Application Number: 18/P3780                  Ward: Abbey

Officer Recommendation: Grant Planning Permission subject to conditions and deed of variation to the S106 agreement

GRANTED Planning Permission subject to conditions and deed of variation to the S106 agreement.

Proposal: Application to vary condition 2 (approved plans) attached to LBM planning permission 15/P4741 (34 x residential units and 459 sqm of office space). The changes relate to reconfiguring the layout of Block A to create 11 new units (taking total to 45), alterations to fenestration/terrace and additional cycle parking spaces across the development.

The Committee noted the officer’s report and presentation. The Committee received verbal presentations from an objector, and the applicant’s agent.

The Objector made points including:

·         Previously allowed plan is already too dense, this application includes 45 more units, an increase of 30%. This a substantial increase.

·         The change of the roof terraces to units will result in further substantial overlooking and loss of privacy to neighbouring properties

·         More affordable Housing should be provided

·         The application increases the flood and subsidence risks for neighbours and residents of the new properties

·         Vital measurements are still missing

·         There is no practical design reason given for these changes, it is purely about increasing the developers profit

The Agent to the Application made points including:

·         This application is in accord with the London Plan

·         Our transport survey suggests that there is parking capacity in the area and this has been signed off by the Council. Future residents will not get parking permits

·         The application does not increase the massing of Block A, therefore there is no further effect on sunlight or daylight to neighbours. There is no additional impact on overlooking.

·         This application proposes 4 affordable units on-site, the previous permission did not provide any affordable units on –site, it provided a payment for affordable housing elsewhere in the Borough

·         This application is for high quality accommodation with over 40% being family sized units

·         The cycling storage is in accordance with the London Plan

In reply to Members’ questions, Officers gave answers including:

·         Original application did not provide any on-site affordable, it provided £200,000 towards off-site affordable housing

·         The Viability assessment for this application has been reviewed by an external assessor, and found that 4 on-site affordable units is viable

·         Although our target for affordable housing is 40% it is Government Policy that we cannot refuse an application if the viability assessment says that it cannot support this level of affordable housing

·         There is a clawback mechanism on the application

·         Officers do not know what would happen regarding the payments to Crossrail, if Crossrail were to be abandoned. This is a matter for the Mayor of London to answer

Members made comments including:

·         In the past we have been told that small allocations of affordable units are not very attractive for Housing Associations to manage.

·         The Developers must be confident that they can secure social housing partner to provide the affordable units

·         Pleased to see 3 and 4 bedroomed property included in the affordable units

Members noted the Planning Team Leader South’s comments that Officers could explore the potential for using funds collected for off-site affordable housing to deliver extra affordable units on this site (London Plan policy 3.15 (g) recommends the maximum affordable housing be delivered on individual sites having regard to the funds available to fund affordable housing)  if this could be shown to represent good value to the Council.

RESOLVED

The Committee voted to GRANT Planning Permission subject to conditions and deed of variation to the S106 agreement.