Agenda item

RESOLVED

Unanimously

That it be agreed to GRANT a non-material amendment, subject to

1)           Conditions set out in the report, requiring:

                i.             That the development shall be carried out strictly in accordance with approved application plans, drawings and documents submitted with the application, as accepted by the local Planning Authority; and

               ii.             That there be adequate provision for cycle parking, to comply with Policy T5 cycling, Table 10.2 of the London Plan (March 2021) and Policy 14 relating to sustainable movement and transport of the Core Strategy (2011).

2)           Informatives set out in the report, requiring that the permission granted forms part of:

i.             The original permission DC/20/117966 dated 05 November 202; and

ii.            The subsequent s96a DC/21/124255 dated 11 January 2022;

And

iii.          Noting that all other conditions attached to those permission (i.e. DC/20/117966 and DC/21/124255) are still applicable to the amended scheme.

3.1      The Committee noted the following regarding this Item:

·            Councillor James-J Walsh disclosed a pecuniary interest, advising the that he works for a university.

·            Councillor Will Cooper stated that he received correspondence from residents in his ward in relation to this item but had expressed no prior personal views about the proposals.

3.2     The Planning Officer gave an illustrative presentation of the application, recommending that the Committee should grant planning permission for a non-material amendment, subject to conditions and informatives outlined in the report.  The Committee noted:

·            The report and a correction that the gamer room would be located on first floor level alongside the shared amenity area, not at the basement floor level as stated under paragraph 48. 

·            Information regarding Lewisham’s Development Plan, the National Planning Policy guidance, the Local Policy, and planning and material considerations regarding the proposals.

·            That the application had been submitted under Section 96a of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) for a non-material amendment to the approved scheme at 164-196 Trundley’s Road and 1-9 Sanford Street, London SE8 5JE.

·            That the proposals were brought for a decision at the request of the Director of Planning because Members were interested in the amenity space of each cluster flat of the approved.

·            That the proposals aimed to deliver accommodation to better respond to the needs of universities and students by providing a greater choice of accommodation types.

3.3     The Committee recognised that the listed amendments to the approved scheme would be “non-material” for the following reasons:

·                Increase in the number of students’ rooms, taking the total from 393 to 402 rooms.

·                Amalgamation of the smaller clusters to create 9-bed clusters in direct response to the preference of universities.

·                Increase in the number of studio units to add to the choice of accommodation, and a reduction in the size of Cluster A from 8-bed to 7-bed;

·                Increase in the shared amenity space at ground, basement and first floor levels.

·                Increase of 7 number of additional long-stay cycle parking spaces at basement level.

3.4     The Planning Officer clarified to the Committee that although there was no specific definition of “non-material”, planning officials determined that the amendments would be non-material if:

·                There was no material impact on any neighbours or other statutory or non-statutory bodies, the amended scheme would still fall within the description of development on the original decision notice and still complied with Lewisham’s Development Plan.

·                There was a reduction in size (in any dimension) and the design and appearance was not compromised.

And/or

·                There was a reduction in the number and size or location of any openings, and that would not compromise the overall design and appearance, particularly in conservation areas.

3.5   The Committee also noted confirmation that the proposed amendments would not be non-material if:

·                They would alter the nature or description of development.

·                There would be an increase in size (by volume and/or height) to the extent where that would have a material impact on the design, external appearance and/or local amenity.

·                There would be an increase in the number of openings, or a noticeable increase in size and/or the location of openings, which would affect the proposal’s external appearance or result in loss of privacy or amenity to neighbours.

·                There would be a reduction in design quality owing to a loss of detail, or lower quality materials that would affect visual amenity.

·                The scheme would become contrary to the Lewisham Development Plan. And/or

·                The amendment would conflict with any existing planning conditions.

3.6     The Planning Officer further clarified to the Committee:

·            That officers who assessed the application were satisfied that the amalgamation of the 5- and 6-bed clusters on 2-12th floors to create 9-bed clusters would not result in any noticeable external changes and as a result would be non-material in nature. 

·                That from an architectural perspective, the proposed 9-bed cluster represented a minor decrease from the consented scheme’s position.  Thus, the decrease and the additional extra space in the corridor area which would have otherwise not been utilised would now provide access to a total of 46sqm communal amenity space comprising of a shared kitchen and dedicated laundry room, to deliver 5.1sqm per student within the cluster.

·                That the applicant had had discussions with the officials in the Planning Division during the pre-application stage when making the amendments to the approved scheme.  Therefore, the reason for the amalgamation of the 5- and 6- bed clusters on 2-12th floors to create a 9-bed cluster rather than 10-bed cluster was for consistency, so that the decrease would provide sufficient amenity space for each student.

·                That discussions with the university provider confirmed that the sizes of the bedroom would be similar, but the 46 additional studios units to be delivered would be larger, each with its own kitchen, bathroom, washer, and dryer facilities.

·                That the amendments to the consented scheme would not affect the privacy of the student accommodation.

3.7     The Chair of the Committee, Councillor Suzannah Clarke, read out the options recommended in the report, advising Members to determine whether the proposed amendments were “material” or “non-material”.  A motion for the “non-material” option was moved by Councillor John Paschoud and seconded by Councillor Peter Bernards.  The Committee voted on the motion and:

RESOLVED unanimously

To GRANT a non-material amendment, subject to

1)             Conditions set out in the report, requiring:

                                    i.               That the development shall be carried out strictly in accordance with approved application plans, drawings and documents submitted with the application, as accepted by the local Planning Authority; and

                                   ii.               That there be adequate provision for cycle parking, to comply with Policy T5 cycling, Table 10.2 of the London Plan (March 2021) and Policy 14 relating to sustainable movement and transport of the Core Strategy (2011).

2)             Informatives set out in the report, requiring that the permission granted forms part of:

i.               The original permission DC/20/117966 dated 05 November 202; and

ii.               The subsequent s96a DC/21/124255 dated 11 January 2022;

And

iii.            Noting that all other conditions attached to those permission (i.e., DC/20/117966 and DC/21/124255) are still applicable to the amended scheme.