents in terms of air quality and noise. Members were informed that consideration was given to the wording of the condition by Officers and the applicant and summarised the following amendments:

o   Maximum parameters, rather than averages in relation to NOX or the number of vessels throughout the day.

o   Clarification on technical details.

o   No vessel movements between 1am and 5am.

o   Exclusion of river cruise vessels.

o   Air quality and noise monitoring devices installed by the applicant and maintained for three years.

Clarification on air quality was given to Members, as Ms Milentijevic noted that

Part A  of the condition states that all vessels stopping at the jetty must have maximum emissions of Tier II vessel type. Part B states that the maximum daily movements to and from the jetty must not exceed 212 movements, which is approximately 106 boat stops daily.

Part C and D now limits the vessel movements to and from the jetty. Between 23:00hrs to 01:00hrs and 05:00hrs to 06:00hrs, no more that 12 vessel movements per hour can be made to and from the jetty.  This equates to boat stops per hour.  No vessel movements can take place from 01:00hrs to 05:00hr, rather than the initial proposal of 24hr usage. Part E has also been included and states that the jetty will be solely used for passenger service boats and excludes all private boat hie or river cruise vessels.

The Chair informed the Committee that although the Council's Constitution does not usually permit public speaking for deferred applications, this application was deemed as a substantive item, pursuant to Part D, section 54, Rule 11.2. This was due to  substantive changes made to the wording of the proposed condition since the previous meeting.

The Chair invited Keith MacLean, to speak in objection to the application. Mr MacLean highlighted the following concerns:

o   No consultation has been permitted for residents and replies to discuss the matter with the residents association did not receive a response.

o   The new amendment allows three times more vessel movement to and from the jetty and increase the nighttime noise from the movements.

o   This amendment to Condition 22 now discriminates against residents by using older combustion engines on vessels, rather than newer emission free engines, which are less noisy than the earlier models.

o   Requested that the condition be amended  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.2

Update Report noted.

Paul Buckenham introduced the application to grant permission for a hybrid planning application (part full/part outline) comprising:

-      In Full, Phase 2, for residential and residential ancillary (Class C3) arranged in three blocks (A&B, C&D and E&F), Commercial space (Class E), together with access, car and cycle parking, plant rooms, associated landscaping and new public realm, and private open space.

-      In Outline, Phase 3, with all matters reserved except access for a comprehensive mixed-use development comprising the following uses:

·       Residential (Class C3);

·       Commercial, Business and Service (Class E);

·       Public and private open space including riverside walk;

·       Internal public pedestrian, cycle and vehicle circulation routes; and

·       Storage, car and cycle parking.

Conor Guilfoyle provided a presentation to accompany the application, which included the site and surroundings. Details were given on the planning application approved in 2019 and lies within the London Plan opportunity area. Permission has been granted for 2,800 homes and phase 1relates to a detailed planning application which will be completed by 2025. Phases 2, 3 and 4 are outline applications.

Mr Guilfoyle then discussed the current application which sought to amend phases 2 and 3 by added 100 more affordable homes to the scheme, encompassing the new fire safety regulations with two staircases, and improving the overall design of the scheme. Members were then informed of the site phasing, The proposal is subject to two applications, part 2, the current full phase and part 3, part outlined phase  (PA/23/02037). The second one (PA/23/02038) is a Section 73 application to amend the 2019 permit, which will be dealt with under delegated powers to supersede the initial application.

The Committee were notified of the differences between schemes, namely; more family-sized affordable rent tenure homes, taller buildings with less bulk at lower levels and a reduced building footprints. Other differences included a better functional design and increased daylight / sunlight, dual aspect dwellings, greater privacy for residents and higher quality public realm and open spaces and has stricter infrastructure compliance with better carbon reduction targets.

Details of the January 2024 consultation were noted. 2,780 letters were sent out to nearby residents, and site notices were erected and a press notice published. A second consultation took place in July 2024 due to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which requires a second consultation. Only one objection to the proposal was received and noted the lack of affordable housing due to the 'habitable room' measure used in the calculations. Mr Guilfoyle stated that the habitable rooms calculations are a planning policy requirement. The objection also noted that the  private tenure homes that could be rented out would cause a transient population without rent controls. Also the studio units proposed do not provide adequate living space, the loss of light to neighbouring properties would cause adverse effects and  the developer did not adequately consult neighbouring residents.

Mr Guilfoyle noted that rent control on private dwellings is not a matter for the planning department. The size of the dwellings  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.1