Agenda and minutes

Councillor Klute welcomed everyone to the meeting, reminding everyone that the meeting is being webcasted. Members of the Committee and officers introduced themselves.

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of substitute members.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

The order of business would be B3, B1 and B2.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 March 2021 be confirmed as an accurate record of proceedings and the Chair be authorised to sign them.

RESOLVED:

a)    That the Sub-Committees be confirmed as five member Sub-Committees and that the terms of reference be noted.

b)    That the allocation of seats was determined in accordance with the advice in the report.

c)    That Councillors Khondoker, Clarke, Jackson, Klute and Woolf be appointed as members of Planning Sub-Committee A for the current municipal year or until their successors are appointed.

d)    That Councillors Poyser, Convery, Ibrahim, North and Picknell be appointed as members of Planning Sub-Committee B for the current municipal year or until their successors are appointed.

e)    That it be noted that Councillor Khondoker had been appointed Chair of Planning Sub-Committee A and Councillor Poyser had been appointed Chair of Planning Sub-Committee B for the municipal year or until their successors are appointed.

f)     That it be noted that any member who was a member or substitute member of the Planning Committee could substitute at any meetings of either Sub-Committee if they had not been appointed as a member of the Sub-Committee.

Erection of a two storey roof level extension and six storey infill extension to the existing building to create 1,353 sqm GIA of additional office, flexible commercial and showroom floorspace (Class E/Class F.1/sui generis), comprehensive refurbishment of the main façade, and provision of roof terraces, bin and cycle storage.

(Planning application number: P2021/0039/FUL)
In the discussion the following points were made:

·         The Planning Officer advised that site is situated on the southern side of Old Street. Office building is 6 storeys in height with plant enclosure at roof level and to the rear is a 2 storey building.

·         The site is surrounded by a mixture of commercial and residential uses, the closest residential dwellings are located immediately to the east of Tilney Court and a student accommodation block to the west.

·         Members were advised that site is not located within a conservation area but lies within 20 metres to the east of the St Lukes Conservation Area. The site is also located within the setting of a Grade 1 Listed building at St Lukes Church. Site also forms part of the Finsbury Local Plan area and is located within the Central Activity Zone and is accessible to public transport with Old Street station the closest underground station

·         With regards to land use consideration, members were advised the proposal would result in the provision of additional office floor space and improve the quality and efficient use of the existing floor space within the building as well as its flexibility of use which is acceptable in principle.

·         In terms of the proposed commercial development, the Planning officer acknowledged that this considered to be supported by national, regional and local planning policies.

·         The proposed office development would provide a significant uplift of overall employment floor space to the area.

·         In addition to the above, Planning Officer advised that the proposal would make a positive contribution of affordable workspace via off site contribution which would meet the council’s objectives on promoting an inclusive economy

·         In terms of the schemes design and its impact on heritage asset, the Planning Officer advised that overall, the proposed development would have an acceptable impact in terms of massing, scale and appearance and it would cause no harm to the setting of the heritage assets nearby.

·         Members were advised that applicant has submitted a daylight and sunlight report which concludes that the proposed development would result in some level of noticeable reduction of daylight for neighbouring properties at 1-5 and 6 Tilney court as well as 5 of the bedsits within the Canto Court student accommodation and that 10 windows at Tilney Court have failed the VSC test, none of them have failed the test on daylight distribution.

·         The Planning Officer acknowledged that having reviewed the results and the extent of the impact caused by the proposed development, it is judged that the adverse impacts are not severe and would not justify a refusal of planning permission on this ground.

·         In terms of sunlight loss, Planning Officer noted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 235.

Replacement and extension of rear portion of building at ground and first floors, creation of larger loading bay at ground floor facing Brandon Road, extension of building at second, third and partial fourth and fifth floors, re-cladding of front and rear elevations and provision of lift run and plant on roof, in association with use of building for Class B8 (self-storage) purposes

(Planning application number: P2020/1891/FUL)

·         The Planning Officer advised that site is within the Vale Royal & Brewery Locally Significant Industrial Site and is currently occupied by self-storage facility.

·         Site is surrounded by residential accommodation, old converted public house which is now in use as a house of multiple occupation (HMO). South of the site, the area is mainly characterised by industrial and warehouse buildings typical of the industrial area although there are a number of residential buildings in close proximity which need to be taken into consideration. 

