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Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Town Hall, Upper Street, N1 2UD

Contact: Emma Taylor  Email: democracy@islington.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

36.

Introductions

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

37.

Apologies for Absence

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Minutes:

Apologies were received from Cllr Hayes.

38.

Declarations of Substitute Members

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Minutes:

Cllr North was a substitute member

39.

Declarations of Interest

If you have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest* in an item of business:

§  if it is not yet on the council’s register, you must declare both the existence and details of it at the start of the meeting or when it becomes apparent;

§  you may choose to declare a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest that is already in the register in the interests of openness and transparency. 

In both the above cases, you must leave the room without participating in discussion of the item.

 

If you have a personal interest in an item of business and you intend to speak or vote on the item you must declare both the existence and details of it at the start of the meeting or when it becomes apparent but you may participate in the discussion and vote on the item.

 

*(a) Employment, etc - Any employment, office, trade, profession or vocation carried on for profit or gain.

(b)   Sponsorship - Any payment or other financial benefit in respect of your expenses in carrying out duties as a member, or of your election; including from a trade union.

(c)   Contracts - Any current contract for goods, services or works, between you or your partner (or a body in which one of you has a beneficial interest) and the council.

(d)   Land - Any beneficial interest in land which is within the council’s area.

(e)   Licences- Any licence to occupy land in the council’s area for a month or   longer.

(f)    Corporate tenancies - Any tenancy between the council and a body in which you or your partner have a beneficial interest.

 (g)   Securities - Any beneficial interest in securities of a body which has a place of business or land in the council’s area, if the total nominal value of the securities exceeds £25,000 or one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that body or of any one class of its issued share capital. 

 

This applies to all members present at the meeting.

 

 

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Minutes:

Cllr Hamdache recused himself from Item B2 as a Ward Colleague.

40.

Order of Business

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Minutes:

The order of business changed so that Item B3 was heard first.

41.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 95 KB

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Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the minutes of the previous meeting be signed by the Chair as a correct record

42.

123 Golden Lane, London, EC1Y 0RT pdf icon PDF 9 MB

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Minutes:

Removal of existing roof structure and erection of a new mansard roof level with a new roof and a rooftop plant enclosure, replacement of windows and ground floor entrance doors, and associated internal and external alterations in connection with the provision of additional office floorspace (Class E).

 

(P2024/0726/FUL)

 

The Planning Officer introduced the application. The site was in the Central Activity Zone within the central Finsbury Spatial Strategy area, with frontages on Golden Lane, Underwood Street, and Baltic Street. The building was an office space. Photos of the site and its wider context were shown, including images of the red brick building and views from Honduras and Baltic Street elevations.

 

The proposal involved the erection of a two-storey mansard roof extension, adding approximately 427 square meters of additional office floorspace. Visuals of the proposed design and elevation drawings were presented, showing both the existing and proposed elevations. The plan included the installation of a new rooftop plant.

 

Detailed visuals of the mansard roof, which would be zinc-clad with projecting dormer windows, were displayed, along with visuals of the interior of the roof extension. The structure was designed to be lightweight, using a cross-laminated timber frame. A 3D model of the proposed development was shown, and it was noted that all windows and doors in the building would be replaced.

 

Plans of the existing and proposed sections of the building were presented. The proposal included 18 cycle spaces and new facilities for cyclists, including showers and toilets in the basement. On the ground floor, servicing and refuse/recycling storage would be retained, with access via Underwood Street. An existing dropped kerb and vehicle crossover would be maintained, and two accessible cycle spaces would be added along with a new lift providing access to all floors. The original corner entrance on Baltic Street and Golden Lane would be reopened as part of the development.

 

Typical floor layouts for the fourth, fifth floors, and roof plant were shown, indicating open-plan offices and accessible WCs. The roof plant structure would house an air source heat pump, other plant equipment, solar panels, and a lift overrun.

 

In response to questions, the officer explained the policy required six cycle spaces for staff and one for visitors based on the uplift in floor space. However, the plan provided 20 spaces, all allocated to staff, although visitors could theoretically use them as well. Despite deviating from the visitor space requirement, officers considered the overall increase in cycle parking a significant improvement and deemed it acceptable.

