Agenda and minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 3 August 2023 and Thursday, 14 September 2023 as an accurate record.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 3 August 2023 and Thursday, 14 September 2023 be signed as a correct record.

Members are invited to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) and other registrable and non-registrable interests they may have in relation to any item(s) of business on today’s agenda.

Councillor Brew declared that he had attended various functions at Royal Russell school in a Councillor capacity, however, he confirmed it would not pre-determine his views on the application.

Councillor Kabir declared that he knew two of the speakers in support of the application at Croydon Park Hotel from the Asian Resource Centre of Croydon (ARCC) and the BME forum and he stated that he was a founding member of the ARCC.

Councillor Islam declared that he knew two of the speakers in support of the application at Croydon Park Hotel as they were prominent community figures in Croydon, but he stated that he did not have any personal interactions with them.

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:

There are none.

There were none.

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

Demolition of the existing buildings and retention of the existing basement, site preparation and enabling works to allow for the erection of a residential building (Use Class C3) comprising a maximum 447 homes with a maximum height of 36 storeys and community floorspace (Use Class F.1/F.2) on the ground floor, highways and access works, landscaping, car and cycle parking, and other associated works.

Ward: Addiscombe West

Recommendation: Grant permission

Demolition of the existing buildings and retention of the existing basement, site preparation and enabling works to allow for the erection of a residential building (Use Class C3) comprising a maximum 447 homes with a maximum height of 36 storeys and community floorspace (Use Class F.1/F.2) on the ground floor, highways and access works, landscaping, car and cycle parking, and other associated works.

Ward: Addiscombe West

The officer presented details of the planning application and in response to members’ questions explained that:

• Officers identified potential wind condition issues around the north-western corner which was the main entrance to the community use. The Council engaged their own consultants to assess the wind impact of the scheme and as a result there was a canopy installed to help to disperse wind. There were also two screens that were proposed on the ground floor plan in the indicative landscape plan and that will help to disperse wind from travelling from south-west to north-east.
• Officers were not aware of any intention form the applicant to purchase the neighbouring latitude and longitude housing blocks.
• There was a planning obligation which would cost £10,892 for the improvements to off-site provision for children 12 and over.
• The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) charging schedule for residential within the Croydon opportunity area was at zero, this the Councils decision as part of its CIL charging schedule. Through the section 106 agreement there was a package of measures which mitigated the scheme. The Legal Agreement seeks a financial contribution of £491,000 towards to sustainable transport while  the wider highways team has undertaken a design review to make improvements to Barclay Road
• The applicant had been approached regarding charging schedules. The community space was separated into two areas, the smaller area of 84 square metres would be made available for the community and local groups with a 50% reduction in price. The larger space of 120 square metres would also be offered to the community and local groups with a 50% reduction in price. There was no policy basis to ask for a reduction in the charges for the use of the community space. The applicant later confirmed that the premises will be available free of charge for the first 15 hours per week, the reduced charge would come into effect after 15 hours per week had been exhausted.
• There was a delivery and servicing bay on Altyre road and there was sufficient space in the layby for the refuse vehicles to come and collect the waste. There was a ramp that went down towards the basement which will be provide access to the disabled bays and the smaller vehicle delivery and servicing.
• The car parking spaces were in the basement and there were 13 blue badge spaces proposed. The development was close to East Croydon station and had the best Public Transport Accessibility Level (PTAL) rating in the borough. The benefit of this development was that there was little to no loss of off-street parking as there was vehicular access  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58/23

Demolition of existing Junior School. Erection of replacement Junior School including Multi-Use Games Area, sports pitch, play and landscaped areas, access and plant, and other associated works.

Ward: South Croydon

Recommendation: Grant permission

Demolition of existing Junior School. Erection of replacement Junior School including Multi-Use Games Area, sports pitch, play and landscaped areas, access and plant, and other associated works.

Ward: South Croydon

The officer presented details of the planning application and in response to members’ questions explained that:

• A travel plan had been submitted and had outlined how to reduce reliability on the use of a private car to gain access to the site. The plan could be improved upon and there were more measurable targets which could be implemented, and these measures could be monitored as part of a section 106 agreement.
• Cllr Parkers question.
• The highways team could be approached about the implementation of a school street along Hollingsworth Road.

Robin Blay spoke in objection to the application and Chris Hutchinson spoke in support of the application. After the speakers had finished, the committee began the deliberation, during which they raised the following points:

• The current junior school was not sustainable, and any closure would have a significant impact.
• The site was on the green belt.
• The special circumstance test had been passed.
• The materials of the development were appreciated.
• The planting of new trees was appreciated.
• The development was being implemented at the right time as the existing building needed replacement.
• There was an appreciation that the feedback on the colour of the buildings had been taken into consideration in the design.
• The biodiversity would see a large net gain.
• The issue with Hollingsworth Road residents would need to be resolved.

The substantive motion to GRANT the application based on the officer’s recommendation was proposed by Councillor Kabir. This was seconded by Councillor Shortland.

The motion to grant the application was taken to a vote and carried with ten Members voting in favour.

The Committee RESOLVED to GRANT the application for the development at Royal Russell School, Coombe Lane, Croydon, CR9 5BX.

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:

There are none.

Attached is the list of Delegated and Planning Committee/Subcommittee decisions taken between 30 October 2023 and 10 November 2023.

The report was received for information.