Agenda and minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 1 July 2021 as an accurate record.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 1 July 2021 be signed as a correct record.

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct and the statutory provisions of the Localism Act, Members and co-opted Members of the Council are reminded that it is a requirement to register disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) and gifts and hospitality to the value of which exceeds £50 or multiple gifts and/or instances of hospitality with a cumulative value of £50 or more when received from a single donor within a rolling twelve month period. In addition, Members and co-opted Members are reminded that unless their disclosable pecuniary interest is registered on the register of interests or is the subject of a pending notification to the Monitoring Officer, they are required to disclose those disclosable pecuniary interests at the meeting. This should be done by completing the Disclosure of Interest form and handing it to the Democratic Services representative at the start of the meeting. The Chair will then invite Members to make their disclosure orally at the commencement of Agenda item 3. Completed disclosure forms will be provided to the Monitoring Officer for inclusion on the Register of Members’ Interests.

There were no disclosures of a pecuniary interest not already registered.

To receive notice of any business not on the agenda which in the opinion of the Chair, by reason of special circumstances, be considered as a matter of urgency.

There was none.

To receive the following presentations on a proposed development:

Demolition of buildings and erection of a building with heights ranging between four and eight storeys to provide 93 residential units. Associated parking and landscaping, along with a public footway/cycle route through the site.

Ward: Broad Green

Demolition of buildings and erection of a building with heights ranging between four and eight storeys to provide 93 residential units. Associated parking and landscaping, along with a public footway/cycle route through the site.

Ward: Broad Green

Clara Blagden from Iceni Projects (Planning Consultant), Nick Lawrence from Aitch Group (Applicant), Chris Levett from DLA Architecture (Architect), Oliver Mckay from Studio Bosk (Landscape Architect), Ian McKenna from Hollis (Daylight/Sunlight Consultant) and Lucy Williams from Iceni Projects (Townscape) all attended to give a presentation and respond to Members' questions and issues raised for further consideration prior to submission of a planning application.

The main issues raised at this meeting were as follows:

Residential redevelopment of site – Members addressed the importance of making the most of sites was noted though developments needed to be responsive to context and of a certain quality, although the improvements over the existing building were noted.

Height – There was a mixed response from Members to the massing of the scheme; some members suggested that 8 storeys was too high, with the massing at the front being prominent and would be the tallest building in the area. Some Members suggested that the massing was acceptable given corner and gateway of the site. The improvements since the Place Review Panel comments were noted. Further analysis or justification could be helpful as some Members suggested that the massing could be acceptable if there was a high quality design and appearance, and delivered good levels of affordable housing and cycling and pedestrian improvements.

Design – The Committee suggested that the architectural design and integration of different parts of the buildings could be further developed and could match the quality of a gateway site and should add to the local area with further work suggested especially around materiality, street level and detail.

§  Active frontages needed to be carefully considered and other uses such as a café, health centre or other active uses were suggested. The community use rooms welcomed by Members.

§  The scheme should provide for fully accessible units and meet the London Plan standards in this respect.

§  There was a discussion around how balconies and winter gardens would work in practice, especially in terms of maintenance.

§  The security and the importance of defensible space was highlighted by Members specifically at ground floor level and also the security of the deck access areas.

§  The importance of biodiversity and having a good urban greening factor as possible being achieved was discussed.

§  Members suggested that it was important to ensure cycle storage was at sufficient numbers and appropriately designed; as well as the importance of meeting air quality standards which was highlighted given the site's context, and electric vehicle charging points should also be provided including for disabled bays.

Affordable housing provision – The delivery of affordable housing was noted to be of significant importance and should meet policy requirements of at least 30% (60:40 split) as a minimum and should deliver true social rent levels. Also  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86/21

To consider the accompanying reports by the Director of Planning & Strategic Transport:

There was nine Members present during this Committee meeting, as outlined above. The voting therefore was recorded to reflect the nine Members present and not ten Members as mentioned on the webcast.

Demolition of existing dwelling, erection of a 3/4 storey building comprising 9 flats with basement car parking, landscaping and amenity space.

Ward: Purley And Woodcote

Recommendation: Grant permission

Demolition of existing dwelling, erection of a 3/4 storey building comprising 9 flats with basement car parking, landscaping and amenity space.

Ward: Purley and Woodcote

The officers presented details of the planning application and responded to questions for clarification.

Mr Devendra Paramasvaran spoke in objection to the application.

The Committee deliberated on the application presentation heard before them having heard all the speakers who addressed the Committee, and in turn addressed their view on the matter.

The substantive motion to GRANT the application based on the officer’s recommendation was proposed by Councillor Clive Fraser. This motion was not seconded.

Councillor Humayan Kabir proposed a motion to DEFER the application on the grounds of the proposed brickwork being out of keeping with the character of the area; the pinch point to the neighbouring properties; and for improved security of amenity space and play space and amount/levels of amenity space. This was seconded by Councillor Lelia Ben-Hassel.

The motion to defer was taken to a vote and carried with seven Members voting in favour and two Members abstained their vote.

The Committee RESOLVED to DEFER the application for the development at

16 Smitham Downs Road, Purley, CR8 4NB.

Demolition of existing dwelling, the construction of a part 4/part 5 storey residential building accommodating 20 flats, all together with vehicular accesses from Smitham Downs Road and The Vale, vehicle and cycle parking, refuse provision and associated hard and soft landscaping.

Ward: Coulsdon Town

Recommendation: Grant permission

Demolition of existing dwelling, the construction of a part 4/part 5 storey residential building accommodating 20 flats, all together with vehicular accesses from Smitham Downs Road and The Vale, vehicle and cycle parking, refuse provision and associated hard and soft landscaping.

Ward: Coulsdon Town

The officers presented details of the planning application and responded to questions for clarification.

Ms Alexandra Collins spoke in objection to the application.

Mr Andy Hollins the applicant’s agent spoke in support of the application.

The referring Ward Member Councillor Luke Clancy spoke at committee against the application.

The Committee deliberated on the application presentation heard before them having heard all the speakers who addressed the Committee, and in turn addressed their view on the matter.

The substantive motion to GRANT the application based on the officer’s recommendation was not supported by the Committee.

Councillor Ian Parker proposed a motion to REFUSE the application on the grounds of height, size and massing creating an overdevelopment form which is out of character in the area; lighting impact on neighbours and the quality of accommodation to specific units for future occupiers regarding amenity space sizes. This was seconded by Councillor Scott Roche.

The motion to refuse was taken to a vote and carried with eight Members voting in favour and one Member abstained their vote.

The Committee RESOLVED to REFUSE the application for the development at 5 Smitham Downs Road, Purley.

To consider any item(s) referred by a previous meeting of the Planning Sub-Committee to this Committee for consideration and determination:

There are none.

There were none.

To consider the accompanying report by the Director of Planning & Strategic Transport:

Attached is the list of Delegated and Planning Committee/Sub-Committee decisions taken between 21 June 2021 and 2 July 2021.

The report was received for information.