Agenda item
Arrowhead Quay, East of 163 Marsh Wall, E14 (PA/12/03315)
Proposal
Erection of two buildings of 55 and 50 storeys to provide 756 residential units (Use Class C3) (including 90 Affordable Rent and 42 Affordable Shared Ownership) and ancillary uses, plus 614sqm. ground floor retail uses (Use Classes A1-A4), provision of ancillary amenity space, landscaping, public dockside walkway and pedestrian route, basement parking, servicing and a new vehicular access.
Recommendation:
That the Committee resolve to GRANT planning permission subject to, any direction by The London Mayor, the prior completion of a legal agreement, conditions and informatives.
Minutes:
Update Report tabled.
Paul Buckenham (Development Manager, Development and Renewal) introduced the application and the update and the Chair then invited registered speakers to address the Committee.
Diana Maudslay Cross, Rachael Crellin, local residents and Councillor Andrew Wood, ward Councillor spoke in objection to the scheme expressing the following points:
· That it would be premature to grant the planning permission without the adoption of the South Quay Master plan to properly assess the impact.
· There was an overprovision of small units and not enough family units so it would not encourage mixed and balanced communities.
· Lack of social housing.
· Impact on local schools, doctor surgeries that were already overstretched
· Impact on transport.
· Noise impact.
· Loss of open space, paths and adverse impact on biodiversity and wildlife
· Creation of a barrier between Canary Wharf and the south of the Island.
· That the consultation document of 2012 was out of date in terms of number of children in the area and play space.
· Concerns about the density that was significantly in excess of the Greater London Authority guidance.
· Impact on existing problems with broadband water.
· Height. If granted, it would be one of the tallest buildings in the country.
On behalf of the Applicant, Glen Howell, Julian Carter and Simon Ryan spoke in support of the scheme expressing the following points:
· That the height of the scheme was acceptable taking into account the surrounding buildings site and advice from Officers. The GLA had no major concerns with the height of the scheme.
· Highlighted the merits of the scheme including the landscaping works, the public dockside walkway, the improvements to the permeability of the site. A large part of the site would be open space.
· Lack of demand for the existing the office use. The policy support for this type of scheme in the area.
· High quality housing including affordable housing in excess of size requirements.
· New S106 and CIL contributions in addition to those secured for the previous consent. This included contributions for education and contributions to transport.
· There had been testing to provide a school on site. However, it was found that this could not be achieved so there were contributions for school places.
· Clarified the percentage of new units that could be easily adapted for wheelchair use.
· That the cumulative impact of this scheme and other schemes had been taken into account.
· That the plans had been widely advertised and there had been widespread public engagement on the scheme.
· That the scheme complied with the emerging South Quay Master Plan according to Council Officers.
· Effort had been made to ensure that the affordable and private units were of equal quality.
· Noted the need to provide separate entrances for the private/affordable blocs to ensure that the services charges for the affordable units were affordable.
Graham Harrington (Planning Officer) presented the report and update. He gave a detailed presentation on the scheme covering: the planning history of the site, the site and surrounds, the site designation in policy, the outcome of the consultation and the issues raised.
He also explained the height and design, the layout, the level of amenity space and child play space, the podium and its proposed uses, the housing offer, the measures to minimise any noise impact and protect amenity and the transport impact. Contributions had been secured to mitigate the impact of the scheme including contributions for school places. This was in addition to the contributions already secured from the previous consented office scheme on the site. Overall, the scheme generally complied with policy and in view of the merits, Officers were recommending that the scheme be granted planning permission.
Members asked questions that were answered by Officers about the allocation of the previous s106 contributions on projects in the Isle of Dogs Area. They also referred to the level of affordable housing to be provided on site and that the occupants of the affordable housing would have access to the podium. Every effort had been made to ensure that both the entrances to the affordable/private units would be of a high quality and in a prominent location. The feedback from the housing providers was that they would not want one entrance for both types of housing tenures as it could make the services charges for the social units/affordable unaffordable.
As explained by the speakers, a number of the residential units would be wheelchair adaptable. In addition, there were measures to ensure that the scheme would be fully inclusive and accessible to wheelchair users including changes to the taxi drop off arrangements to ensure this. The benefits of these measures (over a further ramp in the amenity space) were explained.
In relation to the impact on schools, the Council’s Education Department recognised the need for school places and had a programme of new school buildings. It was recognised that the Isle of Dogs was suffering particular pressure on school places. Furthermore, Officers were actively encouraging developers to deliver new schools as part of major developments coming forward.
It was emphasised that the Canal and River Trust had no objections to the scheme in principle. It was recommended that conditions be added to manage the issues around the dock wall and water via agreement with the Trust.
On a vote of 5 in favour, 0 against and 4 abstentions, the Committee RESOLVED:
1. That planning permission at PA/12/03315 Arrowhead Quay, East of 163 Marsh Wall, E14 be GRANTED for the erection of two buildings of 55 and 50 storeys to provide 756 residential units (Use Class C3) (including 90 Affordable Rent and 42 Affordable Shared Ownership) and ancillary uses, plus 614sqm. ground floor retail uses (Use Classes A1-A4), provision of ancillary amenity space, landscaping, public dockside walkway and pedestrian route, basement parking, servicing and a new vehicular access subject to:
2. Any direction by The London Mayor.
3. The prior completion of a legal agreement to secure the planning obligations set out in the Committee report.
4. That the Corporate Director Development & Renewal is delegated authority to negotiate the legal agreement and deed of variation indicated above acting within normal delegated authority.
5. That if, within three months of the date of this committee meeting the legal agreement and/or deed of variation have not been completed, the Corporate Director of Development & Renewal has delegated authority to refuse planning permission.
6. That the Corporate Director Development & Renewal use delegated power to impose conditions and informatives on the planning permission for Arrowhead Quay to secure the matters set out in the Committee report.
Supporting documents: