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.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chair informed the meeting that item B3 will not be considered at this meeting so as to provide both officers and applicants sufficient time to address concerns notably the quality of affordable work space, implication of the Disability Discrimination Act and the life carbon assessment.

Meeting was advised that all stakeholders will be notified when the item is to be considered.

In addition to the above, the chair invited Planning Officer to update the meeting about the Local Plan.

The Planning Officer advised that the LPA announcement of changes took place on Wed 12th July after committee report publication.

Council submitted the Islington Local Plan to the Secretary of State on 12 February 2020, that the Independent Examination has now finished with the Inspectors final report issued on 5 July 2023

Meeting was advised that Inspectors found Islington’s new Local Plan to be ‘sound and that changes made by the Inspectors are binding on the council which means Islington’s new Local Plan is legally compliant and capable of adoption. The Local Plan will be considered at Council meeting in September 2023 to be formally adopted.

Planning Officer reiterated that consideration still needs to be given to existing and new Local Plan, that the update relates to the weighting to be given and will have significant implications for determining planning applications.

Meeting was reminded meeting that the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) allows Councils to give weight to emerging Local Plans according to their stage of preparation, the extent to which there are unresolved objections and the degree of consistency with the national policy. On the basis that the Council has received the Inspectors’ final report, all objections have been considered and resolved and the Plan has been confirmed as sound and therefore compliant with national policy, almost full weight can be afforded to the new Local Plan, with policies given very significant weight in decision making.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 June 2023 be confirmed as an accurate record of proceedings and the Chair be authorised to sign them.

Application to vary Condition 2 (Approved Plans), 4 (bicycle storage areas), 16 (Class E use), 35 (Fire Statement) of Planning Permission ref: P2021/2270/FUL dated 20/12/2022, and varied by P2022/4312/NMA dated 18/01/2023, which approved the following: Refurbishment of existing building; 5 storey partial infill extension to eastern elevation, single storey extension to northern elevation and two storey roof extension with roof terrace to provide additional floorspace; reconfiguration and alterations of front and rear entrances to the western and eastern elevations; provision of one flexible Retail (Class E(a)), Cafe Restaurant; (Class E(b)), Fitness (Class E(d)) and Office (Class E (g)(i) unit at ground floor level; provision of cycle store and associated facilities, plant, green roofs and other associated works. Listed Building Consent application: P2021/2360/LBC also submitted. The proposals include the following amendments: - Introduction of a life science/research and development (Class E(g)(ii)) use, through the amendment of condition 43 (Introduce research and development use) and associated design and layout amendments including:

(Planning application number: P2023/0381/S73)

Chair informed the meeting that as items B1 and B4 are linked applications , committee will receive both presentations after which objectors and applicants were invited to make their representations.

In the discussion the following points were made:

·       The Planning Officer reminded Committee that the application before committee is to amend the approved office-led scheme granted planning consent in December 2022 and varied by Non Material Amendment consent in January 2023.

·       That the application seeks to introduce a research and development use as Life Sciences in addition to the consented office use which already alters and extends the existing building, resulting in a 60/40 split between research and development floorspace and office floorspace, secured by a new condition. Various external and internal alterations are proposed to facilitate the additional life sciences use.

·       Members were advised that application is the first of two linked applications and Item B4 which relates to the adjacent site at Times House and Laundry Building. The applications is linked by s106 agreements referring to the provision of one combined affordable workspace.

·       As an update, Planning Officer reiterated the implications of the draft local plan, however reiterating that Officers have had due regard to this change in weight, and that neither the final modifications to the new Local Plan nor the change in weight alters the officer’s assessment of this application.

·       In addition, meeting was advised that since the publication of the reports, two additional representations have been received from local businesses, in support of thetwo life sciences applications at the Regents Quarter.

·       Site is part of the Regent Quarter estate, which comprises two city blocks of buildings within the Kings Cross area.  The application site is located within the city block known as ‘Block C’, that the the majority of the site is located within the Kings Cross Conservation Area (CA21) and a small part of the Albion Yard entrance sits within the Keystone Crescent Conservation Area (CA14). The site includes the Grade II Listed Building at 34b York Way  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64.

Demolition of the existing temporary buildings and structures and erection of a 12-storey building to provide flexible Class E floorspace at ground floor level and 281 student bedrooms and internal and external resident amenity spaces on upper levels, together with refurbishment of the railway arches and the existing 3-storey building fronting onto Holloway Road to provide Class E(g)(iii)/E(a-c) and flexible Class E floorspace, a new pedestrian route, landscaping and public realm improvements, disabled car parking, cycle parking and other associated works.

(Planning application number: P2022/1943/FUL)

Councillors Klute and McHugh stepped aside and did not participate in the deliberation as they were not originally involved when the item was considered on May 2023.

