Issue - meetings

PROPOSAL:  full planning application for the development of Plots B1 and C1 at Harrow View East (former Kodak Factory) for residential dwellings, retail and community floorspace together with associated car and cycle parking, open space, landscaping and ancillary development including all necessary infrastructure works. Details Include: Building height ranging from 5 - 14 storeys and comprising 474 Residential units; Retail floorspace 456sqm (Use Class E); Flexible Community uses 649sqm (Use Classes E, F1 and F2).

Following questions and comments from Members, an officer advised that:

·                     this was the first amendment to have the height increased, and there was no limit on how many requests for additional floors could be made.  However, Officers would advise against more increases if they deemed so;

·                     parking spaces were not sold separately but were part of the sale of larger properties; and

·                     the portion of affordable housing units was 40%, and Harrow residents would be prioritised.  The remainder of units were “open market” and would be sold to who ever was interested.

Councillor Marilyn Ashton proposed refusal for the following reasons:

1.            the proposed increase in height of four storeys of Block H1 in Plot C1 would result in an over-bearing appearance in the street scene owing to its prominent location within the site to the detriment of amenities of future occupiers within the locality, contrary to policy CS1 Harrow Core Strategy (2012), London Plan D1 (2021), Harrow Development Management Policies (2013) DM1; and

2.            the cumulative increase in heights of numerous blocks throughout the plots would result in an over intensification of an already excessively intensive development and would result in a loss of amenity to future occupiers, contrary to policy CS1 Harrow Core Strategy (2012), London Plan D1, D2 (2021), Harrow Development Management Policies (2013) DM1.

The proposal was seconded, put to the vote, and lost.

The Committee resolved to accept officer recommendation.

RECOMMENDATION

1)            agree the reasons for approval as set out in the report;

2)            refer this application to the Mayor of London (the GLA) as a Stage 2 referral; and

3)            subject to the Mayor of London (or delegated authorised officer) advising that he is content to allow the Council to determine the case itself and does not wish to direct refusal, or to issue a direction under Article 7 that he is to act as the Local Planning Authority for the purposes of determining the application, delegate authority to the Interim Chief Planning Officer in consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance Services for the completion of the Section 106 legal agreement and other enabling development and issue of the planning permission, subject to amendments to the conditions, including the insertion or deletion of condition as deemed fit and appropriate to the development or the amendments to the legal agreement as required.  The Section 106 Agreement Heads of Terms would cover the following matters:

1.           Affordable Housing

·         Provision of 180 affordable homes: 71 shared ownership and 109  affordable rent;

·         10% of affordable rent accommodation to be constructed and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 541