Agenda item

Retrospective change of use from a storage and distrubution warehouse (B8) to light industry B1(a) (now Class E). Retention of internal alterations including internal mezzanine floor (amended description) to provide 450 sqm of new Class E floorspace.  The installation of a new roof and rooflights. Construction of new entrance canopy and provision of 20 cycle spaces.

(Planning application number: P2018/4071/FUL)

In the discussion the following points were made:

·       The Planning Officer advised of a correction to paragraph 11.1, that Class B8 use does not now fall under Class E and remains unchanged , however the change of use from B8 to B1 (now Class E) is supported by policy and is considered acceptable in land use terms .

·       Condition 1 is to be amended, that the requirement to complete the roof by 4^th February 2022 be deleted and replaced by a standard 3 year commencement condition.

·       Members were advised that in order to be consistent with the enforcement notice, an additional condition is recommended stating ‘that Notwithstanding condition 1 and 6, within 7 months of the date of the permission, the new roof shall be constructed in it’s entirety in accordance with the hereby approved plans and particulars and shall be maintained as such thereafter’

·       The Planning Officer advised that site falls within the Hillmarton Conservation Area, does not comprise any Listed Buildings or fall within the setting of any Listed Buildings and lies within the Nags Head & Holloway key core area.

·       The application has been submitted in response to a Council planning enforcement investigation on 17 Oct 2018, that the use of the subdivided main warehouse and the townhouse in use as 8 flexible units within Class B were in breach of planning control and required planning permission. Similarly the new felt roof is in breach of planning control.

·       Members were informed that it has now been established that the change of use of the townhouse floorspace is a permitted change not requiring planning permission as detailed in paragraph 4.10 of the report

·       With regards the external alterations involving the new metal roof and roof lights, meeting was advised that it is considered that it will preserve the visual appearance and character Hillmarton Conservation Area and would be acceptable in design terms

·       The proposed use of the warehouse for 18 separate units represents a more intensive and efficient use of the site and supports local employment and contributes to the local economy and is supported by development plan policy

·       It was noted that although the proposal is recognised as having potential to generate noise levels due to the various uses, the Council’s Environmental Health Pollution officers have recommended controls through suggested conditions to mitigate any impact

·       In response to a member query the applicant confirmed that a solar PV array would be installed on the roof and a £16,100 carbon offset payment was proposed to meet policy requirements in relation to sustainability and renewable energy

·       In response to a question about wheelchair access, the meeting was advised that although there is no requirement to consider wheel chair access, there is already a ramp access to the building

·       Members welcomed the scheme, noting that it is a successful project for small and medium enterprise and policy compliant.

Planning permission was granted subject to the amended conditions noted above and the inclusion of an additional conditions  

RESOLVED:

That following consideration of the case officer’s report (the assessment and recommendations therein), the presentation to Committee, submitted representations at this meeting, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions and informatives set out in Appendix 1 of the officer report and the additional condition outlined above; and subject to 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 of the officer report as amended above, the wording of which was delegated to officers; and subject to any direction by the Mayor of London to refuse the application or for it to be called in for determination by the Mayor of London.