Application Number:19/P2387                  Ward: West Barnes

Officer Recommendation: Grant Planning Permission subject to any direction from the Mayor of London, completion of a S.106 legal agreement a S.278 agreement and conditions.

PAC Resolved that Application 19/P2387 is: Refused Planning Permission, subject  to any direction from the Mayor of London. The Reasons will be detailed in the Minutes

Proposal: Demolition of the existing buildings at 265 Burlington road and 300 Beverley way and erection of two blocks of development ranging in height between seven and 15 storeys and comprising 456 new homes, of which 114 will be one beds, 290 will be two beds and 52 will be three beds. 499sqm of b1(a) office space will be accommodated at ground floor level along with 220 car parking spaces, 830 cycle parking spaces, a realigned junction onto Burlington road, hard and soft landscaping and associated residential facilities. The application also includes minor changes to the layout and configuration of the retained Tesco car park

The Committee noted the officer’s report and presentation and additional information in Supplementary Agenda – Modifications. The Planning Team Leader South reminded Members that recent guidance had suggested that the emerging London Plan should be given moderate weight when assessing schemes such as this.

The Committee received verbal representations from three objectors.

A representative of Raynes Park High School made points including:

·         Tall buildings are against policy

·         The proposed 12 storey block is only 18m from the school boundary and 33m from the nearest classroom.

·         There will be constant shadowing of the school’s design classroom. This will affect pupils learning as light levels will be variable.

·         Research shows that natural light is of benefit to student progress

·         Department of Education advice on classroom design gives priority to natural daylight

·         We are sensitive to the need for housing but this application is too close to the school

A representative from a local Business made points including:

·         Good Vehicle access is essential to local businesses

·         The station and level crossing already affect our business

·         The level crossing is a major source of congestion as it causes long traffic queues. This traffic will also block access to the proposed development

·         Measures to improve this congestion, such as a stacking lane, have not been incorporated into this proposal

·         This development should encourage local businesses but it does not

A local resident made points including:

·         I understand the need for housing but do not support this proposal, as it is not of a suitable quality

·         The use of a podium for parking creates a poor interface with the street

·         The DRP gave an earlier version of the proposal a red and commented on the podium, but this proposal still includes the podium and design and quality is not  improved

·         There are numerous quality issues with the design of the units from the dual aspect to the balconies that will be windy, lacking in privacy, unsafe and useless

·         Only 12% of the units are three bedroomed, 33% less than the London Plan

·         492 letters of objection were received by the Council

The Committee received a verbal presentation from the Applicant’s agent who made points including:

·         This proposal will provide 465 new homes with 40% (171 units) affordable, and the other 60% for market rent. The independent viability assessment said that only 24% should be offered as affordable but developer choose to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7