Agenda item

PROPOSAL:  demolition of former golf club buildings and construction of a single and two storey building for a banqueting facility; widening of existing vehicular access from Brockley Hill, car and cycle parking, waste/recycling storage, landscape enhancement and associated works (as amended by the Addendum).

Councillor Ajay Maru left the room whilst the item was being discussed and voted on.

The Committee received representation from Councillor Ameet Jogia (Back Bench) who urged the Committee to refuse the application.

Councillor Nitin Parekh proposed deferral to allow the applicant submit additional information as requested by officers.  The motion was seconded by Councillor Simon Brown, put to the vote and agreed.

The Committee resolved to defer the application, and that the applicant should submit the additional information by early August 2021, in order for the application to be considered at the early September 2021 Planning Committee meeting.

RECOMMENDATION

The Planning Committee had been asked to REFUSE planning permission for the following reasons:

1.              the applicant had failed to demonstrate that the proposed development would not have a greater impact on the openness of the Green Belt than the existing development on the application site.  The proposed development would therefore constitute inappropriate development in the Green Belt, to the detriment of the character, appearance and openness of the Green Belt, contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework (2019), policy G2 of The London Plan (2021), Core policy CS 1 F of the Harrow Core Strategy (2012), and policy DM 16 of the Harrow Development Management Policies Local Plan (2013), and no very special circumstances had been demonstrated by the applicant whereby the harm by reason of inappropriateness is outweighed by other considerations;

2.              the proposed development, by reason of failure to provide adequate on-site or off-site car / coach parking and lack of integrated drop off facilities to serve the proposed banqueting facility, would significantly intensify site usage and generated trips.  The associated likely on site congestion and parking overspill into the London Borough of Harrow and the London Borough of Barnet, with particular reference to the residential streets to the south-east of the site, was therefore considered to be detrimental to highway and pedestrian safety, and the amenities of neighbouring occupiers, contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework (2019), Policy T4 of The London Plan (2021), and policies DM 42 E and F, DM 1 B (f) (C) and D (h), policy DM 42 E and F and DM 43 B and C of the Harrow Development Management polices Local Plan (2013);

3.              the proposed development by reason of inadequate archaeological evaluation of the application site, had failed to demonstrate that potential archaeological assets of significant importance would not be harmed, and impacts minimised through appropriate design and construction.  The proposal would therefore fail to comply the National Planning Policy Framework (2019), policy HC1 C and D of The London Plan (2021), policy CS1 D of the Harrow Core Strategy (2012) and policy DM 7 A, B and H of the Harrow Development Management Polices Local Plan (2013); and

4.              the proposed development, in the absence of adequate Ecological Assessment which failed to address the sites strategic Green Belt location and the sites boundaries including its close proximity to the adjoining Pear Wood and Stanmore Country Park Site of Importance for Nature Conservation, failed to demonstrate that biodiversity value of the surrounding area would not be harmed, protected or enhanced, contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework (2019), policy G6 of The London Plan (2021), policy CS 1 E of the Harrow Core Strategy (2012) and policies DM 20 and DM 21 of the Harrow Development Management Polices Local Plan (2013).

DECISION:  DEFER

The Committee wished it to be recorded that the decision to defer the application was unanimous.