Application number: 19/P4094

Ward: Ravensbury 

Recommendation: grant permission subject to conditions and s106 legal agreement.

RESOLVED that application number 19/P4094 be GRANTED permission subject to conditions and s106 legal agreement.

Proposal: Erection of 6 storey residential building, comprising 77 residential units with associated parking and landscaping.

Note: Cllr Dean had declared a personal interest in this item and did not take part in its discussions or decision by switching off his camera and muting his microphone (see item 2 above).

The Committee noted the report and presentation of the Planning officer, and the modifications contained in the supplementary agenda.

Two parties had registered to speak in objection to the proposal, and raised a number of points including the following:

·         The site is a protected open space, green belt and metropolitan open land, and as the proposal fell short of the special circumstances test, the development was inappropriate.

·         The application was not considered by the Development Review Panel, and had objections from a number of significant stakeholders including Sports England, CPRE London, the neighbouring MP, which should also be taken into account.

·         The current sporting facilities on the site were underused, and its ecological and environmental sensitivities should be considered.

At the invitation of the Chair, both the applicant’s agent and representative shared the allocated speaking time to raise the following points:

·         The site had been identified for enabling residential development in the emerging Local Plan.

·         Previous applications for the site had attracted overwhelming support from local residents, indicating the proposal’s popularity which should also be taken into account.

·         The benefits vs harm assessment was overwhelmingly in favour of the proposals in light of its two new community buildings and 100% affordable housing scheme.

·         Viability reports carried out by both the applicant’s and the council’s consultants reported that community benefits could be viably delivered.

·         Parking space had been reduced by 20 parking spaces to allow increase of green space around the buildings.

·         The site needs to stay financially viable, which it can by providing much needed affordable housing, education and sports facilities, rather than keeping it as unused land.

·         The enhanced landscape would make the site more accessible to those who wished to use it.

In response to questions from the Committee, the planning officer advised that:

·         Whilst there were precedents for appeal verdicts regarding very special circumstances, each one was unique; he also noted that the report for the proposal did set out what the special circumstances for this site were.

·         There was a recommendation for both an early and later stage review of viability in light of the shortcomings of the proposed housing scheme.

·         The viability report demonstrate that the proposal would contain three affordable rents, which could increase, subject to the receipt of grants.

The Committee debated the value of the proposed housing scheme in light of social and affordable housing, and how many local residents would be able to afford to live on the proposed site. Some Committee members also expressed concern that the special circumstances had not been satisfactorily explained.

At the conclusion of the debate, the Chair moved to a vote and it was

RESOLVED that application number 19/P4094 be GRANTED permission subject to conditions  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6