Agenda item
Land Between 32-34 Repton Street, Limehouse, E14 (PA/09/02562)
Decision:
On a vote of 0 for and 1 against with three abstentions, it was –
Under Part 4, Section 4.8, Rule 5.4 of the Council’s Development Procedure Rules, Councillors Alibor Choudhury, Fazlul Haque and Mohammed Abdullah Salique could not vote on this item as they were not present at the start of the item.
RESOLVED
That the Officer recommendation to grant planning permission for the construction of a new build residential block of three storeys on existing car park site to provide 3 x three bedroom flats with associated amenity space
not be NOT ACCEPTED.
The Committee indicated that they were minded to refuse the planning application because of the following reasons -
- Potential overdevelopment of the site;
- Loss of car parking spaces;
- Highways and transport issues – loss of permeable access route;
- Loss of light;
- Impact on environment.
Minutes:
Mr Stephen Irvine, (Development Control Manager), introduced the report regarding the construction of a new build residential block of three storeys on existing car park site to provide 3 x three bedroom flats with associated amenity space
The Chair then invited representations from persons who had registered for speaking rights in accordance with the procedures for hearing objections, as set out in the Council’s Constitution.
Mr M. Shahanur Khan (Local resident) spoke in objection to the application He considered that the application would have an adverse impact on the environment, lead to overcrowding, loss of an access route, increase pressure on facilities, create parking problems and infringe residents rights to privacy. He considered that the Council should prioritise local tenants and that parking spaces should be allocated to local people. At a recent residents meeting, it was strongly felt that the existing car park should be retained. Nobody supported it. The Council should listed to the views of the residents.
Mr Paul Gendle, (the Applicant’s Agent) spoke in support of the application. He considered that the existing car park was currently underused. He confirmed that everyone who currently had a right to park there would still be entitled to a space should the application be approved. This revised scheme included substantial anti social behaviour measures. It would provide much needed social rented unit and would enhance the local landscape.
Ila Robertson (Applications Manager, Development and Renewal) presented the detailed reported. She referred to the material objections and addressed each one in turn. In summary she reported that the proposal would provide much needed social rented units with no adverse impact on the surrounding area. For that reason, the planning permission should be granted.
Ms Robertson addressed each point raised by the objectors and commented that:
- The Application complies with the London Plan which seeks to maximise provision of additional housing in London
- Confirmed that officers had visited Blount Street and it was considered that the proposal would not have a detrimental impact on that area.
- Members needed to balance the need for affordable housing as set out in the Community Plan against the issues raised in objection.
- The application was a resubmission of the planning application which was withdrawn in August 2009. The same people and the same level of consultation was carried out for both this application and the previous August 2009 scheme.
Members considered that the access arrangements were inadequate, that the loss of the 10 parking spaces was a significant issue given the difficulties with parking in the Borough and that the proposal would put an intolerable strain on the infrastructure and would significantly increase congestion. Members noted that 309 people had signed the petition against the proposal and queried whether the residents were made fully aware of the proposals. They felt that there was a lack of consultation.
Consequently after consideration of the representations and the officers report, Members were minded to refuse the application and on a vote of 0 for and 1 against with three abstentions, it was –
RESOLVED
That the Officer recommendation to grant planning permission for the construction of a new build residential block of three storeys on existing car park site to provide 3 x three bedroom flats with associated amenity space
not be NOT ACCEPTED.
The Committee indicated that they were minded to refuse the planning application because of the following reasons -
- Potential overdevelopment of the site;
- Loss of car parking spaces;
- Highways and transport issues – loss of permeable access route;
- Loss of light;
- Impact on environment.
Under Part 4, Section 4.8, Rule 5.4 of the Council’s Development Procedure Rules, Councillors Alibor Choudhury, Fazlul Haque and Mohammed Abdullah Salique could not vote on this item as they were not present at the start of the item.
Supporting documents: