Agenda item
Leopold Estate Phase 2 Land Bounded By Bow Common Lane, St Pauls Way And Ackroyd Drive, London (PA/12/02332)
- Meeting of Strategic Development Committee, Thursday, 18th July, 2013 5.30 p.m. (Item 7.1)
- View the background to item 7.1
Decision:
Update Report tabled.
On a unanimous vote, the Committee RESOLVED:
1. That planning permission (PA/12/02332) at Leopold Estate Phase 2 Land Bounded By Bow Common Lane, St Pauls Way and Ackroyd Drive, London be GRANTED for the demolition of 152 residential units and replacement with 364 new dwellings; new landscaped public open space and public realm, surface vehicle and cycle parking; access and associated ancillary development SUBJECT to
(a) Any direction by The London Mayor
(b) Any direction by the Health and Safety Executive
(b) The prior completion of a legal agreement to secure the planning obligations set out in the committee report.
2. That the Corporate Director Development & Renewal is delegated power to negotiate the legal agreement indicated above acting within normal delegated authority
3. That the Corporate Director Development & Renewal is delegated power to impose condition(s) and informative(s) on the planning permission to secure the matters set out in the committee report.
4. Any other conditions(s)/informative(s) considered necessary by the Corporate Director Development & Renewal
5. That, if within 3 months of the date of this committee the legal agreement has not been completed, the Corporate Director Development & Renewal is delegated power to refuse planning permission.
Councillor Zara Davis could not vote on this item as she had not been present from the start of the item.
Minutes:
Update Report tabled.
Owen Whalley (Service Head, Planning and Building Control) introduced the item for the demolition of 152 residential units and replacement with 364 new dwellings; new landscaped public open space and public realm, surface vehicle and cycle parking; access and associated ancillary works.
The Chair invited Toby Davey to speak in objection to the application as a registered speaker. However, in view of his absence, the Chair then invited the registered supporter to address the Committee
Mike Haggerty spoke in support of the application as a former resident of Shelmerdine Close. He expressed concern at the anti-social behaviour (asb) in the estate and that residents felt very unsafe there at times. He considered that the blocks were unsightly and should be demolished. In response to Members, he considered that the stairwells were used by drug takers and the residents had to walk past them. They had also damaged parts of the building. The problems began in about 1986.
Nasser Farooq, (Planning Officer, Development and Renewal) presented the detailed report. Mr Farooq explained in detail the site location and the planning history including the outline plans for the entire estate and the phase 1 Leopold Estate scheme that had been implemented. He also explained the refurbishment works carried out by the applicant to improve the estate.
Mr Farooq drew comparisons with the extant phase 2 scheme and the subject application. In particular, he highlighted the changes in the housing mix and the net loss of affordable housing under the current scheme. It was considered that the net loss of affordable housing in this case was acceptable and accorded with policy given there would be an overall increase in affordable housing across the estate as a result of the whole regeneration scheme.
The proposal sought to deliver 32% affordable housing. Officers were satisfied that the maximum amount of affordable housing in this phase had been secured in view of the viability.
Officers highlighted the overall benefits of the scheme. This included high quality housing at decent homes plus standards and multi tenure communities. However, it was also necessary to consider the shortfalls (including the replacement of social rented with affordable rented in this phase and the net loss of family and social rented units estate wide). On balance, Officers considered that the merits outweighed the shortfalls and the proposal on balance provided an acceptable housing mix.
The scheme sought to address the lack of permeability at the estate with clear routes through the estate.
It was considered that the impact on amenity was acceptable with only minor impacts given the size of the development.
It was confirmed that the nearby gas holders were currently disused so were not a health and safety risk so long as they remained empty. However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) were required to object to the scheme and had substantial grounds for doing so on health and safety grounds whilst the Hazardous Substance Consent was in place. Officers had held discussions with the land owners regarding the redevelopment of the site in accordance with the site allocation in the Managing Development Document . It was understood that the National Grid would seek revocation of the HSE would remove their objection once the emerging plans to redevelop the site went ahead. Confidence was expressed that this would go ahead. The scheme had also been redesigned from outline stage to minimise any risk from the gas holders.
In response to Members, Officers noted the differences with the extant phase 2 scheme. In particular, the increase in 1-2 bed units and the net loss of rented family sized units. It was considered that these changes were necessary for viability reasons in view of the economic downturn since the extant scheme was granted. The target in Council policy required that a minimum of 35% affordable housing be provided. However, the policy allowed that a more flexible approach should be taken for estate regeneration schemes. The viability assessment solely related to this scheme as opposed to the first phase as this has already been completed.
On a unanimous vote, the Committee RESOLVED:
1. That planning permission (PA/12/02332) at Leopold Estate Phase 2 Land Bounded By Bow Common Lane, St Pauls Way and Ackroyd Drive, London be GRANTED for the demolition of 152 residential units and replacement with 364 new dwellings; new landscaped public open space and public realm, surface vehicle and cycle parking; access and associated ancillary development SUBJECT to
(a) Any direction by The London Mayor
(b) Any direction by the Health and Safety Executive
(b) The prior completion of a legal agreement to secure the planning obligations set out in the committee report.
2. That the Corporate Director Development & Renewal is delegated power to negotiate the legal agreement indicated above acting within normal delegated authority
3. That the Corporate Director Development & Renewal is delegated power to impose condition(s) and informative(s) on the planning permission to secure the matters set out in the committee report.
4. Any other conditions(s)/informative(s) considered necessary by the Corporate Director Development & Renewal
5. That, if within 3 months of the date of this committee the legal agreement has not been completed, the Corporate Director Development & Renewal is delegated power to refuse planning permission.
Councillor Zara Davis could not vote on this item as she had not been present from the start of the item.
Supporting documents: