Agenda and minutes

Councillor Klute welcomed everyone to the meeting. 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.

Councillor Jackson declared a personal interest in item B1 as he is presently a Governor Parent of Central Foundation School.

The order of business would be as per the agenda.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 18July 2023 be confirmed as an accurate record of proceedings and the Chair be authorised to sign them.

Partial demolition and redevelopment to erect a building up to 35 storeys (plus basement), comprising increased office floor space (Class E[g]); commercial floorspace (Class E); a multi-purpose flexible space (Sui Generis); flexible Commercial / Community Uses (Class E/ F1); alterations to and formation of new landscaping, public realm, plant, cycle storage, servicing and delivery space and other associated works. (DEPARTURE FROM THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN)

(Planning application number: P2023/1070/FUL)

In the discussion the following points were made:

·       Planning officer advised meeting that since agenda was published a letter of support from the Old Street Partnership (OSP) was received welcoming the range of employment and SME benefits and opportunities that could be generated by the scheme, the improvement to public realm and landscaping on all sides of the building and also with the pavement width being increased.

·       Also a letter of objection from a South Shoreditch resident was received concerning the cumulative impact of various developments on local residential amenity through construction activities and also vehicular movements influenced by road layouts.

·       There was also concern that the report does not sufficiently appraise how the proposed development might influence or preclude development coming forward at 250 Old Street, that the sites’ interconnectivity should be better explored and the application site should be designed holistically with 250 in context and that the placement of windows on the elevation is also deemed to compromise development at 250 Old Street.

·       Planning Officer clarified that there are no windows to the eastern elevation as it is evident on the submitted floor plans and C

·       GI drawings.

·       Meeting was advised that in light of the recent changes to NPPF which relates to onshore wind development, this has no planning implications for this scheme.

·       In addition to the above, meeting was advised that Policy DH3 has been updated through the modifications which were consulted on in 2022 with the removal of the words “Any buildings proposed on these sites which exceed the identified maximum heights will be refused” in part C and that it is to be replaced with the words: “On sites identified as potentially suitable for tall buildings under this policy, development must not exceed the maximum building heights for that specific tall building location,”

·       Finally Planning Officer informed the meeting of an addition to Heads of Terms of Recommendation A to include , the preparation and submission of a ‘School Partnership Agreement’ which details long-term partnership between Applicant and the Central Foundation Boys’ School such as School Access and learning opportunities to Makerspace/ community space; School dedicated Access arrangements for Great Room; Programme for tailored apprenticeships, internships and work experience opportunities for the School with the Applicant and Opportunities for School pupils to be involved in the design of the construction hoardings.

·       Planning Officer advised that site consists of a site allocation within the adopted and emerging Development Plan located within Opportunity Area Planning Framework in the London Plan known as Tech City. The site is also located within the CAZ.

·       Key considerations for the application  ...  view the full minutes text for item 74.

Temporary change of use of existing buildings to non-residential artists studios and exhibition space (Sui Generis) for a period of 5 years.

(Planning application number: P2022/4011/FUL)

In the discussion the following points were made:

·       Planning officer informed the meeting of a number of updates since agenda was published.

·       Firstly meeting was advised that due regard has been given to the updated version of NPPF published 5 September 2023, changes which relate to an update written in ministerial statement, to update policy for onshore wind development in England, that officers can confirm that it is not material to its assessment of the application.

·       Also letter of objection has been received from local arts charity stating that there are too many artists which will impact on neighbouring amenity and affecting local charities in the area.

·       Also officers received letter from the Islington Society, agreeing with the officers recommendation of reasons for refusal and a provisional  timetable has been received by the Local Planning authority setting out the appeal process.

·       Meeting was advised that site comprises an area of approximately 1.47 hectares and occupies a prominent location to the northern edge of the Archway gyratory and is currently vacant.

·       Planning Officer advised that site was designated as the Holborn Infirmary Conservation Area in March 2014 and is considered to be ‘At Risk’ and is on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register and that the historic buildings on the site are locally listed and include the Holborn Union main range with its landmark central tower and administration block fronting Archway Road.

·       No detailed proposed internal layout plans have been provided for all floors to illustrate how the internal space within the existing buildings would be subdivided.

·       The proposal provides 17,561 sqm of temporary floorspace, that there will be 326 artist studios supplemented with exhibition space, lecture space, ancillary offices, site workshop and canteen. Meeting was advised that it is estimated for estimated 800 artists (approx. 2.5 per studio) and will be operating 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week and that it will be set up and managed by SET with other sites across London.

·       Planning Officer advised members that Local Planning Authority has received notification of the appeal for the Non-Determination (Appeal Ref: APP/V5570/W/23/3326166), therefore Authority will not be determining the application but the Planning Inspectorate.

·       Meeting was advised that in light of the applicant’s appeal, the report before committee is to agree the basis on which the council will defend its case at the appeal, that officers would have refused the application on 8 grounds had the appeal not been submitted.

·       Planning Officer advised that the key planning considerations are the Principle of Development, Land Use, Accessibility and Inclusive Design, Neighbouring Amenity, Fire Safety, Implications for Projected CIL Contributions and Planning Obligations and CIL.

·       Members were advised that firstly, the meanwhile use would be of a far greater scale than the limited local need for artists’ studios/exhibition space that has been identified by the Council, that it  would result in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.