Agenda item
47a St Peters Close, London, E2 7AE (PA/10/00893)
Decision:
Councillor Carli Harper Penman returned to the meeting for the remaining item of business. The time being 8.00pm.
Councillor Carli Harper – Penman in the Chair.
The Chair proposed a number of amendments to the conditions, which were seconded by Councillor Mohammed Abdul Mukit to ensure
- That the hours of construction be restricted to minimise noise disturbance
- Submission of a satisfactory noise assessment including pre-completion testing prior to occupation
- That officers explore with the applicant the need to raise the height of the 1.4m fence to protect privacy, and to report back to the Committee if necessary.
These proposals were carried.
On a vote of 5 for and 1 against, the Committee RESOLVED
1. That the planning permission be GRANTED at 47a St Peters Close, London for conversion and extension of the pram store facility into a two bedroom ground floor flat with associated private amenity space subject to conditions.
2. That the Corporate Director of Development & Renewal is delegated power to impose conditions and informative on the planning permission to secure the following matters:
3. Conditions
1. Implementation within 3 years.
2. Development completed in accordance with approved plans
3. Details and samples of all external facing materials used on proposed dwelling and boundary treatment.
4. Details of cycle parking.
5. Details of compliance with life times homes standards.
6. Car Free.
7. Submission of satisfactory noise assessment including pre-completion testing prior to occupation
8. Details of revised fence.
9. Hours of construction: Restricted in accordance with standard hours
4. Any other planning condition(s) considered necessary by the Corporate Director Development & Renewal
5. Informative:
1. Any informative considered necessary by the Corporate Director Development & Renewal
Minutes:
Councillor Carli Harper Penman returned to the meeting for the remaining item of business. The time being 8.00pm.
Councillor Carli Harper – Penman in the Chair.
Ila Robertson (Applications Manager, Development and Renewal) presented the application for conversation of a pram store facility into a two bedroom flat with private amenity space.
Mr David Wilson, addressed the Committee in objection to the proposals. He stated that he was speaking on behalf of the residents of the estate, and he had got a sense that they all opposed it. He had managed to obtain 36 signatures for his petition. This was a very densely populated area and if approved there would be overcrowding. It would spoil the character and was out of keeping with the architectural features of the area. It should be stopped. He considered that THCH consistently ignored the views of local people. He referred to a previous scheme which if approved would have inhibited peoples access to their properties. This scheme was eventually turned down. He expressed concern at the amenity impact on the people at number 45, 47 and 49 St Peters Close in terms of overlooking and creating a sense of enclosure.
Councillor Stephanie Eaton addressed the Committee as an objector. She stated that she was speaking on behalf of a large number of residents on the Estate. She opposed the loss of pram space, if used properly they could be used as a cycle storage. They would be popular if better used. The scheme falls well below the minimum requirement for amenity space. It provided around a third of what was required for the site. She disputed the policy argument that this was appropriate as the land was going to be private amenity space. There were also worries about loss of privacy and overlooking to the adjacent neighbours and the inadequacy of the proposed wall. She stated that the Council had approved similar development in the past but in planning terms this did not make this right.
Bilkis Khanom (Applicants Agent) spoke on behalf of Tower Hamlets Community Housing (THCH) who were the applicants. A key aim of the group was to address the problem of overcrowding in Borough, provide better housing and to deliver large affordable housing. THCH had amongst other things, completed an overcrowding strategy, exceeded its targets in providing affordable housing, tried to deal with Anti Social Behaviour at their housing developments, carried out consultation and engaged with residents to ensure their proposals mirror the needs of residents. They welcomed the views of MPs and Councillors.
THCH had held a community event to discuss 3 other pram store conversions. During which the residents attending were very supportive of the plans and supported the schemes. They had had no objections by post either.
Ms Yasmin Begum(Applicants Agent) also spoke on behalf of Tower Hamlets Community Housing (THCH). She stated that they supported and worked to meet the Boroughs housing needs. The scheme was of good quality design. She referred to the size of the local housing register and their plans would go some way to reducing these numbers. She said that THCH had converted other pram stores into flats including a bespoke ground floor flat for a disabled person.
Ms Robertson (Applications Manager, Development and Renewal) outlined the merits of the proposal.
She advised that there would be a loss of open space on the estate but that given the acute need for affordable housing, the quality of the land and that a large part of the land would be retained as private open space, that the proposal was acceptable in policy terms.
Ms Robertson also outlined the responses to the public consultation exercise. The main objections raised related to loss of a communal open space, overdevelopment, poor quality design, light and ventilation issues.
Officers considered that the scheme was in keeping with the surrounding area, would not cause a sense of enclosure or overlooking, and the construction impact would be negligible. The hours of construction could be conditioned to ensure that amenity was protected. On all counts, officers considered that the scheme was acceptable and in keeping with policy and should be approved.
In reply to the presentation, Members queried the merits of the scheme, the loss of the pram space and amenity space, whether the pram space could be put to better use if advertised properly, the quality of the design.
Members also asked officers to clarify the amount of amenity space on the site and to address the amenity issues and the noise concerns.
Member also questioned whether the height of the proposed external fence was adequate to protect privacy and whether the hours of construction should be restricted.
In reply, Officers confirmed that the scheme would in no way restrict access to properties. In relation to external noise, conditions could be added to ensure that a noise assessment was carried out to prevent noise nuisance including pre- occupation testing. Further consideration could be given to varying the height of the proposed external fence to safeguard privacy.
The Chair proposed a number of amendments to the conditions, which were seconded by Councillor Mohammed Abdul Mukit to ensure
- That the hours of construction be restricted to minimise noise disturbance
- Submission of a satisfactory noise assessment including pre-completion testing prior to occupation
- That officers explore with the applicant the possibility of raising the height of the 1.4m fence to protect privacy, and to report back to the Committee if necessary.
These proposals were carried.
On a vote of 5 for and 1 against, the Committee RESOLVED
1. That the planning permission be GRANTED at 47a St Peters Close, London for conversion and extension of the pram store facility into a two bedroom ground floor flat with associated private amenity space subject to conditions.
2. That the Corporate Director of Development & Renewal is granted power to impose conditions and informative on the planning permission to secure the following matters:
3. Conditions
1. Implementation within 3 years.
2. Development completed in accordance with approved plans
3. Details and samples of all external facing materials used on proposed dwelling and boundary treatment.
4. Details of cycle parking.
5. Details of compliance with life times homes standards.
6. Car Free.
7. Submission of a satisfactory noise assessment including pre completion testing prior to occupation
8. Details of revised fence.
9. Hours of construction: Restricted in accordance with standard hours
4. Any other planning condition(s) considered necessary by the Corporate Director Development & Renewal
5. Informative:
1. Any informative considered necessary by the Corporate Director Development & Renewal
Supporting documents: