Agenda item
Flat 59, Meridian Place, London E14 (PA/14/02209)
Proposal:
Infill below Flat 59 to create a duplex unit and enlarge the existing accommodation.
Recommendation:
That the Committee resolve to GRANT planning permission subject to appropriate safeguarding conditions.
Minutes:
Angelina Eke (Planning Services) presented the report for an infill development underneath the existing Flat at 59 Meridian Place to create a duplex unit and enlarge the existing accommodation. She explained the site location near to the Meridian Gate Development and 225 Marsh Wall, the nature of the subject building and the key features of the application, (spanning the width of the entrance to the development) including the changes to the layout and the proposed elevation. Consultation had been carried out and objections had been received about the land use, poor design, amenity impact, construction impacts and highway issues that were set out in the report. The Committee were advised that the proposal could be considered acceptable in terms of its bulk, massing, scale design and appearance subject to the conditions. It would also retain a generous amount of the entrance way to the development. It was also considered that the plans would have no undue impact on neighbouring amenity subject to the conditions to secure a Construction Management Plan. Officers were recommending that the application was granted planning permission.
The Committee asked questions about the impact of the development on the neighbouring properties, given their proximity to the development and the mitigation to minimise this. The Committee also asked questions about disturbance from the construction phase and about the impact on access to the development given the lack of lighting along the perimeter of the building. Officers advised that any impact from the development could be mitigated through the conditions and the Construction Management Plan. Furthermore, an additional condition could be imposed requiring that suitable sound proofing be installed to prevent noise transition during the construction phase and beyond. Whilst not a planning matter, the applicant would also be required to enter into a party wall agreement with the occupants above the development.
Councillor Marc Francis proposed and Councillor Sabina Akhtar seconded that an additional condition be added to the permission requiring submission of sound proofing measures. This was agreed.
Regarding the access issues, Officers were mindful of the concerns about the poor lighting around the perimeter of the building. To address this, it was suggested that additional measures could be added to the management plan to improve lighting along the route.
The Committee also asked questions about the cumulative impact from the construction traffic and easements rights given the Highway Services comments about the lack of information on this.
Officers confirmed that these issues had now been addressed through the requirement to submit a Construction Management Plan. The plan would have to take into account the cumulative impact of construction traffic from nearby schemes. It was also pointed out that given the scale of the development (compared to the scale of the nearby developments underway) it would be disproportionate to state that it would significantly contribute to any construction impact from the developments. The applicant would also be required to enter into an agreement to secure access along land outside the boundary.
The Committee also asked questions about the planning history and the incremental development of the site. Officers advised that the floor layout of the apartment did not lend itself to its conversation to two separate apartments. Any further subdivision of the flat would require a separate planning consent and would need to be considered on its own merits. However to prevent this, a further condition could be added to state that the development be build out in accordance with the planning permission and be retained as a three bed room apartment thereafter. Accordingly, Councillor Marc Francis proposed that an additional condition be added to the permission to reflect this.
In response to further questions, officers provided reassurances about the fire access arrangements, that would be regulated by building control and the party wall agreement.
On a unanimous vote, the Committee RESOLVED:
That the planning permission at Flat 59, Meridian Place, London E14 be GRANTED for Infill below Flat 59 to create a duplex unit and enlarge the existing accommodation (PA/14/02209)subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the Committee report and the following additional conditions requiring:
· Details of the sound proofing measures
· That the development be built out in accordance with the planning permission and that the subject flat be retained as a three bedroom flat therefore after.
Supporting documents: