Agenda item

RESOLVED

That full planning permission be GRANTED for the  approval of reserved matters (condition 30) in relation to Phases 5 and 6 of the Heathside and Lethbridge Estate redevelopment comprising the construction of buildings ranging from six to seventeen (Phase 5) and seven to eight (Phase 6) storeys in height to provide 443 residential units, parking, new landscaping and other associated works, in relation to the development approved under Section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 for minor material amendments to the planning permission DC/09/72554 dated 22 March 2010, as amended by: DC/10/75267 dated 29 September 2010, DC/10/75395 dated 27 January 2011, DC/12/81165 dated 24 January 2013, DC/14/087835 dated 18 August 2014, DC/14/087335 dated 28 October 2014, DC/15/090624 dated 21 April 2015, DC/15/092670 dated 21 August 2015, DC/17/101616 dated 19 June 2017, DC/17/101686 dated 24 August 2017, DC/17/104709 dated 1 December 2017, DC/18/106053 dated 29 March 2018 and DC/18/107715 dated 12 April 2019, for the redevelopment of the Heathside and Lethbridge Estates, Blackheath Hill and Lewisham Road SE10, comprising outline planning permission (Phases 2-6) for up to 512 square metres of retail floor space, 768 square metres of:

·         community floor space

·         an energy centre

·         1,054 residential units in buildings ranging from 3 to 17 storeys in height, together with car and cycle parking, associated highway infrastructure, public realm works.

·         provision of open space and detailed planning permission (Phase 1) for the redevelopment of land fronting onto Blackheath Hill for 138 residential units in buildings ranging from 4 to 7 storeys in height, together with car and cycle parking, associated highway infrastructure, public realm works and provision of open space; to allow for changes to layout, footprint, massing and an increase in height of blocks H and I, additional 34 residential units to Phases 5 and 6 and wider associated amendments to parking, play space and landscaping,

And a requirement that officers should formulate a condition in relation to:

·         Sinc Slope

o   Sinc slope

Before any work, the developer to submit a management plan prior to removal of any trees on the slope within the SINC detailing the measures which will be put in place to ensure the stability of the slope is safeguarded.

Reason: To ensure that the neighbouring properties are not damaged or affected by the proposed works.

The Senior Planning Officer gave an illustrative presentation to the report, recommending to the Committee to approve the discharge of Condition 2 (Reserved Matters) subject to the conditions and informatives outlined in the report.

The Committee noted the report, and that the main planning considerations specific to the application were related to the design of the building, the external appearance, and landscaping of public and private areas on the proposed site.

In response to questions raised, the Officer advised the Committee that the majority of affordable housing had been delivered during the earlier phases of the regeneration work.  As an indication, phases 1 – 4 delivered the required affordable housing units.  It was confirmed that the play areas within the development were accessible, with no cost to the occupants.  The Officer added that steps had also been taken to make the areas safe, with a view to discourage potential anti-social behaviours in the environmental surrounds.

The agent for the applicant also addressed the meeting, with a suggestion to the Committee to approve the proposal in the report, as extensive site and public consultations had been carried out by the developer prior to submitting the application.

The Committee made enquiries and received confirmation by the agent that the developer undertook a rigorous process to review the development plans, with a view to deliver high quality homes to residents.  Thus, high quality materials would continue to be used in the construction by the developer.  The agent further confirmed to the Committee that a huge part of the development plan was geared towards supporting plant bio-diversity from the Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) area to the park.  Thus, it was unlikely that native trees would not be removed.  However, out of 43 trees earmarked to be felled, 29 would be lost to the footprint of the building, including non-native sycamore trees, and the remaining 14 would be removed because of disease.

The Officer also responded to questions raised, advising the Committee that the sunlight and daylight provision was reasonable.  In particular, it would be impossible to meet 100% Building Research Establishments (BRE) requirements.  Thus information that 88% of the units met the BRE requirement was deemed acceptable for a scheme of this nature in an urban setting.

A resident also addressed the Committee, advising that she was representing Morgan Hill residents.  She expressed appreciation for officers’ support received during the consultation process.  However, residents continued to be opposed to the proposal because the concerns they raised about ecological issues and overlooking had not been addressed.  Specific to the issue of overlooking, the representative stated that it should be noted that the application site was too close to residential dwellings on Morgan Hill.  Thus, residents were concerned that proposed construction works would create subsidence to houses on a slope to the application site.

The Committee considered the submissions made at the meeting, and

RESOLVED – Unanimously

That full planning permission be GRANTED for the approval of reserved matters (condition 30) in relation to Phases 5 and 6 of the Heathside and Lethbridge Estate redevelopment comprising the construction of buildings ranging from six to seventeen (Phase 5) and seven to eight (Phase 6) storeys in height to provide 443 residential units, parking, new landscaping and other associated works, in relation to the development approved under Section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 for minor material amendments to the planning permission DC/09/72554 dated 22 March 2010, as amended by: DC/10/75267 dated 29 September 2010, DC/10/75395 dated 27 January 2011, DC/12/81165 dated 24 January 2013, DC/14/087835 dated 18 August 2014, DC/14/087335 dated 28 October 2014, DC/15/090624 dated 21 April 2015, DC/15/092670 dated 21 August 2015, DC/17/101616 dated 19 June 2017, DC/17/101686 dated 24 August 2017, DC/17/104709 dated 1 December 2017, DC/18/106053 dated 29 March 2018 and DC/18/107715 dated 12 April 2019, for the redevelopment of the Heathside and Lethbridge Estates, Blackheath Hill and Lewisham Road SE10, comprising outline planning permission (Phases 2-6) for up to 512 square metres of retail floor space, 768 square metres of:

·                    community floor space

·                    an energy centre

·                    1,054 residential units in buildings ranging from 3 to 17 storeys in height, together with car and cycle parking, associated highway infrastructure, public realm works.

·                    provision of open space and detailed planning permission (Phase 1) for the redevelopment of land fronting onto Blackheath Hill for 138 residential units in buildings ranging from 4 to 7 storeys in height, together with car and cycle

And a requirement that officers should formulate a condition in relation to:

·                     SINC Slope

Before any work, the developer to submit a management plan prior to removal of any trees on the slope within the SINC detailing the measures which will be put in place to ensure the stability of the slope is safeguarded.

Reason: To ensure that the neighbouring properties are not damaged or affected by the proposed works.