 

It was noted that the staff parking would be in the basement, accessible through several internal doors, which was considered less than ideal. Regarding staircases to the basement, the application allowed for two, although typically only one was required.

 

The roof's loading capacity was insufficient to support a green roof or water attenuation, but water-saving measures were incorporated into the design. Despite the lack of a green roof, the retention of the existing building provided circular economy benefits, with improvements in thermal performance and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

43.

Bingfield Garages, Bingfield Street, London, N1 0AG pdf icon PDF 9 MB

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Minutes:

Change of use from ancillary residential garages to 8 separate Class E Studio Units (Use Class E(g): commercial uses that can be carried out in a residential area without detriment to amenity). Installation of new frontages to eight undercroft spaces, under 52-68 Bingfield Street, including the addition of fixed glazing panels, windows, doors, signage and shutters. Removal of the existing boundary wall which separates the application site from Bingfield park. Re[1]provision of external refuse store for residents and for the new proposed studios spaces. Provision of a timber clad shipping container for storage and bike stands (COUNCIL OWN APPLICATION)

 

(P2023/1392/FUL)

 

The Planning Officer introduced the application. The site is located below residential buildings at 52 to 68 Benefield Street, adjacent to Broomfield Park. The application involves converting the undercroft garages into eight separate Class E studio units, with the addition of frontages and the removal of a boundary wall between the site and Broomfield Park. Key aspects of the proposal include refuse storage and the installation of a shipping container for storage.

 

The main considerations for the proposal were land use, design, neighbouring amenity, inclusive design, safety, transport, sustainability, and the impact on trees. The development was found to comply with local planning policies, especially Policy R3, which protects local shopping areas, as the site is outside any designated commercial zones.

 

The presentation highlighted the current state of the garages, now used for council storage, which were previously open car ports. The proposed ground floor plan outlined the eight studio units, each approximately 20 square meters in size, with shared facilities (two bathrooms, one accessible, and a kitchenette). Additional details included the placement of storage containers and refuse areas.

 

The elevation plans showed glazing and doorways being added to the units, and sound insulation measures were proposed to address potential noise issues affecting the adjacent residential buildings. Security was another key concern, and gated access to the studio units was included to prevent unauthorised vehicle access to the park, which became necessary due to the proposed removal of the boundary wall.

 

In response to questions form the councillors, the officer and applicant explained; the gate would be positioned at the site entrance, and further details will be confirmed through planning conditions. Concerns about managing shared facilities, such as bathrooms and a kitchenette, were raised, with suggestions for tightening the operational management plan to ensure proper maintenance. The council initially will manage the site, but provisions will be made to update the management plan if responsibilities change.

 

The units will be heated using individual electric radiant heaters, improving thermal performance with the addition of insulation and double-glazed windows. The spaces are designed to attract small and micro businesses, with a focus on office use, though flexibility exists for creative and light industrial work within the constraints of a residential setting.

 

Concerns were expressed about the lack of green space improvements. While this phase of development doesn't include landscaping, future projects might address this, pending budget considerations. The removal of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

44.

54 Newington Green, London, N16 9PX pdf icon PDF 3 MB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Internal works to replace the existing kitchen at GF level creating a new layout.

 

(P2024/1307/LBC)

 

The Planning Officer introduced the application. The application is for a Grade 1 listed building, specifically at 52-55 Newington Green. The proposal involves a conversion with changes to the layout of the existing kitchen.

 

Listed Building Consent is required for this proposal, even though the changes are minor. This is due to the historical significance of the building, which necessitates compliance with heritage preservation standards. Although such applications are typically straightforward, they are important to ensure that any alterations do not affect the building's significance. The current application proposes changes to the kitchen layout, which will enhance the appreciation of the room's historical features. The proposed changes include the removal of a rear window obstruction caused by existing kitchen units. The new layout will allow better visibility of the window and improve the room’s proportions by removing the kitchen island and using open shelving instead. These changes aim to restore and enhance the historical features of the room.

 

The application was approved unanimously.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That following consideration of the case officer’s report (the assessment and recommendations therein), the presentation to Committee, submitted representations at this meeting, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions and informatives set out in Appendix 1 of the officer report and subject to the prior completion of a Deed of Planning Obligation made under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 securing the head of terms as set out in Appendix 1 of the officer report.