Agenda and draft minutes

Councillor Klute welcomed everyone to the meeting. Members of the Committee and officers introduced themselves and the Chair outlined the procedures for the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillors Ogunro and Nanda.

Councillor Wayne substituted for Councillor Nanda.

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There were no declarations of interest.

The order of business would be B2 and B1

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2024 be confirmed as an accurate record of proceedings and the Chair be authorised to sign them.

Partial demolition, recladding and refurbishment of existing building alongside erection of two storey roof extension to provide Class E(g)(i) Office floorspace, alongside Class E(a) Retail use at ground level. The proposals also comprise the delivery of cycle parking at basement level alongside the provision of landscaped roof terraces, the installation of replacement plant equipment and associated enclosure, and all associated and ancillary works. (Departure from Development Plan)

(Planning application number: P2023/3522/FUL)

Councillors Clarke and Wayne did not participate in this item and not in meeting room as they were not involved when committee took the decision to defer the item at the last meeting on 14^th November.

In the discussion the following points were made:

·Chair reminded meeting that item which was considered at the November meeting and deferred for 3 reasons, that the focus of the Committee should be on whether the issues had been addressed and not on the whole application.

·Planning Officer informed meeting that since the publication of the agenda an additional objection was received however additional issues raised had been addressed. 

·Members were reminded that application ref: P2023/3522/FUL was considered at the Planning Committee meeting on 14^th November 2024 and deferred in order to allow for further consideration of the location of the affordable workspace offer; for further consideration of the building height and to allow for further development and clarification of the applicant’s proposed contribution towards social value generating programmes.

·Meeting was advised that since the last meeting, applicant has submitted the following additional supporting documents: Affordable Workspace Options, prepared by Make, dated 25/11/2024; a Draft Social Value Plan, prepared by BEAM, dated 29/11/2024 and a Public Benefits document, prepared by BEAM, dated 28/11/2024.

·Planning Officer advised that the submitted documents outline the various locations within the development which were explored for on-site affordable workspace provision, provide an overview of the public benefits of the proposed scheme and clarify how social value would be generated from the site.

·With regard to the affordable workspace provision, the Planning Officer advised the meeting that following on from Committee’s concerns about the lack of on site provision, further consideration was given to providing affordable workspace on-site.  All possible locations for affordable workspace in the development were explored, in accordance with Local Plan Policy B4, Part H(i). In accordance with supporting paragraph 4.54 of the Local Plan,  a policy compliant off-site contribution was agreed following engagement with the Council’s Inclusive Economy team. It is, therefore, considered that the application complies with the development plan insofar as it relates to affordable workspace.

·On the building height and it’s massing, meeting was advised that officers and applicants explored the possibility of amending the proposed building height with the applicant and no amendments to the height of the building have been proposed.

·The Planning Officer acknowledged that the existing building at 48 Chiswell Street is 31.82m, making it a tall building according to the definition set out in local policy and that through the proposed extension works, the building  ...  view the full minutes text for item 146.

The demolition of the existing buildings and redevelopment of the site to provide a five-storey building plus basement and set-back roof-level plant for light Industrial (Use Class E(g)(iii)) at ground level and flexible labs/R&D/light industrial (Use Class E(g)(ii-iii)) on the upper levels along with waste storage, cycle parking, associated plant, landscaping and other necessary works.

(Planning application number:P2024/1461/FUL)

In the discussion the following points were made:

·The site is located on the south side of Tileyard Road within the Vale Royal / Brewery Road Locally Significant Industrial Site (LSIS). The LSIS comprises predominantly light industrial and warehouse / storage uses interspersed with commercial & cultural uses, mainly focused around Tileyard Studios.

·Planning Officer advised that No. 18 Tileyard Road comprises a two-storey building which has previously provided 1,747sqm of floorspace for Rapha Racing Limited and No.20 which currently is a two-storey building (787sqm GIA), occupied by a catering company (Sands Catering) for light industrial use (Class E(g)(iii) and immediately to the south comprises the artist studios of Sir Anthony Gormley.

·With regards the primary street northern elevation, meeting was advised that scheme has been designed to maximise the active frontage to the street with a light industrial floor space occupying the majority of the ground floor. The rear southern elevation, planning officer stated that it continues the modular principle with strong emphasis with less glazing and the 4^th floor is set back and provides terrace planting to reduce massing and visibility from vale royal road and the Artist Studios to the rear.

·Meeting was advised that the proposed development will provide 1298sqm of light industrial floor space at ground floor level which includes associated ancillary floor space at basement and roof levels and the rest of the building from 1^st to 4^th floor is flexible R&D/light industrial floor space totalling 5794sqm.

·Scheme has a main entrance accessed from Tileyard Road which leads to reception, lobby and lift, stair- case and service entrance and serving the light industrial space only.

·It was noted that the Service core connects directly to the external delivery area including the proposed inset loading bay and another loading bay area of a neighbouring land.

·Meeting was informed that the upper floor provides flexible research and development light industrial floor space as well as access to the core, bathrooms, toilet facilities and other ancillary floor space.

·Submitted plans indicate how the floor space can be subdivided into smaller units suitable for SME’s and for laboratory accommodation and write up space.

·Planning Officer advised that the industrial floor space is considered to be well conceived and that an integral part of the scheme is its well generous floor to ceiling heights and convenient located loading bay dedicated service .

·Meeting was advised that the design to the front elevation has been refined since the initial proposal to reduce the impact of massing.

·Planning Officer advised that in response to the Council’s notification letter 3 objections have been received raising issues of height,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 147.