Skip to content

Agenda and minutes

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

Contact: Ola Adeoye 

Items
No. Item

131.

Introductions

Minutes:

Councillor Klute welcomed everyone to the meeting. Members of the Committee and officers introduced themselves.

132.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillors Graham, Poyser, Spall and Woolf.

133.

Declarations of Substitute Members

Minutes:

There were no declarations of substitute members.

134.

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.

 

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

135.

Order of Business pdf icon PDF 44 KB

Minutes:

The order of business would be as per the agenda.

136.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 83 KB

Minutes:

Item B2 – PAUL ANTHONY HOUSE,724 HOLLOWAY ROAD, LONDON, N19 3JD
It was noted that a paragraph on the above item in the minutes be amended to read that Councillor Clarke proposed a motion to defer and was seconded by Councillor Graham.

RESOLVED:

That subject to the above amendments, the minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2019 be confirmed as an accurate record of proceedings and the Chair be authorised to sign them.

137.

145-157 St John Street, London, EC1V 4QJ pdf icon PDF 978 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Refurbishment and extension of existing building including additional seventh floor level as well as an extension to the rear of the existing building (from ground level to roof level) and front and rear roof terraces at the upper level, replacement of the building's facade to accommodate retail (Class A1) / professional and financial services (Class A2) and office space (B1(a) use) on the ground floor and office space (Class B1(a)) in the remainder of the building, with public highway improvements and other associated works.

 

(Planning application number: P2018/1229/FUL)

 

In the discussion the following points were made:

·         Members were reminded that at the meeting on 15 October 2019, a decision was taken to defer so that the applicant could carry out a BRE assessment of sunlight/daylight impacts to the neighbouring commercial building; officers to consider the impact of the proposal on heritage assets and for a site visit by members to understand the impact of the scheme on neighbouring occupiers.

·         The Planning Officer informed the meeting that applicant had undertaken a sunlight/daylight testing and members had attended a site visit to the neighbouring property. Meeting was informed that in addition to addressing objector’s concerns, the applicant had submitted revised plans and elevations.

·         The Planning officer highlighted changes to the scheme since it’s consideration at the last meeting. The changes included the reduction to the building envelope; the increase in separation distances to neighbouring buildings to the north and west and a contextual analysis examining gaps between buildings was highlighted.

·         The Planning Officer reiterated the Council’s Design Officer’s view, that some harm to heritage assets would occur, however this is to be weighed against the public benefits that will arise from the scheme and includes a mix of uses and off site contributions towards housing and affordable workspace.

·         In terms of daylight loss, meeting was advised that test shows that 1 window at each floor at 42-47 St John’s Square would see reductions in VSC beyond the BRE guidance, however officers consider that the weight afforded to the transgressions is at the lower end of the spectrum. Similarly, with 159 St John’s Street, 5 windows on the 1st to 3rd floors and 1 window at the 4th floor would see reductions beyond the BRE guidance. The Planning Officer acknowledged that although the reductions range between 30% to approximately 70% and impacts weigh against the scheme in the planning balance, it was noted that at the first floor the windows are generally to large open plan area used as a kitchenette and break out space (which is not as sensitive as residential accommodation).  

·         With regard to sunlight loss, the Planning officer advised that applicant’s revised plans setting the building further away from neighbouring properties (6m from 159 St John’s Street), has reduced the impact to the neighbouring occupiers in terms of both light loss and outlook. The increase in separation distance between elevations has improved the light.

·         Members were reminded of the statutory duty requirement in assessing the impact of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 137.

138.

Land to the Rear of 2 Melody Lane, Islington, London, N5 2BQ pdf icon PDF 15 MB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Demolition of existing buildings and construction of 7 residential dwellings (Use Class C3) and a new 3 storey (plus basement levels) 1,419 sqm office building (Use Class B1a), with landscaping, access and associated works.

 

(Planning application number: P2019/2429/FUL)

 

In the discussion the following points were made:

·         Members were advised that an extant permission existed for this scheme with regards to site layout, footprint, height, scale and massing and the issue for consideration is the alternative use, the addition of windows and relocation of the lift overrun to the business use of the building. In addition, the Planning Officer reiterated that the extant planning permission is a relevant material consideration in determining the application.

·         In land use terms, the planning officer advised that the proposal complies with the overarching land use objectives as it re-provides an increase business use floorspace and new housing in the location. The proposed land use mix is therefore acceptable in principle.

·         The Planning Officer reminded members that the height, scale and massing is identical to that of the consented scheme and that the proposed scale, height and massing is considered contextual and is supported by Council officers. Similarly the design of the proposed buildings would remain simple and consistent, employing similar design language to the existing adjacent mews and similar materials.

·         Members were advised that although no windows were being proposed to the set-back upper floor at the rear, the side elevations feature a series of smaller openings in the copper cladding to the same grid pattern as the lower floors. The Planning Officer advised that it is considered that all three elevations are improved by the addition of windows.

·         On the proposed basement development, the Planning Officer acknowledged that the extent of the basement levels is consistent with the extant permission and that the 2-storey basement beneath the detached office building is to be set away from the site boundaries and the proposed houses.  

·         Members were advised that the lift overrun has been relocated and rotated to be more central to the building so as to be less intrusive to the roofscape.

·         In terms of overlooking, the Planning Officer advised that at both ground and first floor, there would be no window-to-window overlooking because the existing west elevation wall would be retained with an attached timber screen which together would prevent overlooking. With regards to loss of privacy, members were informed that at second floor level, there will be no bedrooms on the west elevation of the proposed houses, which will have north facing windows and windows facing into an internal courtyard thereby not facing any neighbours.

 

·         With regards to daylight and sunlight loss, the Planning Officer advised that the applicant has submitted a Daylight and Sunlight report which indicates that all the 293 windows facing the site would meet the BRE guidance ensuring that there is no reduction in excess of 20% in either VSC or DD. The report also recognises some loss to the sunlight  on the ground to properties at 126, 128  ...  view the full minutes text for item 138.