Agenda item

The Head of Planning, presented the proposal for the Approval of Reserved Matters for Block B (comprising Block B1 and B2 of 15 storeys and 22 storeys respectively) to provide a total of 169 residential units (comprising 83 one bed, 82 two bed and 4 three bed units), 571sqm (GEA) of retail/restaurant/cafe floor space (Use Class A1 and/or A3)), associated hard and soft landscaping and related works pursuant to condition 2, relating to siting, design, external appearance and landscaping for the comprehensive mixed use redevelopment of the outline approval DC/06/62375, dated 08 May 2009 for the Lewisham Gateway Site, (land between Rennell Street and Lewisham Railway Station) for 100,000m² comprising retail (A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5), offices (B1), hotel (C1), residential (C3), education/health (D1), leisure (D2) with parking and associated infrastructure, open space and water features with up to 57,000 m² residential (C3), up to 12,000 m² shops, financial & professional services (A1 & A2), up to 17,500 m² offices (B1) / education (D1), up to 5,000 m² leisure (D2), up to 4,000 m² restaurants & cafés and drinking establishments (A3 & A4), up to 3,000 m² hotel (C1), up to 1,000 m² hot food takeaways (A5), 500m² health (D1), provision of up to 500 car parking spaces, a revised road alignment of (part of) Lewisham High Street, Rennell Street, Molesworth Street and Loampit Vale and works to Lewisham Road.

He also reported that an additional letter had been received from the occupier of 36 Boyne Road and informed Members that the updated issues raised in the letter are already summarised within the current report.

This letter was also tabled to Members before the meeting.

The Committee received verbal representation from Mr Finlay (Developer), Mr Sheach (Architect) and Mr Lowenthal (Engineer), who presented their scheme and addressed Members queries regarding the development including materials to be used on the buildings and the potential for use of Confluence Place for community events.

The Committee also received verbal representations from Mr M Keogh on behalf of the Ladywell Society, not in objection to the proposal but requesting assurances regarding Confluence Place, the viewing platform, Bio-diversity, green space and the Quaggy river. Representations were also received from a resident of Boyne Road and a resident of Caterham Road on behalf of other residents.

Their comments related to concerns about the visual impact of the development including the colour of the brickwork which does not reflect  St Stephen’s church, concerns with the height of the taller buildings and the increase in residents as a result of the development and effect on existing schools and health services within the area.

In answer to questions raised by the representatives the planning officer confirmed that a pedestrian bridge over the river is not part of this application. Whilst such structure would not be precluded by the current application, officers did not consider such a structure to be necessary given the pedestrian comfort levels that would be achieved on the main roots but also felt that such a structure would not be desirable given the likely visual impact. In terms of biodiversity, officers noted that the scheme takes the river from a concrete culvert to a more natural channel with landscaped setting and as such was providing ecological enhancement. On the issue of materials it was noted that, the architect had chosen points of reference for this phase but this would not preclude using different materials in later phases.

The highways officer stated that there are on going discussions with TFL, DLR, Network Rail and Transport for London including new bus stops.

Following deliberation Councillor Hall moved the motion to accept the officer’s recommendation to Approve the discharge of Condition (2). The motion was seconded by Councillor Jacq Paschoud.

Members voted as follows:-

FOR:   Councillors De Ryk (Chair), Bonavia, Curran, Egan, Hall, JacqPaschoud and Walsh.

RESOLVED:     To Grant Approval for the discharge of Condition (2) (reserved matters) in respect of planning application no. DC/14/89233 subject to conditions as set out in the report.

Councillor Hall requested that officers circulate a briefing to Members on the way in which the impact of the additional population on future education and health needs has been taken into account.