Agenda item
4 Crispin Place, E1 (PA/13/00719)
- Meeting of Moved from 14th November 2013, Development Committee, Tuesday, 26th November, 2013 7.00 p.m. (Item 6.3)
- View the background to item 6.3
Proposal: Change of use from Use Class A3 (Restaurant \ café) to Use Class A4 (Drinking establishment).
Recommendation: GRANTplanning permission subject to conditions and informatives.
Minutes:
Update Report tabled.
Jerry Bell (Applications Team Leader, Development and Renewal) introduced the item regarding 4 Crispin Place, E1 London for the change of use from use Class A3 (Restaurant \ café) to use Class A4 (Drinking establishment).
The Chair invited registered speakers to address the Committee.
Josef Cannon spoke against the proposal as a legal representative of the St George Residents' Association. He stated that this was the first change of use from A3 to A4 in the Spitalfields area, so there was cause for concern about the potential impact. He considered that the key concern was the impact of the proposal on residential amenity. In particular, from noise and disturbance from people standing around and drinking outside the premises, typically associated with public houses. The residents supported the initial comments of Environmental Health that use of the outdoor terraces be restricted to 8pm, including the western terrace. He disputed the findings in the noise assessment that drinking would be at its peak at 9pm. Experience showed that it would go on to more like 11pm.
Steve Cousins also spoke in objection to the proposal who lived immediately opposite the area. He echoed the previous points around noise disturbance. It was clear from the evidence of similar A4 units that many of the customers tended to gather outside, especially in the summer. He questioned that the condition that only five smokers be allowed outside could be enforced, given the capacity of the premises and the likelihood that they would take other customers outside with them. It was naive to say that there would be hardly any noise from this and the outdoor area generally. He questioned whether the northern terrace would close at 8pm or if there would be additional eating/drinking up time.
Ed Turner spoke in support of the application. He referred to the applicant’s successful track record in managing similar premises to the one proposed. He referred to the noise assessment carried out. This showed that there would be no worsening of the existing situation with regards to noise. He outlined the conditions to mitigate the impact including a condition preventing smokers from going outside with a drink that should minimise congregation from this. In response to Members, he reported that the Applicant was committed to working with the Police, the Council and residents to protect residential amenity and to enforce the conditions. He considered that the proposals for the western terrace was essential for the business. The noise assessment showed that use of this terrace should not impact on residents.
Helen Cuthbert spoke in support of the application. Ms Cuthbert reported on the suitability of the area for the proposed use given it was in a Central Activities Zone. Most of the eating establishments in this area were restaurants so there was a need for a new public house. The premises was already a restaurant with a bar. She also described the conditions to mitigate the impact on amenity including the plans to close the terrace at 8pm to allow customers to enjoy their meal. The proposals would also bring jobs to the area and benefit the local economy.
Beth Eite (Planning Officer) gave a presentation on the application, highlighting objections received, the number of A4 uses nearby and the proximity of the proposal to the nearest residential property.
In summary, Officers considered that the proposal was acceptable given the low number of A4 uses in the area and the measures to protect amenity (that Officers were confident could be enforced) and that the premises was already a restaurant with a bar. In response to questions, Officers confirmed that the Council’s new saturation policy was a Licensing Policy, and the application needed to be considered on its planning merits.
On a vote of 5 in favour, 1 against and 1 abstention, the Committee RESOLVED:
That planning permission (PA/13/00719) at 4 Crispin Place, E1 London be GRANTED for the change of use from Use Class A3 (Restaurant \ café) to Use Class A4 (Drinking establishment) subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the committee report.
Supporting documents: