Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Djemai, Gale and Vincent.

An apology for lateness was received from Councillor Abdi-Wali.

Members will be asked to declare any pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests in respect of items on this agenda.

There were no such declarations.

Webcasting of the Meeting

The Chair to announce the following: “In addition to the rights by law that the public and press have to record and film public meetings, I would like to remind everyone present that this meeting will be broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and can be viewed on our website for twelve months after the meeting. After that time, webcasts are archived and can be made available on DVD upon request.

If you are seated in the Chamber it is likely that the Council’s cameras will capture your image and you are deemed to be consenting to being filmed and to the use of those images and sound recordings for webcasting and/or training purposes. If you are addressing the Committee your contribution will be recorded and broadcast unless you have already indicated that you do not wish this to happen.

If you wish to avoid appearing on the Council’s webcast you should move to one of the galleries.”

Any Other Announcements

Webcasting

The Chair announced that the meeting was being broadcast live to the internet and would be capable of repeated viewing and copies of the recording could be made available to those that requested them.  Those seated in the Chamber were deemed to be consenting to being filmed.  Anyone wishing to avoid appearing on the webcast should move to one of the galleries.

RESOLVED –

THAT the supplementary information, written submissions and deputation requests contained in the supplementary agenda be accepted.

There was no such business.

Report of the Executive Director Supporting Communities.

Consideration was given to the report of the Executive Director Supporting Communities.

Application no: 2023/4648/P      Officer: Elaine Quigley

Proposal: Erection of new energy centre incorporating maintenance support

accommodation to internal West Road, new substation off Montague Street, all together with associated internal and external works, service runs, erection of plant, landscaping, and temporary works associated with construction following demolition of existing Energy Centre to internal West Road and removal of temporary buildings to the south of the existing energy centre on the internal West Road and to the north and east of the White Wing facing Montague Street.

RECOMMENDATION: Grant conditional planning permission subject to a Section 106 Legal Agreement

Application no: 2023/4903/L       Officer: Elaine Quigley

Proposal: Erection of new energy centre incorporating maintenance support accommodation to internal West Road, new substation off Montague Street, all together with associated internal and external works, service runs, erection of plant, landscaping, and temporary works associated with construction following demolition of existing Energy Centre to internal West Road and removal of temporary buildings to the south of the existing energy centre on the internal West Road and to the north and east of the White Wing facing Montague Street.

RECOMMENDATION: Grant condition listed building consent

Consideration was also given to the information contained within the supplementary agenda.

The Planning Officer introduced the application.

On being put to the vote, with 6 unanimously in favour of the officer recommendation, it was

RESOLVED –

THAT

1)    Planning Permission be granted subject to conditions and Section 106 legal agreement, as set out in the agenda.

2)    Listed building consent be granted.

ACTION BY:   Director of Economy, Regeneration & Investment                                 Borough Solicitor

Application no: 2023/3870/P      Officer: Brendan Versluys

Proposal: Change of use of part of basement car park and one ground floor retail unit to hotel with ancillary food and beverage use, including alterations to upper basement floor slab, installation of plant, acoustic enclosures and PV panels at roof level, and associated works.

RECOMMENDATION: Grant conditional planning permission subject to a Section 106 Legal Agreement

Application no: 2023/3901/L       Officer: Brendan Versluys

Proposal: Change of use of part of basement car park and one ground floor retail unit to hotel with ancillary food and beverage use, including alterations to upper basement floor slab, installation of plant, acoustic enclosures and PV panels at roof level, and associated works.

RECOMMENDATION: Grant listed building consent

Consideration was also given to the information provided in the Supplementary Agenda, the written submissions and deputation requests referred to in Agenda Item 4 above.

The Planning Officer introduced the application informing the Committee of a late objection which raised concerns about noise and structural issues, highlighting that it was similar to other objections raised regarding this application and raised no new issues which had not already been taken into consideration in Officers assessment of the application.

Invited to provide a response to concerns raised by the deputation about the structural stability of the building, the applicant’s representative explained that as part of the statement included with their planning application it was made clear that the works would not affect the stability of the building as the level B1 slab was independent of the rest of the building.

Responding to a follow up question about repair works required to the building, the applicant’s representative commented that a survey had been conducted to specifically identify a package of concrete repairs that would be proportionate to the heritage impacts of the scheme. The scope of repairs had been agreed with the Council’s Heritage Officer and focussed on those areas of greatest heritage significance.

Also commenting on the repairs required to the building, the Head of Development Management informed the Committee that officers had been in considerable discussions and negotiation with the applicant about repair works but highlighted that the Council could only require as part of the permission, works required to mitigate or compensate for the impact of the works for which planning permission was sought. Officers had sought to mitigate the impact of the development by requesting repairs to the concrete in areas of most heritage significance and alongside this a wider package of benefits. However, was of the view that it would be unreasonable to request the applicant to make repairs to every part of the building as part of this application.

Officers provided the following responses to Committee members questions.

·       Noise and disruption during construction could not entirely be prevented, it was part and parcel of construction and a planning application could not be refused on that basis.

·       Officers were securing the Construction Management Plan (CMP) and the formation of a Construction Working Group. The details of the CMP would need to be worked out and finalised with the applicant in consultation with the residents.

·       In relation to the structural integrity, officers had recommended an additional head of term referred to as a Structural Methodology Statement which would include clauses requiring the works to be certified by a suitably qualified Structural Engineer. This was to provide assurance to residents.

Invited to comment on why the solar panels being used for the hotel could not also be used to benefit residents, the applicant’s representative explained that it was not feasible to connect the panels to residents’ meters because the meters were operated by individual energy companies and which the applicant could not legally touch. The landlord’s system would need to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6(4)

Application no: 2023/5311/P      Officer: Elaine Quigley

Proposal: Change of use of ground floor unit on Drummond Street from Class E (a) and (b) to a flexible Class E, restricted to (Ea - retail), (Eb food and drink), (Ec financial and professional services) and (Eg) (i - office); and Class F1(a - education) use and change of use of northern ground floorspace from office (B1) floorspace (now within Class E) to a flexible Class E, restricted to (Ea - retail), (Eb - food and drink), (Ec - financial and professional services) and (Eg)(i - office)); and Class F1(a - education) use.

RECOMMENDATION: Grant conditional planning permission subject to Section 106 legal agreement

Consideration was also given to the information contained within the supplementary agenda.

On being put to the vote, with 7 unanimously in favour of the officer recommendation, it was

RESOLVED –

THAT Planning Permission be granted subject to conditions and Section 106 legal agreement, as set out in the agenda.

ACTION BY:   Director of Economy, Regeneration & Investment                                 Borough Solicitor

Application no: 2023/4544/P      Officer: Edward Hodgson

Proposal: Temporary change of use for a period of up to 5 years for flexible office (Class E(g)) and education use (Class F1 (a)).

RECOMMENDATION: Grant conditional planning permission subject to a Section 106 Legal Agreement

Consideration was also given to the information contained within the supplementary agenda.

On being put to the vote, with 7 unanimously in favour of the officer recommendation, it was

RESOLVED –

THAT Planning Permission be granted subject to conditions and Section 106 legal agreement, as set out in the agenda.

ACTION BY:   Director of Economy, Regeneration & Investment                                 Borough Solicitor

Application no: 2023/4686/P      Officer: Ewan Campbell

Proposal: Change of use from commercial, retail and office uses (Class E) to family entertainment with Bowling Alley with Arcade Gaming and ancillary bar (Sui Generis).

RECOMMENDATION: Grant conditional planning permission subject to a Section 106 Legal Agreement

Consideration was also given to the information contained within the supplementary agenda.

In response to the Committee member’s question about how the application fitted into the broader balance of uses in the Hawley Wharf development, officers commented that as part of the proposals the scheme provided for commercial use in line with the consented scheme and appropriate to the Camden market area and Camden Town Centre.

The area was originally designated as being light industrial, it also had temporary leisure based uses, the proposed change was about diversifying uses in order to support the vision of stronger markets. More significant changes to Hawley Wharf and its uses would require planning permission and members to consider in the future.

The member was of the view that although in theory this was an acceptable use, it was a change of use and could potentially be less employment intensive. Commenting further they expressed concern about the piecemeal nature of changes and the lack of vision for the long-term success of uses across the market. They noted that the introduction of other uses such as offices into Hawley Wharf could significantly change the character of the development away from the market which needed to be strategically considered, noting that the implications, benefits and disadvantages required careful consideration.

Therefore, on being put to the vote, with 7 unanimously in favour, it was

RESOLVED –

THAT Planning Permission be granted subject to conditions and Section 106 legal agreement.

ACTION BY:Director of Economy, Regeneration & Investment                                 Borough Solicitor

There was none.

Having adjourned between 8.12pm and 8.15pm, the meeting ended at 8.22 pm.