Agenda item

Demolition of existing single storey Post Office building and erection of a new two storey building comprising of a flexible retail (A1-A3) unit and new Post Office (A1) and associated back of house operations.

(Planning application number: P2015/2259/FUL)

In the discussion the following points were made:

·         The planning officer stated that an additional condition should be added to secure the phased delivery programme to ensure the post office remained open during the construction works.

·         The planning officer stated that the reference in Condition 7 to ‘the 2006 Building Regulations’ should be replaced by ‘the 2013 Building Regulations’.

·         The planning officer confirmed that the Finsbury Local Plan applied to the Post Office.

·         The planning officer confirmed that the noise conditions were standard conditions and there were no specific concerns. Although the Northern Line was close, it was not anticipated that there would be any impact from this.

·         The existing access road was discussed. The road was not adopted or constituted as a highway and there were safety concerns about the road. Although currently the emergency services could use the road if necessary, they would still be able to cross the area if necessary after the removal of the road. Baldwin Street led to the servicing yard and could also be used for emergency vehicles.

·         The legal officer advised that that an objector’s concern about ownership of the land was not a matter which was relevant to making a decision on the application.

·         The planning officer confirmed that refuse collection was carried out by the council and this arrangement would not change.

·         Objectors raised concern over construction noise. The Chair expressed sympathy but stated that the committee was unable to refuse an application based on construction noise. He explained that conditions were in place to limit noise, the contractors were obliged to be part of the Considerate Contractors’ Scheme and there was a requirement to comply with the Code of Construction Practice. Non-compliance could be reported to the council and this could be dealt with by Planning or Public Protection.

Councillor Khan proposed a motion that the Construction Management Plan should be signed off by him, as chair. This was seconded by Councillor Klute and carried.

Councillor Klute proposed a motion that the part of the Construction Management Plan which related to residents be drawn up in consultation with residents. This was seconded by Councillor Khan and carried.

Councillor Klute proposed a motion that the standard hours of construction work be included in a condition, that the height of the building should be marked on the plans, that a condition be amended/added to require details of the filtering arrangements for extraction be submitted to the Local Planning Authority for approval. These were seconded by Councillor Poyser and carried.

RESOLVED:

That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in Appendix 1 of the officer report as amended by the additional and amended conditions outlined above, the wording of which was delegated to officers 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 set out in Appendix 1 of the officer report.