In the discussion the following points were made:

·       The Planning Officer informed committee of 2 updates, one relating to the final draft local plan, that in assessing this application it had no material impact and secondly changes to the last 2 paragraphs of Appendix A as highlighted, that it reads as follows : That, should the Section 106 Deed of Planning Obligation not be completed within 13 weeks from the date when the application was made valid or within the agreed extension of time, the Service Director, Planning and Development / Head of Service – Development Management or, in their absence, the Deputy Head of Service may refuse the application on the grounds that the proposed development, in the absence of a Deed of Planning Obligation is not acceptable in planning terms. ALTERNATIVELY, should this application be refused (including refusals on the direction of The Secretary of State or The Mayor) and appealed to the Secretary of State, the Service Director, Planning and Development / Head of Service – Development Management or, in their absence, the Deputy Head of Service be authorised to enter into a Deed of Planning Obligation under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to secure to the heads of terms as set out in this report to Committee.

·       Members were reminded that application was considered at the Planning Committee on the 22nd May 2023 and was granted approval subject to conditions, s106 agreement and direction by the Mayor of London. However, subsequently it was identified that the application had not been advertised as a departure from the development plan, which is required under Part 3, Article 15 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015.

·       Further to the previous consultation, the application was re-consulted upon, noting that it represented a departure from the development plan. Letters were sent again to occupants of 2,295 adjoining and nearby properties on 9th June 2023.

·       At the time of drafting the report, 7 additional representations had been received since the previous report was drafted, 4 of which were from neighbouring residents who had already responded during the previous consultation. This results in a total of 42 objections and 4 letters of support.

·       Planning Officer advised that reasons for the item before the committee is firstly that the Draft Local Plan  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65.

Demolition of the existing buildings and construction of a part 5, part 6 and part 7 storey building with basement, comprising Class E(g)(i) Office floorspace, including the provision of affordable workspace, alongside Class E(a) Retail, Class E(b) Food and Drink and Class E(d) leisure uses at ground, lower ground, and basement levels. The proposals also comprise the delivery of a dedicated off-street servicing yard and the delivery of cycle parking alongside the provision of landscaped roof terraces and wider public realm works at grade, and all associated and ancillary works (Departure from Development Plan)

(Planning application number: P2022/2893/FUL)

Item was not considered -

The Chair informed the meeting that item B3 will not be considered at this meeting so as to provide both officers and applicants sufficient time to further address the quality of affordable workspace, the whole life carbon assessment and a consideration of the impacts to protected characteristics.  It was considered that these aspects of the scheme have the potential to go to the heart of the design of the scheme and could result in fundamental design changes once addressed.  The committee therefore felt unable to consider the scheme.

The Chair stated that all those who’d made representations will be notified when the item will be considered by the Committee. 

Councillor Klute proposed a motion to defer consideration of the entire scheme, in order for the impacts of the above mentioned issues to be fully assessed. This was seconded by Councillor Poyser and carried.

RESOLVED:

That consideration of the entire application be deferred for the reasons outlined above.

Application to vary Condition 2 (Approved Plans), 4 (bicycle storage areas), 16 (Class E use), 17(Flexible Class E Uses), 35 (Fire Statement) of Planning Permission ref: P2021/2269/FUL dated 20/12/2022 and varied by P2022/4314/NMA dated 18/01/2023, which approved the following: Refurbishment of existing buildings; partial demolition and infill extensions to the southern, northern courtyard and western elevations at ground, first, second, third and fourth floor level and one storey roof extensions to provide additional floorspace at Times House; removal of plant room and entrance, alteration to the elevations and enlargement of existing windows to Laundry Building; further works include the provision of flexible Food and Drink (Class E (b)) and/or Bar/Drinking Establishment (Sui Generis) units, and Retail (Class E (a)) units at ground floor level; provision of outdoor terraces, cycle storage and associated facilities, green roofs, plant, public realm works to Laundry Yard and infrastructure and related works, and new cycle parking on Caledonia Street.

(Planning application number: P2023/0382/S73).

This item was taken in conjunction with item B1 as they are both on the same site and are linked applications.

In the discussion the following points were made:

• The Planning Officer reminded Committee that the application before committee is to amend the approved office-led scheme granted planning consent in December 2022 and varied by Non Material Amendment consent in January 2023.
• That the application seeks to introduce a research and development use as Life Sciences in addition to the consented office use which already alters and extends the existing building, resulting in a 60/40 split between research and development floorspace and office floorspace, secured by a new condition. Various external and internal alterations are proposed to facilitate the additional life sciences use.

• Members were advised that application is the first of two linked applications and Item B4 which relates to the adjacent site at Times House and Laundry Building. The applications is linked by s106 agreements referring to the provision of one combined affordable workspace.
• As an update, Planning Officer reiterated the implications of the draft local plan, however reiterating that Officers have had due regard to this change in weight, and that neither the final modifications to the new Local Plan nor the change in weight alters the officer’s assessment of this application.
• In addition, meeting was advised that since the publication of the reports, two additional representations have been received from local businesses, in support of thetwo life sciences applications at the Regents Quarter.
• Site is part of the Regent Quarter estate, which comprises two city blocks of buildings within the Kings Cross area.  The application site is located within the city block known as ‘Block C’, that the the majority of the site is located within the Kings Cross Conservation Area (CA21) and a small part of the Albion Yard entrance sits within the Keystone Crescent Conservation Area (CA14). The site includes the Grade II Listed Building at 34b York Way and is located within the setting of a Grade I Listed building at Kings Cross Station,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67.