Agenda item
Site to the south of Westferry Circus and west of Westferry Road, London E14
Decision:
On a vote of 5 for and 4 against, the Committee RESOLVED that planning permission for the erection of a Marquee style “temporary” structure (4865 sq m) for a maximum of 2 months to cater for corporate entertainment events for clients of Canary Wharf Plc within a period between 4th and 20th December 2006 with a 750-3500 guest capacity and opening hours of 11.00 am to 4.30 pm for daytime events and 18.30 pm to 00.30 am for evening events on site south of Westferry Circus and west of Westferry Road, London E14 be DEFERRED and subject to the applicant agreeing to an amendment to the operating hours from 00.30 am to 11.30 pm, the Head of Development Decisions be delegated power to GRANT planning permission and impose conditions and informatives to secure the following:
Conditions
1) Temporary Time Period (removal of structure by 8th January 2007).
2) Hours of Operation (Events held between 11.00 am and 11.30 pm Monday to Fridays between 4th and 20th December 2006).
3) The noise mitigation measures below shall be implemented at all times:
· The noise level at the main speakers should be set at 70dB(A) at 10m within the entertainment marquee.
· The music speakers must face towards the eastern limit of Westferry Circus.
· 2.4 m high Stirling boards or equivalent wooden boards to be close jointed to a minimum width of 3.6 m (minimum surface density 10kg/m2). These are to be installed centrally behind each main loudspeaker to the south and also to the west of the loudspeakers to minimise noise transfer to adjoining neighbours and to the south side of the River Thames.
· At least one security guard will be on duty for every 100 guests and a minimum of 12 guards will be on duty for each event to ensure quiet and orderly movements.
Informative
1) Sound testing is to be carried out on Tuesday night in accordance with the submitted noise report.
2) Any external lighting must be positioned in a way that would not cause a hazard to navigation in the River Thames.
3) Taxi marshals must be present at the events to ensure orderly movements and organisation of taxis.
Minutes:
Mr Michael Kiely, Head of Development Decisions, introduced the site and proposal for the erection of a Marquee style “temporary” structure (4865 sq m) for a maximum of 2 months to cater for corporate entertainment events for clients of Canary Wharf Plc within a period between 4th and 20th December 2006 with a 750-3500 guest capacity and opening hours of 11.00 am to 4.30 pm for daytime events and 18.30 pm to 00.30 am for evening events on site south of Westferry Circus and west of Westferry Road, London E14.
Ms Tania Mistelli and Mr Jon Gould spoke in objection to the proposal on the grounds of noise nuisance to local residents.
Ms Renee Goodwin, Acting Applications Manager, presented a detailed report and update report. She addressed the objections which had been made and outlined the reasons why the application had been recommended for approval. The Committee was informed that the Council’s Environmental Health department had no objections subject to noise controls being put in place. She outlined the proposed conditions and advised that the gate nearest to residential properties would be shut and only opened in emergencies.
Members asked questions relating to the recommended decibel levels in the day and at night and expressed concern over the sustained noise level, the dispersal of up to 3,500 people from the site, the parking provision and the impact on traffic.
The Committee was advised that the Environmental Health department had been consulted and were satisfied. 40dBA was the level of background noise and therefore considered acceptable. The dispersal of the crowds would be controlled through the use of security guards. However, the crowd dispersal was a management issue which would be regulated by the Premises Licence which would need to be issued under the Licensing Act 2003. The Council’s Highways officers had also been consulted and had not raised any objections. The nature of the use meant that there was a not a need for car parking, as many people would arrive by coach.
The Committee RESOLVED, at 10.30 pm, that it would continue for no longer than an hour in order to complete its business.
It was proposed that the hours of operation be reduced to 11.30 am to 10.30 pm. However, when put to a vote the motion was lost. It was then proposed that the hours of operation be reduced to 11.30 am to 11.30 pm.
The Committee RESOLVED that subject to the applicant agreeing to an amendment to the operating hours from 00.30 am to 11.30 am, the Head of Development Decisions be delegated power to GRANT planning permission for the erection of a Marquee style “temporary” structure (4865 sq m) for a maximum of 2 months to cater for corporate entertainment events for clients of Canary Wharf Plc within a period between 4th and 20th December 2006 with a 750-3500 guest capacity and opening hours of 11.00 am to 4.30 pm for daytime events and 18.30 pm to 11.30 am for evening events on site south of Westferry Circus and west of Westferry Road, London E14 and impose conditions and informatives to secure the following:
Conditions
1) Temporary Time Period (removal of structure by 8th January 2007).
2) Hours of Operation (Events held between 11.00 am and 11.30 pm Monday to Fridays between 4th and 20th December 2006).
3) The noise mitigation measures below shall be implemented at all times:
· The noise level at the main speakers should be set at 70dB(A) at 10m within the entertainment marquee.
· The music speakers must face towards the eastern limit of Westferry Circus.
· 2.4 m high Stirling boards or equivalent wooden boards to be close jointed to a minimum width of 3.6 m (minimum surface density 10kg/m2). These are to be installed centrally behind each main loudspeaker to the south and also to the west of the loudspeakers to minimise noise transfer to adjoining neighbours and to the south side of the River Thames.
· At least one security guard will be on duty for every 100 guests and a minimum of 12 guards will be on duty for each event to ensure quiet and orderly movements.
4) Details of any proposed external lighting shall be submitted to, and approved, in writing by the Local Planning Authority. These details shall show on a plan the location of external lighting and detail the type of lighting proposed.
Informative
1) Sound testing is to be carried out on Tuesday night in accordance with the submitted noise report.
2) Any external lighting must be positioned in a way that would not cause a hazard to navigation in the River Thames.
3) Taxi marshals must be present at the events to ensure orderly movements and organisation of taxis.
Councillor Alibor Choudhury left the Council Chamber after consideration of this item and did not return for the duration of the meeting.
Supporting documents: