Application Number: Proposal A - 17/P1449      Proposal B – 17/P1450

Ward: Cricket Green

Officer Recommendation:

Proposal A: Grant Planning Permission subject to planning conditions.

Proposal B: Grant Listed Building Consent subject to planning conditions.

Proposal A: Alterations and extensions to Canons House to provide a mix of workspace (B1), education and community spaces (D1) involving demolition of toilet block and part of wall for erection of new entrance and community wall, partial demolition and extension to Madeira Hall to provide café, play/community room and public toilets, repair works to the Dovecote, provision of a new civic space in location of current northern car park, provision of new play area to replace existing play area, and associated landscaping and external works including reinstatement of historic running track, installation of outdoor gym equipment, new fencing, entrances, paths and lighting, and resurfacing of driveway.

Proposal B: Application for Listed Building Consent for alterations and extensions to Canons House to provide a mix of workspace, education and community spaces involving demolition of toilet block and part of wall for erection of new entrance and community wall, partial demolition and extension to Madeira Hall to provide café, play/community room and public toilets, repair works to the Dovecote, provision of a new civic space in location of current northern car park, provision of new play area to replace existing play area, and associated landscaping and external works including reinstatement of historic running track, installation of outdoor gym equipment, new fencing, entrances, paths and lighting, and resurfacing of driveway.

The Committee noted the officers report, presentation, amendments and additional information in the Supplementary agenda. The Committee received two verbal representations on the application.

Jonathan Lewis, Planning Team Leader, presented the item and drew members’ attention to the additional information in the Supplementary Agenda, in particular the legal advice received by officers regarding the determination of the Listed Building Consent. He confirmed that further time would be given to allow outstanding consultees time to reply. He also asked the Committee to note the commentary regarding how the revised scheme addresses the comments made by the DRP (Design Review Panel) by the applicants architect, the head of Future Merton and the Council’s Conservation Officer. In particular he asked the Committee to note how the architect had responded to the DRP views on the entrance.

He informed the Committee that the Business Plan was not material to the planning application.

He guided the Committee through the application and associated plans, as presented in the Officer’s Report, and the Committee took some extra time to read the additional information provided in the Supplementary Agenda.

Tony Burton representingMitcham Cricket Green Community and Heritage, and The Canons Partnership; made points including:

·         Volunteers have spent a lot of time putting together the funding bid to allow this work to go ahead

·         Did not expect to be speaking against the application

·         The application is poor in places, but could be improved by the addition of four conditions:

1.    The Canons benefits from the flat being occupied, however this proposal threatens this occupation owing to lack of bathroom in the flat

2.    The new Café needs to be available for community use and needs to be open longer than the 10am-4pm currently proposed

3.    External lighting is intrusive and I do not support

4.    The pathways should be brick paved

Dave Lofthouse, resident of the existing flat made points including:

·         Has lived in this flat for 25 years

·         The plans for redevelopment do not show a bathroom in the flat

·         Was advised that he would be unaffected by the work

Jonathan Lewis apologised if the plans did not show a bathroom in the flat, he confirmed that it was intended for the flat to remain habitable. He continued that if a better quality of pathway was required this could be covered by Condition. The opening hours of the Café could be made more flexible by Condition. The details of external lighting could be examined to ensure that no harm was done to the setting of the listed building or wildlife, and this could be ensured by condition.

In answer to members’ questions, the Planning Team Leader replied:

·         Whilst it is regrettable that some trees will be lost, these trees are self-seeded and not part of any formal landscaping. New landscaping and tree planting is proposed in the scheme

·         Proposal does show remodelling and improvements of the entrances. To prevent traveller encampments on site, movement across the site could be restricted

·         Although the DRP were concerned about the lift, Historic England were less concerned and officers suggested that Historic England’s view should carry more weight.

·         Re-investment of funds is not a material concern for the Planning Committee

Members made comments including:

·         This site could be the ‘Jewel in the Crown’ of the Borough, and that all involved in this proposal should be commended – Local Residents and Officers

Members and Officers discussed the requests for four additional conditions and agreed that officers would add four conditions:

1.    Café opening hours to be flexible to allow for additional and community use and therefore increased revenue

2.    External Lighting– levels and positioning of external lighting to be reviewed to reduce any impact on wildlife and the setting of the listed building

3.    That the Chair and Vice Chair of the Planning Applications Committee are to be involved in the final agreement on material selection for the pathways. The proposed bonded gravel is not acceptable.

4.    That a full bathroom must be included in the flat, such that the flat is fully habitable.

RESOLVED

Proposal A: The Committee voted unanimously to GRANT Planning Permission subject to conditions contained in the officer’s report, the supplementary agenda and additional conditions to cover:

    1.        Opening Hours of the Café to be flexible

    2.        External lighting and the surveys required to protect wildlife and the setting

    3.        The Chair and Vice Chair of the Planning Applications Committee to be included in the selection of materials for the pathways

    4.        A full bathroom to be included in the flat.

The Director of Environment and Regeneration be given delegated authority to agree the detailed wording of the above additional conditions

Proposal B: The Committee voted unanimously to GRANT Listed Building Consent subject to conditions contained in the officers report and  the supplementary agenda.