1. Reason for Urgency – The Chair had approved the submission of this report as a matter of urgency for the following reason – delay in determination of the proposals would have a harmful impact on potential GLA funding if implementation of the project is delayed.

2. Proposal – Housing scheme (known as “Y Cube”) - Erection of a part two, part three storey development comprising 36 x studio apartments (all to be affordable rented accommodation) and site manager’s office.

3. Late Representations – Officers reported on late representations received separately from Ward Councillor Brenda Fraser and the Chair of the Longthornton Residents Working Party (LRWP), including: -
(a) neither were able to attend this meeting to make oral representations;
(b) concerns about the late submission of the report;
(c) concerns about the impact of the proposals on parking in the area; and
(d) concerns (from LRWP) about the revised external colours of the scheme.  (See also (5) below.)

4. Late submission of report – Officers gave further background to the reasons behind the late submission of the report, including representations from the applicant that an early decision on the application would assist in securing funding for the scheme; and in particular that the scheme was backed by the YMCA who needed  to approach trustees of various organisations in September 2014 and that the scheme needed to be completed on site by March 2015 so as to qualify for particular GLA funding.

4.1 In response to concerns included in the oral representations from an objector, officers indicated that they were satisfied, on the basis of phone calls received, that other residents who had made objections, had received notification of the late submission of the report to this meeting.

5. External Materials - Colours – Officers advised that the images shown on the Council’s web-site showed quite a highly coloured scheme (including bright yellow, dark orange and dark brown) but that today, on the afternoon prior to this meeting, the applicants had submitted a revised planning document which indicated that the scheme would now revert back to its original mix of external colours.  Officers displayed the latest colour scheme on the screen at the meeting and highlighted that the colours now included lighter brown, slate grey and a very pale sandy colour.

5.1 Officers suggested that the external materials, including the various colours now proposed, could be submitted at a later date to Committee for approval if necessary, but that a decision on the overall scheme should be made at this meeting.  As indicated below, the Committee agreed to this suggestion.

6. Standard of accommodation – There was extensive discussion regarding the proposed units each having a gross internal floor area of only 26sqm per unit, some 30% below the recommended London Plan minimum gross internal area for 1 person units of 37sqm.  It was noted that the scheme would provide 36 affordable housing units, be an innovative design by highly regarded architects and be highly sustainable with low energy requirements.

6.1 Extra Informative - Standard of accommodation – Members were concerned that if the application were approved with units with gross internal area below the standard minimum due to the application’s special circumstances, then this should not be taken as a precedent that the Council would compromise on such standards for other future development proposals.  Officers suggested that an appropriate informative be added in this respect, but that officers be delegated authority to agree the detailed wording.  As indicated below, the Committee agreed to this suggestion.

7. Wheelchair Accessibility – Officers advised that the Council would be seeking a minimum of 10% of the units provided to be wheelchair accessible (Condition (9) refers); that the application included fully detailed dimensions of the proposed units; and so officers were satisfied that they could be made wheelchair accessible.

8. Approval – The application was approved by 8 votes to nil (Councillor Tobin Byers abstaining).

Decision: Item 11 - ref. 14/P1232 (Former Community Centre Land, Woodstock Way, Mitcham)

(A)GRANT PERMISSION subject to the completion of a Section 106 Agreement and subject to the conditions set out in the officer case report and the tabled modifications sheet and subject to the following –

(i) External Materials – Colours – Samples of the materials, including the various colours now proposed, to be used on all external faces of the building which are required to be submitted further to Condition (2) (B2 – Materials to be approved), shall be submitted to Committee for approval (instead of being dealt with by officers under delegated powers) in order that the Committee can be satisfied as to their suitability.

(ii) Extra Informative - Standard of accommodation  – An extra informative explaining that, notwithstanding the approval of this application with units with gross internal area below the standard minimum due to the application’s special circumstances, then this should not be taken as a precedent that the Council would compromise on such standards for other future development proposals, subject to (B) below.

(B) Delegation - The Director of Environment & Regeneration be delegated authority to agree the detailed wording of the above extra informative regarding the standard of accommodation.