The Programme Manager
introduced the report.
In response to questions raised
by the committee, the following was advised:
- New policies on
HMO’s have been included. The key thing was that adopting the
plan helped to move forward with HMO guidance which complimented
the existing Article 4 direction.
- The council is
legally obliged to review plans every 5yrs. This plan has a 15yr
life plan which runs until 2038 and would be reviewed within that
time.
- Cabinet Members
already committed the Council to do a Design Code for site CW2.
When looking at Design Codes, officers reviewed the surrounding
area but the site that the Design Code would focus on would be site
CW2 as this was the only site in Colliers Wood allocated for a
taller building. The power lines in Colliers Wood inhibit taller
buildings so unless the powerlines went underground, which was not
the plan, it was likely that Colliers wood would stay at the
current levels.
- Thanks to residents,
in planning terms South Wimbledon had been updated and although
this may not filter through to the electoral register, it would be
correctly referred to in planning terms.
- On the strategic
height diagram in the Local Plan, in general Local Plans trump
guidance such as SPD’s but it was worth noting that the
strategic heights diagram for Wimbledon was very much based on the
Wimbledon SPD which went through substantial
consultation.
- The Council’s
position was that Brittania Point should have remained the pinnacle
which was not held up by Inspectors. Representation for Morden was
received that asked for the Council building to be the pinnacle.
This was not something that was in the local plan and wasn’t
the position taken. The Morden Policy did have a strategic heights
diagram which looked at building heights in Morden, but they
proposed regeneration of Morden and rather than expanding the town
centre out, taller buildings will be proposed in the
area.
- The work done for
Morden did look at taller buildings, but it didn’t measure by
storeys as storey heights could be misleading, instead it was
measured at 71meters.
- Cabinet Members have
tasked the team to produce a design code for the active site at the
land south of Brittania Point which was a priority moving forward.
The Inspectors were clear that national policy allowed provision
for either the Council or applicant to do design codes so it
didn’t slow down development. They would then look at what
else needed design codes, it was important to note that nationally
design codes were now focussed on areas of change instead of
everywhere in the borough. They would have to come back to members
to confirm timescales and whether the Council led on every design
code that came forward.
- The plan would only
be adopted by resolution of Full Council on 20th
November 2024. Tonight’s report looked at whether this
committee would recommend to resolve at the upcoming Full Council
meeting.
- The submitted plan
had more then 9months of consultation by the time it was submitted
to the Secretary of State in December 2021. Once with the Planning
Inspectors, they were in charge and set the boundaries for
consultation and engagement. At this point the Council were no
longer able to modify the plan without the Inspectors say so. The
examination went on for 3 years with 5 weeks of hearings, 7 weeks
of post hearing consultations plus another 4 weeks on the map. On
top of the 9 months, there was substantial consultation. Although
the policy on Wimbledon Park was decided by the Inspector in the
last year of the hearings, it still allowed for consultation for 7
weeks. Officers position was that there was substantial scope for
engagement on the plan.
- The Council have to
review plans every 5years. This did not mean that the whole plan
would be revised but each policy would be reviewed and
assessed.
- Aware of concerns
from Wimbledon Park Residents Association in regard to their
consultation response. Consultation finished on 22nd
March, their full response is on the website and was submitted to
the Planning Inspectors by 16th May. Members can be
assured that the Wimbledon Park Residents Association and everyone
who participated in the consultation that full responses were
received by the Inspectors and the Inspectors report made comments
which stated that all representation were considered.
- After the 5 weeks of
hearings, the Inspectors were clear that they wanted to see a site
allocation for the existing AELTC site and a policy for Wimbledon
Park. All representations were received by the Inspector and they
would have reviewed them when coming to their
conclusion.
The following recommendations
were proposed and seconded:
Recommendation
C: That Full Council notes that in
1.2.43, once the new local plan is adopted, tall buildings should
be deemed to be appropriate, if at all, only in those locations
identified within the plan. DPAC note that Merton has not had a
policy on tall buildings and will rely on new chapter D12.6, plus a
range of impending design guides/codes for each site
allocation to ascertain appropriate heights. As these could be
prepared either by applicants or the council, we suggest that the
preparation of these be a priority and that the borough looks to
creating a Supplementary Planning Document on tall buildings as
soon as possible.
After discussion,
Recommendation C was voted on as follows:
For - 2, Abstentions - 1,
Against – 7
RESOLVED:
That the Committee REFUSED the
recommendation.
Recommendation D: Development and Planning Applications
Committee notes that the national requirement for 10% Biodiversity
Net gain in planning applications will now be reflected in the
Local Plan. It recommends Merton’s Biodiversity Net Gain
Group should have its membership reviewed every year to ensure that
it contains officers with the correct and most up to date
environmental expertise with which to contribute to
strategy.
After discussion,
Recommendation D was voted on as follows:
For - 2, Abstentions - 1,
Against – 7
RESOLVED:
That the Committee REFUSED the
recommendation.
Recommendation E: Council notes that the plan will run
until 2038 and whilst there were four consultation rounds, policies
like N8.1 were only able to be commented on for the first time in
2024. We therefore recommend that Merton adapt policies in the plan
as things change, including through the use of supplementary
planning documents, and that the borough does not commit any
site to any one development.
After discussion this
recommendation was withdrawn.
Recommendation
F: Acknowledge that it is important that
residents trust the planning process and DPAC recommend engaging
with ward councillors and resident groups from the pre-app stage
where possible to facilitate schemes that come with community
support.
After discussion this
recommendation was withdrawn
The Chair moved to the vote on
the Officers’ recommendation: Votes For – 9, Against
– 0, Abstentions – 1.
RESOLVED:
That the Committee GRANTED that, considering the
Cabinet recommendation on 4th November 2024, the Development and
Planning Applications Committee advises that full council (20th
November 2024):
A.
Adopts Merton’s Local Plan and Policies Map to
replacing Merton’s Core Planning Strategy 2011 and
Merton’s Sites and Policies Plan 2014.
B.
Delegates authority to the Executive Director of
Housing and Sustainable Development in consultation with the
Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainable Development to approve
all the necessary adoption documents and other consequential
matters in accordance with the appropriate Regulations permission
subject to conditions and legal agreement.