Agenda item
Greenheath Business Centre, 31 Three Colts Lane, London (PA/11/00829)
Decision:
Update Report Tabled.
On a vote of 3 in favour and 2 against, the Committee RESOLVED
1. That planning permission for the redevelopment to provide a building of seven storeys comprising 67 dwellings (26 x 1 bed, 22 x 2 bed and 19 x 3 bed) with associated landscaping, cycle storage and car parking be GRANTED subject to
2. The prior completion of a legal agreementto secure the planning obligations, as set out in the circulated report.
3. That the Corporate Director Development & Renewal is delegated authority to negotiate the legal agreement as set out in the circulated report.
4. That the Corporate Director Development & Renewal is delegated power to impose conditions and informatives on the planning permission to secure the matters as set out in the circulated report.
5. That, if the legal agreement referred to in resolution 2 above has not been completed by the 1st of August 2011, the Corporate Director Development & Renewal is delegated the power to refuse planning permission.
Minutes:
Update Report Tabled.
Pete Smith, Development Control Manager introduced the report and tabled update report concerning Greenheath Business Centre, 31 Three Colts Lane.
Councillor Sirajul Islam addressed the Committee regarding the S106 agreement. He considered that the sum for Community Facilities should be allocated to the local ward Bethnal Green South. He also expressed reservation at the proposal to allocate the Public Realm sum to the three areas mention. He feared that this could disperse problems elsewhere. Officers should consult Ward Members to mitigate this risk.
Tim Gaskell spoke on behalf of the applicant. He reported that the Housing Association would be managing the development. It would deliver high quality affordable homes. Although the level proposed fell marginally under the level required by policy, they were committed to escalating the affordable housing number upwards should housing grant be received. In reply to questions, he clarified that the scheme was currently not dependant on grant support. However he was hopeful that some would be secured. In reply to Members, he reassured them that the affordable rents proposed in the report would be honoured and be maintained and were indeed accurate.
Ila Robertson (Planning Applications Manager) made a detailed presentation of the report and the update. She explained the planning history, the main issues and addressed the issues raised in objections.
The plans provided an acceptable level of affordable housing in view of viability, policy and local rents. It was also proposed that the level of which would be escalated upwards should housing grant be secured.
Contributions had been secured to mitigate the impact of the proposals. Officers noted the need to engage with ward Councillors in allocating this as requested by Councillor Islam. This message would be passed to Communities Localities and Culture who managed this process. There would be some loss of car parking. However this was considered acceptable given planning policy which sought to minimise on site parking.
Officers also addressed the issues around design, loss of light, overlooking and noise. It was felt the scheme was acceptable on all these grounds with no undue impacts.
Questions were then raised regarding the affordability of the rents; whether they complied with the targets in the Local Development Framework and the nomination process should housing grant be provided.
In reply Ila Robertson also Jen Pepper (Affordable Housing Programme Manager), addressed the points. It reported that the Officers had undertaken extensive research looking at incomes in the Borough and also recent Housing benefit changes. The research also took into account new national policy regarding affordable housing. Based on this latest research, it was considered that the rents proposed were affordable and the proposal acceptable subject to the conditions.
On a vote of 3 in favour and 2 against, the Committee RESOLVED
1. That planning permission for the redevelopment to provide a building of seven storeys comprising 67 dwellings (26 x 1 bed, 22 x 2 bed and 19 x 3 bed) with associated landscaping, cycle storage and car parking be GRANTED subject to
2. The prior completion of a legal agreementto secure the planning obligations, as set out in the circulated report.
3. That the Corporate Director Development & Renewal is delegated authority to negotiate the legal agreement as set out in the circulated report.
4. That the Corporate Director Development & Renewal is delegated power to impose conditions and informatives on the planning permission to secure the matters as set out in the circulated report.
5. That, if the legal agreement referred to in resolution 2 above has not been completed by the 1st of August 2011, the Corporate Director Development & Renewal is delegated the power to refuse planning permission.
Supporting documents: