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 southern louvres to be secured.

7.    Provision of further lighting details, including Hoard Lee report.

8.    Review of gantry over Braithwaite Street to ensure that Shoreditch High Street station is well-signposted and that this space is not cluttered.

9.    Provision of HVM strategy for site including rationalisation and minimisation of bollards around Braithwaite Street with bollards on threshold with Bethnal Green Road to provide a better pedestrian environment in the approach to Shoreditch High Street station.

10.Provision of consistent shopfront signage strategy to be secured, minimising visual clutter.

11.Clarification on pop-up uses and that these will be treated with sufficient high quality detailing.

12.Condition to be imposed, securing full details of how internal lighting of Plot 1 offices will be controlled in relation to future residential units of Plot 4, Plot 8A and Plot 10.

13.Review of accessible car parking provision on-site to ensure that Sclater Street is not over-utilised.

14.Clarification on servicing strategy in relation to Bethnal Green Road servicing yard height restriction and emergency vehicle access on Braithwaite Street.

15.Review of proposed trees (including removal of Quercus Robur) around the site to maximise provision around the public realm and around an increased ‘Station Square.’ Review of roof plant area to incorporate biodiverse roofs to increase UGF to 0.3.

16.Provision of winter views in the Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment Statement of Conformity (TVIA SoC) report including night time views from the Boundary Estate.