Agenda item

RESOLVED that

DC/22/126213: planning permission be GRANTED for the construction of a new vehicular access into the site on Brandram Road and alterations to the boundary walls and the provision of new sliding gate and brick piers, the reconfiguration and resurfacing of the existing car parking area providing a total of nine car parking spaces and two blue-badge spaces, the relocation of the bin store, and the reconfiguration of the pedestrian pathway through the site with installation of low-level lighting to the Merchant Taylors' Almshouses, Brandram Road SE13, subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report;

and

DC/22/126214: Listed Building Consent be GRANTED for the construction of a new vehicular access into the site on Brandram Road and alterations to the boundary wall with the provision of new sliding gate and brick piers, the reconfiguration and resurfacing of the existing car parking area providing a total of nine car parking spaces and two blue-badge spaces, the relocation of the bin store, and the reconfiguration of the pedestrian pathway through the site with installation of low-level lighting to the Merchant Taylors' Almshouses, Brandram Road SE13, subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report.

6.1      The Planning Officer, said that the committee report incorrectly stated that pre-application advice had not been sought ahead of the submission of the application. Pre application advice had been sought and provided. He gave an illustrative presentation recommending the grant of planning permission for two applications:

DC/22/126213: Construction of a new vehicular access into the site on Brandram Road and alterations to the boundary walls and the provision of new sliding gate and brick piers, the reconfiguration and resurfacing of the existing car parking area providing a total of nine car parking spaces and two blue-badge spaces, the relocation of the bin store, and the reconfiguration of the pedestrian pathway through the site with installation of low-level lighting to the Merchant Taylors' Almshouses, Brandram Road SE13; and

DC/22/126214: Listed Building Consent for the construction of a new vehicular access into the site on Brandram Road and alterations to the boundary wall with the provision of new sliding gate and brick piers, the reconfiguration and resurfacing of the existing car parking area providing a total of nine car parking spaces and two blue-badge spaces, the relocation of the bin store, and the reconfiguration of the pedestrian pathway through the site with installation of low-level lighting to the Merchant Taylors' Almshouses, Brandram Road SE13.

6.2       The Committee noted the report and that the main issues were:

·         Principle of Development

·         Urban Design and Heritage Impact

·         Impact on Adjoining Properties

·         Transport

6.3       Ms Barrett, the planning agent for the application, made a presentation.

·      The long complex history of the site was explained.

·      The objections were addressed. With regard to the visibility and odour of the bin store, it was sensitively designed, timber clad, it would not be against the boundary wall and located to enable easy access for the refuse vehicles. With regard to the grassed area to the south of the site, the applicant would make good this area as this had always been his intention.

·      The soft and hard landscaping, the car parking and lighting had already been approved.

·      The design of the gate had been amended in collaboration with officers to make it flush with the wall. Without this gate, the whole development would not be able to comply with building regulations and would be unsafe for residents in an emergency.

·      The application had he support by the Blackheath Society, planning officers conservation officers and highways officer.

6.4       A resident living close to the premises then made a presentation objecting to the application. She said highlighted the following issues :

·           The top of one of the pillars and both of the grade 2 listed wrought iron gates had been knocked off by one of the lorries turning into the site, proving that the turning circle was not wide enough.

·           The design and location of the bin store was intrusive. The walls surrounding the store would not be high enough and could be seen by the public from the pavement and residents opposite in Brandram Road. It should be moved to an area less obvious to the public.

·           There was not enough car parking and the alms residents would be parking in Brandram Road where residents had suffered from years of parking difficulties caused by large vehicles entering the site.

·           A dropped kerb would be included by the new vehicle access gate. This should not be a slight dropped kerb but there should be a clear physical end to it so that there was a road into the site. This would ensure that pedestrians paused before crossing the area.

6.5       The Planning Officer said that the bin store was set slightly below the existing wall. The height of the wall could not be increased because it would have a knock on heritage impact by increasing the height of a grade 2 list wall. It may be visible from some of the upper floors in Brandram Road, but residents would have to be looking down to see the bins. It would not be visible to the average person walking past. The bins were located on the opposite side of the road to residents living in Brandram Road and officers did not believe that it would have an impact on their living conditions. The parking lay out for the site had already been approved.

6.6       Following discussion, members received the following information.

·      The applicant would address the concerns raised by the objector with regard to the dropped kerb, by ensuring that the design was as safe as possible. The design would be agreed through a section 278 highways agreement. This would be the opportunity for officers to engage and ensure that the design for the kerb was as safe as possible.

·      The storage bins were located as far away from residents as possible and close to the gates for access by the refuse vehicles.

·      The applicant intended to install electric charging points.

·      The reclaimed bricks would be used on the development. They could not be used to increase the height of the wall around the bin store because harm would be caused due to a loss of continuity. This was something the conservation officer was keen to avoid.

·      There had been exhaustive discussion regarding the location of the bin store. It could not be located elsewhere because there was root protection zones for all the trees to the right of the new proposed gates,

The Committee considered written submissions and submissions made at the meeting, and RESOLVED unanimously that planning permission be GRANTED for the following application subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report.

DC/22/126213: Construction of a new vehicular access into the site on Brandram Road and alterations to the boundary walls and the provision of new sliding gate and brick piers, the reconfiguration and resurfacing of the existing car parking area providing a total of nine car parking spaces and two blue-badge spaces, the relocation of the bin store, and the reconfiguration of the pedestrian pathway through the site with installation of low-level lighting to the Merchant Taylors' Almshouses, Brandram Road SE13; and

The Committee considered written submission and the submissions made at the meeting, and RESOLVED unanimously that listed building consent be GRANTED for the following application subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report.

DC/22/126214: Listed Building Consent for the construction of a new vehicular access into the site on Brandram Road and alterations to the boundary wall with the provision of new sliding gate and brick piers, the reconfiguration and resurfacing of the existing car parking area providing a total of nine car parking spaces and two blue-badge spaces, the relocation of the bin store, and the reconfiguration of the pedestrian pathway through the site with installation of low-level lighting to the Merchant Taylors' Almshouses, Brandram Road SE13.