Agenda item

            2.1             Planning issues written reply 

The Greyhound - The Greyhound

At the last Assembly meeting a referral was made to the Mayor and Cabinet meeting on the 1 October -http://councilmeetings.lewisham.gov.uk/documents/s31411/Matters%20Raised%20by%20Scrutiny%20and%20Local%20Assemblies.pdf 

The Council's strategy for rebuilding the Greyhound Public House is set out in the report to Mayor and Cabinet on the 22nd October 2014 - http://councilmeetings.lewisham.gov.uk/documents/s31779/Response%20to%20Sydenham%20Local%20Assembly%20Greyhound%20Public%20House.pdf .

This report states that having taken legal advice, the Council will seek to enforce the provisions of the existing May 2010 planning consent. Schedule I0 of the legal agreement places an obligation, amongst others, on the Owner of the land to 'construct and complete the Restoration and Refurbishment Works, in accordance with details that have been approved by the Council.'

Purelake formally submitted a planning application at the end of October 2014 under Section 96a of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 for a non material amendment in connection with the planning permission DC/09/72790 dated 24 May 2010 for the partial demolition of The Greyhound Public House, 309-315 Kirkdale SE26 and full restoration to create a self-contained Use Class A3/A4 unit in the centre of a new public square, the construction of two new, part three/part four/part five-storey residential blocks, containing 40 residential units, with commercial uses (Class A1, A3 and A4) on the ground floor, restoration of the Spring Hill building, including removal of the existing pitched roof and the addition of a second storey, together with the provision of associated private amenity space, 11 parking spaces, motorcycle parking, storage for 56 cycles, refuse storage facilities and servicing, plus alterations to the existing access from Spring Hill and closure of the existing access from Kirkdale, in order to undertake alterations that include; - The retention of an enlarged basement; - The omission of a rear elevation window; - Amendment to the flank elevation regarding the proposed sliding door; - The formation of a chimney to accommodate internal ventilation ducting.

The Council is currently assessing detailed plans that have been formally submitted including the retention of the enlarged basement, reconstruction of the roof and fenestration. 

In addition in accordance with Schedule 10, considering the lack of protection afforded to the Greyhound for such a sustained period, and the cracks that have formed to areas of the front elevation, Purelake has been requested to submit further information by the 3 December.  This includes a structural survey of the existing building and suitable measures that will be undertaken to safeguard it when works recommence. 

When all information has been submitted and assessed by officers, the Council will seek to formally resolve these issues as a matter of urgency, thereby enabling works to begin on site. The applicant has indicated that the intention is to have work completed by April 2015.

Enforcement issues - Overall, given limited resources the Council’s Planning Service prioritises enforcement cases where there is significant harm to amenity. The agreed priorities are:

1st Priority Cases - where works are being carried out which cause irremediable harm, for example, works to a listed building, demolition of a listed building and works to trees with protection orders and works which cause extreme harm to amenity.

2nd Priority Cases - where works or uses are causing a significant and continued harm to amenity, for example, the unauthorised use of a residential property as a business premises, unauthorised conversions of properties to flats, and the unauthorised construction of an extension.

3rd Priority Cases - where works or uses cause harm to the amenity of an area but do not fall into the categories above, for example, installation of shop fronts, unauthorised detached structure and non-compliance with the approved consent.

4th Priority Cases - where there is a breach of planning control but there is little or no immediate harm to amenity or where the harm can be easily remedied for example, the unauthorised installation of satellite dishes and adverts.

All enforcement complaints are registered and assessed.  The complaints listed below indicate the priority and latest position. 

•           177 Sydenham Road (11/00050) – Unauthorised Church – Priority 1 – Case logged, Enforcement Notice Served (31/03/14), premise confirmed vacant (13/06/14) and breach resolved

•           133 Sydenham Road – Jerk Night – alleged takeaway – Priority 2 – Case to be logged and investigated.

•           321 Kirkdale (13/00256) - alleged takeaway – Priority 2 – Case logged.

•           58 Sydenham Road (14/00176) - Priority 2 – Case logged and to be investigated.

•           70 Sydenham Road (10/0021) – Shop front removal – Priority 3 – Retrospective Planning Application Refused May 2012 and Enforcement Notice served 26/11/12.

•           3 Sydenham Road (11/00181) – Shop front removal – Priority 3 - Case logged.

•           24A Sydenham Road – removal of original windows – Priority 3 – Case to be logged and investigated.

•           90 Sydenham Road (13/00295) - Shop front removal – Priority 3 – Case logged.

Progress on vacant sites - 22A-24 SYDENHAM ROAD – Planning Application has now been submitted – “The construction of a four storey plus basement building with front and rear balconies at 22A-24 Sydenham Road SE26 to provide retail/commercial (Use Class A1/A3) on the ground floor and 5 one bedroom, 4 two bedroom and 3 three bedroom self-contained flats above, together with the  construction of a part two/part three storey building at the rear of the site to provide 1 one bedroom and 5 three bedroom self-contained flats, the provision of 30 bicycles spaces and associated landscaping.”

Consultation started on 6th November 2014.  Comments will be taken into account when received.

            2.2                   Highways issues     written reply

Station Approach - J B Riney's are currently waiting for approval on the method statements submitted to Network Rail for the works required to the boundary wall in Station Approach.  Once the approval is received then the brick wall and footway works can be timetabled. Officers anticipate this should be complete by the end of January. The new toilets are manufactured and can be installed as soon as the other works are complete.

Contact officer for Sydenham Road Improvement Scheme is Tom Henry – any queries to: Highways@lewisham.gov.uk

Traffic flow - TfL, the signal authority, have not yet responded to Council requests for an update on the linking of the signals.

Contact officer Jack.Pulker@TfL.gov.uk

Improvements lower Sydenham - Highway works has started in Sydenham Road (East) from Kent House Road junction. The footway work outside Home Park Library is mostly complete to tie in with the literary piazza works. 

The footway opposite the library between Elderton Road and Larkbere Road is complete. 

The signal modernisation work at the Kent House Road junction has started and should be complete before Christmas.  Once the signal work is complete, the footway works outside the Alfred PH and down to Watlington Grove will then take place.

Paving works (north side) are on site now between Kirtley Road and Stanton Way, Highclere Street to Sunnydene Street. It is anticipated that all the paving works will be complete by the end of February.

Following this some resurfacing and lining works will take place but the extent of the works to be carried out this fiscal year isn't yet determined and is dependent upon financial resources.

Contact officer is Tom Henry Highways@lewisham.gov.uk