Agenda item

The applicant is seeking a permanent permission following approval of details application P2015/1142/AOD for the previously consented locations

(Planning application number: P2019/2022/AOD)

Prior to the committee presentation, the planning case officer raised several points of clarifications and corrections, these matters included:

·         The following corrections be made to Condition 3 relating to the restricted use of Sobell Centre – replace 12 Coaches with 11 Coaches and remove the words “or such other location as advised by the MPS”.

·         Comments from TfL and Hackney Council were received which raised no objection to the proposals.

·         An Incident Report (regarding the dumping of waste in January 2019) from a resident of Queensland Road was sent to the officer prior to Committee

·         Response made by Steer on behalf of the applicant, this was circulated prior to the meeting, and copies made available on the night for members if needed.

In the discussion the following points were made:

·         The Planning officer informed members that Arsenal Football Club is seeking to secure a permanent permission for match day coach parking locations for the 2019/20 season. Members were reminded that the planning committee had granted temporary permissions to the club previously so that a full assessment on issues such as security, traffic and neighbouring amenity.

·         The Planning highlighted the arrangements and restrictions that is applied in coach parking locations (Queensland Road, Hornsey Road, Sobell Centre, Hornsey Street and Finsbury Park) in order of priority.

·         The officer reminded members about the original plans to use the Stadium undercroft, however in light of advice received from the Metropolitan Police Services Counter Terrorism Unit, the undercroft was never used.

·         The Committee heard evidence from 3 objectors on issues such as lack of trained parking stewards resulting into damage to the glass canopy above No.1 Queensland Road and drivers ignoring the Council’s anti idling campaign. Concerns were raised about the air quality in particular and contrary to the Council’s Air quality strategy as published on the council website.

·         The agent in response informed the meeting that the club has facilitated different permutations of coach parking over the last 13 years with some tweaks introduced in certain locations and the present arrangement has been in place for over 5 years.

·         On the issue regarding sewage being deposited, the agent advised of only one instance and both driver and coach company were penalised. Also on the issue of damage to the glass canopy, agent noted that this was not related to the coach .

·         On the suggestion about reducing some of the locations, the meeting was advised that this would limit the ability to be resilient especially if and when more parking is required. The meeting was advised that evidence shows that overtime there will be fewer coaches being used to attend matches by football fans.

·         In response to the air quality concerns, members were advised by the agent that when applications for permits are received, all coach operators are notified of the future requirement that kicks in when the Mayor of London’s ULEZ comes into the operation in 2020 and the need to switch to cleaner vehicles, and which will apply to all coaches bringing supporters into the area.

·         The meeting was advised that due to improvements to the various modes of transport, there is evidence of a downtrend of coach travel to the Emirates which was to be welcomed.

·         In response to a question on how the council’s enforcement team is able to support the stewards in multiple coaching locations, the meeting was advised that although the officer fully funded by Arsenal would be based at Queensland Road (the site where most coaches would be parked), if other locations would also be used then the Council would deploy additional enforcement staff at the other locations – the requirement would be established at the pre-match planning meetings.

·         Members requested the existing funding arrangement for an enforcement officer be included as a Head of Term to ensure the funding was secured on an ongoing basis.

·         In response to concerns about increasing the number of coaches from 12 to 18, the meeting was advised of that there would be no increase, no changes from the previous temporary permissions that were granted and no plans to increase the number of coaches.

·         A suggestion to retain a temporary permission for a period of 5 years was proposed by Councillor Clarke and seconded by Councillor Picknell. Vote was taken and motion was defeated. 

RESOLVED:

That following consideration of the case officer’s report (the assessment and recommendations therein), the presentation to Committee, submitted representations and objections provided verbally at this meeting, planning permission be granted for the approval of details on a permanent basis ,subject to the conditions set out in Appendix 1 of the officer report and conditional upon the prior completion of a Deed of Planning Obligation made under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 securing the heads of terms as set out in Appendix 1 and an additional Head of Term set out below.

Additional Head of Term:  Continuation of existing arrangements where by the Applicant fund 1 x enforcement officer on an ongoing basis.

Informative - You are advised to inform all coach operators of the future requirement that come into force when the Mayor of London’s ULEZ becomes operational in 2020 and the need to switch to cleaner vehicles.