·         Members were advised that the scheme was deferred in 2019, for further sunlight and daylight considerations which includes details of the internal layout and room sizes for the properties at Simla Court.

·         Members were reminded that as with the deferred application, the proposal still aims to retain its B8 use with the proposal seeking to extend the storage capacity of the building as well as enhancing and upgrading the existing facilities.

·         The proposal involves a 2,452sqm (GIA) uplift in B8 floor space creating a total of 5,650 sqm over the 5 floors of the new building which will serve to successfully support and enhance the functions  of the Vale Royal/Brewery Road Locally Significant Industrial Site (LSIS)

·         The scheme is considered to be a sustainable form of development in terms of energy efficiency, renewable energy and the provision of sustainable forms of transport. The scheme will not result in undue implications of the surrounding highway network in terms of loading/unloading and servicing and delivery .

·         The Planning Officer advised members that no on site vehicle parking is proposed, that the six car loading bays and two panel van/box van loading bays being provided would be for the sole use of customers loading/unloading in association with the main storage business use.

·         In terms of design and appearance, the Planning Officer advised that the proposed five storeys is appropriate in height, that in terms of the Brewery Road street scene, the proposed development would stand approximately 5 metres taller than the adjacent London Taxi Company building and align with the height of the recently approved scheme at 55-61 Brewery Road. In addition the scheme proposed plant and lift overrun would be set back from the front elevation and would only be visible from longer views.

·         With regard to the rear of the building, the floorplates on the second/third floors would include stepped setbacks from Brandon Road. The Planning officer advised that design of the rear elevation is successful in that it serves to reduce the overall bulk and massing of the rear sections of the building and to mitigate daylight impacts on neighbouring properties.

·         In  ...  view the full minutes text for item 236.

Demolition of the existing school hall and replacement with a new four storey building comprising new school hall and teaching spaces to facilitate the expansion of the existing school; Refurbishment work at main building on Duncombe Road to support the provision of new Design and Technology classrooms including installation of new vents at first floor level and three exhaust flues above roof level; Relocation of external cycle parking, bin storage and tensile canopies, with new landscaping and boundary treatment.

(Planning application number: (P2021/0002/FUL)

In the discussion the following points were made:

·         The Planning Officer advised that since the agenda was published, applicant has submitted a parking survey which assessed the parking situation of the area and officers from the Highway Travel and safety Team have reviewed it and have no objections to the scheme.

·         Site has good transport provision and the surrounding area is largely residential in context

·         In terms of land use consideration, the provision of new educational facilities is supported by Development Plan and National policies which will facilitate a new sixth form for 200 students

·         Members were advised that the provision of new educational facilities will provide additional school capacity within the borough and the new facilities would be made available for community use where appropriate.

·         Members were advised that the new 4 storey block is acceptable in scale, massing, appearance and townscape effect and that the provision of tree planting and landscaping to mitigate the tree losses is considered acceptable by the Council’s Tree Officer.

·         The proposal will also improve energy performance and sustainability standards of the school and construction activities on the site will require coordination with the adjoining Elthorne Estate development.

·         Meeting was advised that the Bridge Satellite School is accessible via Duncombe Road while other entrances on Holland Walk, Ashbrook Road and Nicholay Road are used by City of London Academy (COLA).

·         Planning Officer noted that advice from applicants with regards to Nicholay Road entrance which is currently closed is due to ongoing construction activities at Elthorne Estate

·         Members were advised that local residents have raised concerns about the impact of the proposal on the highways, traffic and safety with particular reference to access arrangements.  The Planning Officer acknowledged that although access to school site is not subject to planning control, officers have recognised that as the site is surrounded by residential properties officers have agreed that it would be reasonable for the school to utilise the other access to address overcrowding and congregating both during and after school hours.

·         In addition to the use of the other entrances, the Planning Officer informed members that the school is proposing to split the age group of students, with year 7-9 using the Nicholay Road entrance to the east, years 10-11 students using Ashbrook Road and the sixth form to use the main Holland walk entrance, in an attempt to spread the numbers evenly across the site or area. 

·         Meeting was informed that officers have welcomed this suggestion and have recommended a Site Management  ...  view the full minutes text for item 237.