Agenda, decisions and minutes

No interst was declared at the meeting.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Strategic Planning Committee held on 12 June 2023, be confirmed and signed as an accurate record.

Unanimously

RECOMMENDATION (A)

1.                 AGREED to demolish existing buildings at Leegate Shopping Centre SE12, bounded by Burnt Ash Road, Eltham Road, Leyland Road and Carston Close, and construct buildings up to 15-storeys (excluding basement level) to provide:

·                A comprehensive mixed-use development including residential (Use Class C3);

·                Flexible commercial floorspace (Use Class E),

·                A community centre (Use Class F2) and a public house (Sui Generis), together with

o   associated public realm;

o   landscaping and highways improvements,

o   vehicular access,

o   car parking and servicing arrangements;

o   cycle parking and stores, and

o   all other ancillary works. 

And refer the application, the report considered at the meeting of Lewisham’ Strategic Planning Committee meeting held on 19 July 2023 and any other required documents to the Mayor of London (Greater London Authority) under Article 5 of the Town and Country Planning (Mayor of London) Order 2008.

RECOMMENDATION (B)

2.                 AGREED that subject to no direction being received from the Mayor of London, to authorise the Head of Law to complete a legal agreement under Section 106 of the 1990 Act (and other appropriate powers) to cover the principal matters as set out in Section 12 of this report, including other such amendments as considered appropriate to ensure the acceptable implementation of the development.

RECOMMENDATION (C)

3.                 AGREED that subject to completion of a satisfactory legal agreement, authorise the Head of Planning to GRANT PLANNING PERMISSION subject to conditions including those set out below and such amendments as considered appropriate to ensure the acceptable implementation of the development.

RECOMMENDATION (D)

4.                 AGREED that if a satisfactory legal agreement has not been entered into by 19 March 2024, it is recommended that the Director of Planning refuses planning permission for the following reason:

The proposal, by failing to provide for appropriate planning obligations secured through the completion of a s106 Agreement, fails to ensure adequate mitigation against the adverse impacts of the development, contrary to Policy DF1 ‘Delivery of the Plan and Planning Obligations’ of the London Plan (2021).

3.1     The Principal Planning Officer gave an illustrative presentation of the report, highlighting the planning considerations that informed the proposal, and suggesting that the Committee should agree the recommendations for the development of Leegate Shopping Centre.

3.2     The Committee noted the report and an addendum to it which contained updates on employment, consultation, highways, planning conditions and sunlight and daylight matters. 

3.2.1   In considering the report, the Committee recognised that the recommendations were related to proposed works for the demolition of existing buildings and the construction of new buildings up to 15- storeys to provide a mixed-used development to include the following:

·            562 residential units, of which 36% would be affordable housing.

·            Flexible commercial floorspace (Use Class E) to generate up to 183 full time jobs.

·            Community centre (Use Class F2) and a public house.

·            associated public realm, landscaping measures and biodiversity.

·            Highways improvements in a PTAL 3 rating public transport facility.

·            Car parking and cycle parking and stores.

3.3   The Committee asked questions and noted Officers’ responses on the following matters:

·            Local Plan:

o      That formal consultation must be completed on local emerging policies before implementation.  Thus, in reaching a decision on the recommendations, the Committee should not give weight to the emerging Local Plan because the draft documentation had not been formally examined by the Planning Inspectorate. 

·            Employment:

o      That the proposals aimed to improve the local economy through the supply of jobs, with 201 FTE roles to be delivered during the construction period, and up to 183 FTE jobs post-development.  It was clarified that the labour contribution to be secured as part of the s106 planning agreement would be utilised to secure employment for local people as a valuable contribution within the Leegate area. 

·            Building Heights:

o    That in accordance with the Greater London Authority (GLA) policy, local authorities had an obligation to identify suitable locations for development of tall buildings and then determine appropriate heights based on the circumstances of each individual site.  Thus, Planning Officers were satisfied that determination about the appropriateness of the proposed heights of the buildings to be delivered were adequate because the assessment was based on the existing Local Plan and the London Plan.

·            Car-Free Policy:

o      That the Council’s policy suggested consideration of planning applications from a car-free point at the pre-application stage.  However, Officers were satisfied that the public transport accessibility level (PTAL) 3 setting for the proposed development accorded with the requirement in the London Plan.  Thus, Transport for London (TfL) and Council’s Highways officials raised no objection the 60 residential parking spaces proposed because the London Plan policy only required car-free for areas identified as PTAL 4, 5 and 6.

·            Public Highways Benefits

o      That the proposed development would benefit from public highways amenities around the site in the following ways:

§    Bus stops within the immediate vicinity of the proposed site.  The existing southbound bus stop on Burnt Ash Road would allow vehicular movements when a bus was stationary.

§    The nearest train station at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.