Agenda item
438-480 Mile End Road, London E1
Decision:
RESOLVED that planning permission for the demolition of existing structures and the erection of a part 3, part 5, part 7, and part 11 storey building to provide a new education facility comprising teaching accommodation and associated facilities, student housing, cycle and car-parking, refuse and recycling facilities be REFUSED for the following reasons, subject to any direction from the mayor:-
The proposed development due to excessive height would amount to an overdevelopment of the site contrary to:
(a) Policies 4B.1, 4B.9 and 4B.10 of The London Plan 2008 that require development including tall and large-scale buildings to respect local context;
(b) Policies DEV1 and DEV3 of the Tower Hamlets Unitary Development Plan 1998, which requires development to take into account and be sensitive to the character of the surrounding area, in terms of design, bulk and scale and the development capabilities of the site;
(c) Policies CP48 and DEV2 of the Council’s interim planning guidance 2007 which requires development to take into account and respect the local character and setting of the development site in terms of scale, height mass, bulk and form of development;
Due to inappropriate design, with inadequate vertical emphasis and modelling of the facades of the proposed building, the development would not be an attractive city element as viewed from all angles in conflict with:
(d) Policy 4B.10 of The London Plan 2008 which requires development to suited to their wider context in terms of proportion and composition;
(e) Policy DEV1 and DEV3 of the Tower Hamlets Unitary Development Plan 1998 which require development to take into account and be sensitive to the character of the surrounding area; and
(f) Policy DEV2 of the Council’s interim planning guidance 2007 which requires development to take into account and respect the local character and setting of the development site in terms of streetscape rhythm, building plot sizes and design details and to enhance the unique characteristics of the surrounding area to reinforce local distinctiveness and contribute to a sense of place.
Minutes:
Mr Stephen Irvine, Development Control Manager, introduced the report to Members and referred them to the further updated report tabled at the meeting. The application had been considered previously at the Strategic Development Committee held on 4th August 2009. Members had been minded to refuse the application and therefore the report now detailed reasons for such a refusal of planning permission, which would be subject to any direction from the Mayor of London.
In response to questions from Councillors Mr Irvine confirmed that officers had not included density of the development as a ground for refusal as the development concerned student accommodation and there were no specific policies on this, only residential density. However overall, officers did consider that the development was too large. Officers were aware that there were several other buildings for student accommodation in the area but once again this should not be considered as this would be difficult for officers to defend as a reason for refusal.
Councillor Uddin stated that new developments should be to provide much needed social housing to alleviate the pressures on the Councils lengthy housing waiting list rather than student accommodation.
RESOLVED that planning permission for the demolition of existing structures and the erection of a part 3, part 5, part 7, and part 11 storey building to provide a new education facility comprising teaching accommodation and associated facilities, student housing, cycle and car-parking, refuse and recycling facilities be REFUSED for the following reasons, subject to any direction from the mayor:-
The proposed development due to excessive height would amount to an overdevelopment of the site contrary to:
(a) Policies 4B.1, 4B.9 and 4B.10 of The London Plan 2008 that require development including tall and large-scale buildings to respect local context;
(b) Policies DEV1 and DEV3 of the Tower Hamlets Unitary Development Plan 1998, which requires development to take into account and be sensitive to the character of the surrounding area, in terms of design, bulk and scale and the development capabilities of the site;
(c) Policies CP48 and DEV2 of the Council’s interim planning guidance 2007 which requires development to take into account and respect the local character and setting of the development site in terms of scale, height mass, bulk and form of development;
Due to inappropriate design, with inadequate vertical emphasis and modelling of the facades of the proposed building, the development would not be an attractive city element as viewed from all angles in conflict with:
(d) Policy 4B.10 of The London Plan 2008 which requires development to suited to their wider context in terms of proportion and composition;
(e) Policy DEV1 and DEV3 of the Tower Hamlets Unitary Development Plan 1998 which require development to take into account and be sensitive to the character of the surrounding area; and
(f) Policy DEV2 of the Council’s interim planning guidance 2007 which requires development to take into account and respect the local character and setting of the development site in terms of streetscape rhythm, building plot sizes and design details and to enhance the unique characteristics of the surrounding area to reinforce local distinctiveness and contribute to a sense of place.
Supporting documents: