Agenda and draft minutes

No interests were declared

The Minutes of Planning Committee A meeting held on 31 July 2014 was unanimously accepted as a true record and signed by the Chair.

The Planning Officer outlined the details of the proposal for Listed Building Consent and Planning Permission for external and internal extension, alteration and restoration in connection with the use of the building as a place of worship (Use Class D1) and associated uses, including cafe (Use Class A3) and crèche, community hall and conference facility (use Class D1). He mentioned that English Heritage had said they would delist the building if listed building consent were granted. He also mentioned that since the publication of the agenda, further correspondence had been received from TfL, which necessitated an additional reason for refusal as follows:

(3)     Insufficient evidence has been submitted to demonstrate that the proposal would not have an adverse impact on local bus services and pedestrian safety contrary to Policy HSG 4 Residential Amenity of the UDP (2004), Policy 14 Sustainable movement and transport of the core Strategy (June 2011), Policy LTC21 Sustainable Transport of the Lewisham Town Centre Local Plan and Policy 6.3 Assessing effects of development on transport capacity of the London Plan.

The Committee received representation from Ms Wakako Hirose of Rapleys Commercial Property & Planning Consultants and from Pastor Michael White of The Tabernacle Church who said the aim of the proposed works were to restore the building to enable it to be used as a community centre and church hall, the benefit of which would far outweigh any harm that may arise from the proposed works. They did not accept that English Heritage would delist the building if listed building consent were granted and asked that planning permission and listed building consent be granted.

Councillor Reid spoke under standing orders and in support of the proposal. She said the proposed work would optimise the building for use as an outreach centre which would be of benefit to the local community and outweigh any harm that may be done to the building. She asked that planning permission and listed building consent be granted.

Following questions and deliberation whereby Members considered the harm that may result to the listed building and the proposed benefit to the public, Councillor Kennedy moved the motion to reject the officer’s recommendation and grant planning permission and listed building consent. The motion was seconded by Councillor Adefiranye

Members voted as follows:

FOR:                   Councillors Kennedy (Vice-Chair), Adefiranye, Bourne, Pat Raven, Paul Upex and Walsh

ABSTAINED:    Councillor Amrani (Chair)

RESOLVED:     that in respect to planning permission DC/14/87797 and Listed Building Consent application DC/14/87798

(A)                       That the proposals be agreed and that the application for listed building consent, the committee report and all other required documents be referred to English Heritage under Section 14 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

(B)                       Subject to a direction to refuse the application for listed building consent being received from English Heritage, that the application for listed building consent be referred to the Secretary of State at the appropriate government office (National Planning Casework Unit) under Section 14 (paragraph 4) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

The Planning Officer outlined the details of the proposal for the demolition of existing buildings and the construction of a part 2, part 3 and part 4 storey building to provide 26 self-contained dwellings (25 x 1 bed and 1 x 2 bed); refuse and recycling facilities; cycle parking and landscaping, and asked that if members were minded to accept the officer’s recommendation and grant planning permission, the stipulation that the Section 106 be completed within 1 month as stated in Recommendation B be deleted.

The Committee received verbal representation from Mr Nick Williams of Pocket Living LLP, and from Mr Charles Moran of CMA Planning, who both stated that the proposal was to provide intermediate affordable housing sold at 20% discount with eligibility and lease restrictions secured in perpetuity through a Section 106 agreement.. They asked that planning permission be granted.

Following questions and deliberation by members, Councillor Kennedy moved a motion to accept the officer’s recommendations and grant planning permission. The motion was seconded by Councillor Walsh.

Members voted as follows:

FOR:                   Councillors Kennedy (Vice-Chair), Adefiranye, Bourne, Pat Raven, Paul Upex and Walsh

ABSTAINED:    Councillor Amrani (Chair)

RESOLVED:     that in respect of Application DC/14/86354:

i.              that the requirement that the Section 106 be completed within 1 month, as stipulated in Recommendation B, be deleted;

ii.            that the Head of Law be authorised to complete a legal agreement under Section 106 of the 1990 Act (and other appropriate powers) to cover the following principal matters:

Affordable Housing

Sales restrictions

·           No occupation of the units other than by Eligible Persons

·           No sales to persons already in ownership of a residential property

·           Sales during first 6 months of marketing only to eligible persons, working or living in Lewisham and earning no more than £54,500.

·           Subsequent 6 months of sales only to eligible persons, working or living in Greater London and in accordance with the London Plan eligibility criteria.

·           After that period, sales only to eligible persons no matter where they live or work. Units may be rented to Eligible Persons, at 80% of Local Market Rate, until the unit is sold.

·           No units to be sold on the Open Market in the first round of sales.

Price

·           Owner must commit not to sell any of the units for more than 80% of Open Market Value in the 1^st round of sales

Other affordable housing obligations:

·           Marketing Methods Plan required

·           Re-sales only to Eligible Persons according to London Plan eligibility criteria

·           No re-sales within 12months of first purchase

·           Monitoring requirements

Contributions

·           Health £16,250

·           Open Space £11,256.08

·           Employment £4,261.36

·           Community facilities £3,925.87

·           Wheelchair £25,000

·           Public realm & walking/cycling links £15,000

Car Free & Car Club

·           Restriction on future residents of the development from acquiring permits within the CPZ. 

·           The provision of a car club scheme at the site (i.e. the provision of car club membership), as a sustainable alternative to car ownership.

Council’s legal costs

·           Reimbursement of the Councils legal, professional and monitoring costs associated with the drafting, finalising and monitoring the agreement.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The Planning Officer outlined the details for the proposal for the change of use of the existing outbuilding into a 1 one-bedroom self-contained unit. He asked that if members were minded to grant permission that an additional condition that the use of the outbuilding be ancillary to the main building.

The Committee received verbal representation from a resident of 14 Vancouver Road who objected to the proposal. He mentioned that his property is overlooked by the development and that the proposed development constituted overcrowding which creates noise nuisance and which would worsen if the change of use were granted. He also mentioned that the loss of the office would leave the residential units unmanaged, and he asked that planning permission be refused.

Following questions and deliberation by members and advise from the legal officer that noise mitigation measures could not be imposed on the existing development, Councillor Walsh moved the motion to defer decision of the application pending the provision of information regarding noise mitigation and waste disposal measures, and the effect of the change of use on the existing management of the main building. The motion was seconded by Councillor Amrani

Members voted as follows:

FOR:                   Councillors Kennedy (Vice-Chair), Adefiranye, Bourne, Pat Raven, Paul Upex and Walsh

ABSTAINED:    Councillor Amrani (Chair)

RESOLVED:     that determination of planning application DC/14/87519 be deferred pending the provision of information regarding noise mitigation and waste disposal measures and the effect of the change of use on the existing management of the main building.

The meeting ended at 10:00pm