Application Number: 16/P2942                 Ward: Hillside

Recommendation: GRANT Planning Permission Subject to Conditions and S106 Agreement

Proposal: Refurbishment of the existing building including the recladding of the exterior of the building, erection of two additional floors and infilling of the surface level car park to create an additional 2,055sqm (Gross Internal Area) of office use (Class B1). Change of use and amalgamation of two ground floor units from A2 use (financial and professional services) to a single A3 use (café / restaurant). Reconfiguration of existing basement to accommodate plant with reduction in basement car parking

The Committee noted the officer’s report and presentation and additional information in the Supplementary Agenda. The committee received verbal presentations from three objectors to the application, and from a supporter and the agent of the applicant, and from a ward councillor

The Objectors made comments, including:

·         The proposal is too high and too big for this important location in a Conservation Area

·         It does not respect the proportions of the original building

·         This area is a gateway to Wimbledon Town Centre, it is not the centre of the Town and  should not be compared to the Town Centre

·         The proposal is too bulky and will visually dominate its location

·         The proposal is out of character with its setting

·         There is heavy traffic congestion in the area

The Supporter and Agent made comments including:

·         The proposal will allow new employment opportunities

·         The proposal has strong environmental credentials – it will have green roofs, rain water attenuation, swift boxes and will be highly insulated

·         Amendments have been made to the ground floor doors and to the traffic islands

·         The current building needs refurbishment and this is a very high quality design

·         There is a shortage of office space in Wimbledon

·         Parking will not be increased as the development is permit free

·         The restaurant will be ‘high-end’ food

In reply to Councillor Questions, Planning Officers  explained the following points:

·         There will be only two business parking permits allowed for the building

·         Loading/unloading will take place outside Mansel Court and a Condition will limit this to vehicles smaller that 7.5 tonnes

·         Refuse Collections will take place at the front of the building the refuse lorries would pull up on double yellow lines, as they do for other businesses in the Town Centre

·         The Restaurant is class A3, which means it cannot supply take- out food

Members asked officers about The DRP’s views on the proposal and noted that it had originally received a red from the DRP and that following amendments DRP members had been re-consulted by email. The result of the email consultation was that the DRP still thought that the proposal was too high and too big. The Planning Manager reminded Members that the DRP was an advisory body and not a decision making body. Members commented that the views of the DRP were very useful in giving PAC Members confidence in their own judgement.

Members noted that there is no process for assessing economic viability for this type of application.

Members commented that good quality office space is needed in Wimbledon, but disagreed about whether this proposal was the right way to provide this. One member felt that this proposal is well designed and will provide modern up-to-date office space, it is well proportioned and much better than existing office block. However other members supported the view that the proposal was too high and its massing too great for its sensitive site, and that there was a lack of  balance with other buildings in locality.

RESOLVED

The Committee agreed to:

1.    REFUSE the application for the following reasons:

The Height, Bulk and Massing of the proposal are all too great, contrary to LBM policies DM D2 and DM D3

2.    DELEGATE to the Director of Environment & Regeneration the authority to make any appropriate amendments in the context of the above to the wording of the grounds of refusal including references to appropriate policies