Agenda item
134 to 140 Pennington Street & 130, 136 & 154 to 162 The Highway
Decision:
Update report tabled.
On a unanimous vote, the Committee RESOLVED
(1) That planning permission be GRANTED at 134 to 140 Pennington Street and 130, 136 & 154 to 162 The Highway (PA/11/01278) for the redevelopment of the vacant site to provide a 242-room hotel (Class C1), 63 serviced apartments (sui-generis) and retail (Class A1) building with publicly accessible courtyard together with provision of pedestrian access, subject to the prior completion of a legal agreement to secure planning obligations and to the planning conditions and informatives as set out in the circulated report and amended by the update report Tabled at the meeting, but further:
(2) That the terms of head (f) of the S106 agreement be amended to reallocate the sum of £223,000, currently intended for the TfL Cycle Hire Scheme, to local community and infrastructure projects in the Wapping area in consultation with Members of the Strategic Development Committee and elected Councillors for Wapping Ward. In the event of the S106 agreement being unable to be finalised with the developer, a further report to be submitted to the Committee in due course.
(3) That the Corporate Director Development & Renewal be delegated power to negotiate the legal agreement indicated above.
(4) That the Corporate Director Development & Renewal be delegated power to impose planning conditions and informatives on the planning permission to secure the matters listed in the circulated report.
(5) That, if after 20 days following GLA’s Stage II response, the legal agreement has not been completed, the Corporate Director Development & Renewal be delegated power to refuse planning permission.
Minutes:
At the request of the Chair, Mr Pete Smith, Development Control Manager, introduced the circulated report and Tabled update report concerning the application (PA/11/01278) regarding redevelopment of the site at 134 to 140 Pennington Street and 130, 136 & 154 to 162 The Highway to provide a 242-room hotel (Class C1), 63 serviced apartments (sui-generis) and retail (Class A1) building with publicly accessible courtyard together with provision of pedestrian access.
At the request of the Chair, Mr Jerry Bell, Strategic Applications Manager, made a detailed application of the application, as contained in the circulated report and update, including plans and a sideshow.
Members then put questions relating to:
· The viability of arrangements for transportation/car parking for hotel clients given the location in The Highway.
· Waste storage and refuse collection arrangements.
· Daylight and sunlight standards and the effects of the proposed development on existing properties.
· Lack of firm detail as to the number of Tower Hamlets residents who would be employed in the hotel.
· The costs involved in relocating the TfL Cycle Hire station and the preference of Members for redirecting the S106 provision elsewhere for community projects.
Officers’ responses included comments that:
- The proposal included a car free requirement with one disabled space at the front of the building. The Highway was a red route no-stopping zone and Pennington Street was governed by double yellow lines. Provision had been made for dropping-off facilities only and Officers were comfortable with the arrangements.
- Refuse servicing would be to the rear of the development on Pennington Street and arrangements would be addressed through the applicant’s management plan.
- Daylight and sunlight issues had been problematic but had been properly addressed using approved standards. It was important to recognise that a previous planning application for a cinema on the site had been approved and any development in the vicinity would affect neighbouring properties.
Councillor Khales Uddin Ahmed proposed an amendment as follows:
1. That under funding for open space and leisure, £150,000 be allocated from this for the development of a community centre at the closed Wapping Housing Office.
2. That under funding from employment and training £20,000 be allocated to the Bangladeshi Welfare Association towards WBA projects to support young employed locals.
3. That S106 funding be spent locally.
Following advice from Ms Megan Nugent, Legal Services Team Leader, Planning, the amendment was not seconded but a subsequent amendment, proposed by Councillor Bill Turner and seconded by Councillor Khales Uddin Ahmed as set out in resolution (2) below, on being put to the vote, was carried 3 for and 3 against with the Chair’s casting vote. On a unanimous vote on the substantive motion, the Committee RESOLVED
(1) That planning permission be GRANTED at 134 to 140 Pennington Street and 130, 136 & 154 to 162 The Highway (PA/11/01278) for the redevelopment of the vacant site to provide a 242-room hotel (Class C1), 63 serviced apartments (sui-generis) and retail (Class A1) building with publicly accessible courtyard together with provision of pedestrian access, subject to the prior completion of a legal agreement to secure planning obligations and to the planning conditions and informatives as set out in the circulated report and amended by the update report Tabled at the meeting, but further:
(2) That the terms of head (f) of the S106 agreement be amended to reallocate the sum of £223,000, currently intended for the TfL Cycle Hire Scheme, to local community and infrastructure projects in the Wapping area in consultation with Members of the Strategic Development Committee and elected Councillors for Wapping Ward. In the event of the S106 agreement being unable to be finalised with the developer, a further report to be submitted to the Committee in due course.
(3) That the Corporate Director Development & Renewal be delegated power to negotiate the legal agreement indicated above.
(4) That the Corporate Director Development & Renewal be delegated power to impose planning conditions and informatives on the planning permission to secure the matters listed in the circulated report.
(5) That, if after 20 days following GLA’s Stage II response, the legal agreement has not been completed, the Corporate Director Development & Renewal be delegated power to refuse planning permission.
Supporting documents: