Agenda item

Approval of details pursuant to condition AG16 (Arsenal event day coach parking locations) of planning permission ref: P061170.

Condition AG16 of planning permission ref: P061170 states:

'That during any major event, at least 40 coach parking spaces shall be made available for use within the stadium or at another location(s) outside the stadium previously agreed by the Council'.

The proposed parking locations in order of priority:

Queensland Road (18 spaces)

Hornsey Road (9 spaces or 13 spaces if double stacked)

Sobell Centre (12 spaces)

Hornsey Street (11 spaces)

Finsbury Park (90+ spaces)

The applicant is seeking a permanent permission.

(Planning application number: P2015/1142/AOD)

In the discussion the following points were made:

·         Arrangements had been made for blue badge holders who currently parked on Queensland Road.

·         The Committee should decide whether to have 9 or 13 coach parking spaces on Hornsey Road.

·         The planning officer confirmed that some operational vehicles, safety vehicles e.g. ambulances and some spectator vehicles parked in the undercroft of the stadium. All vehicles had to be pre-registered with associated background checks having been undertaken and were searched prior to entry.

·         If coaches were to be parked in the undercroft, a different, more time consuming search would have to take place due to the size of the vehicles and the terrorism threat. This was impractical and in the medium term it was not a viable solution to the provision of match day coach parking.

·         A member suggested that due to the possibility that in the long term the security threat might reduce, temporary permission should be granted.

·         Concern was raised about spectators using the Sobell Centre’s car park which meant users of the centre were unable to park. Options for management of the car park on match days were being explored with Sobell Centre management. Currently Aquaterra, the previous provider at the Sobell Centre, currently held the lease of the car park. Once the lease returned to the council, the council could control who parked in the car park.

·         The Fire Service had been consulted on the proposals to double stack coaches on Hornsey Road and were satisfied that this would not restrict emergency access.

·         Concerns had been raised about match day anti-social behaviour on the Harvist Estate.

·         The data showed that the demand for coach parking was reducing.

·         Members had conducted a site visit on a match day to see the practicalities relating to coach parking. Even though the stadium was full, there was a small number of coaches.

·         A member commented that the allocation of home/away coach parking spaces meant the area was cleared quickly after matches and having 13 coaches on Hornsey Road would help.

·         Many of the concerns raised by residents were not specifically related to coach parking.

Councillor Khan proposed a motion, that if planning permission was granted, it should be granted for four years. This was seconded by Councillor Poyser and carried.

Councillor Klute proposed a motion to permit 13 coaches to be parked on Hornsey Road. This was seconded by Councillor Khan and carried.

RESOLVED:

That temporary approval of details be granted for a period of four years for coach parking arrangements in relation to condition AG16 of planning permission ref: P061170, to cover all home football (soccer) matches, subject to the prior completion of a Deed of Planning Obligation made under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 between the council and all persons with an interest in the land (including mortgagees ) in order to secure the planning obligations contained within Recommendation A of the officer’s report, to the satisfaction of the Head of Law and Public Services and the Service Director, Planning and Development/Head of Service – Development Management or, in their absence, the Deputy Head of Service, subject to the conditions and informative in the officer’s report plus the amendment outlined above to permit 13 coaches to be parked on Hornsey Road.