Issue - meetings

Erection of a four-storey building with balconies to provide nine residential units (comprising 1 x 4 bed flat, 2 x 3 bed flats, 1 x 2 bed flat and 5 x 1 bed flats), together with the creation of new access drive with gated entrance off Mount Pleasant Lane, provision of one disabled car parking space, provision of nine cycle spaces and provision of refuse/recycling store facilities.

9.1  The Planning Officer introduced the report as set out in the agenda.  Reference was made to the addendum which stated that a petition signed by 29 local residents had been received by email on 13 October.  The main objections and responses to these were detailed within the addendum.

9.2  Brian Eley and Constanze Schmidt, spoke in objection to the scheme, their comments are summarised as follows:

• Speaking on behalf of 28 residents who had submitted a petition and they felt their concerns had not been addressed.
• Concern over the proposed access to the properties, as the driveway was only 2.4m wide.
• No turning circle provided and only 1 disabled parking space.  Emergency services vehicles will not be able to access the site.
• Concerned over the waste storage being provided
• Loss of tree at the junction to the site.
• Too dense for the backland site.
• There were already too many vehicles in the local area, this development would only add to this problem.

9.3  Councillor Buitekant wished to clarify whether the fire service was able to access the site and the Planning Officer explained that they would not be able to access the properties through the driveway, however a fire hydrant was usually provided in such cases.  She added that this issue would be dealt with at the building regulations stage.

9.4  In response to a query over the density of the proposed development, it was stated that the size of the development did comply with the density figures stated within in the London Plan.

9.5  Discussion took place on the issue of access and the Committee was asked to refer to paragraph 4.7.4 of the report which detailed how the access to the site had been improved in subsequent proposals.

9.6  The Highways Officer added that 3.7m was the minimum width for access for a site, however in some cases this had to be reduced, depending upon the number of car parking spaces being provided.  In this case only one disabled parking space was being provided and although they were not happy with the proposal they were prepared to accept the level of access.

9.7  Discussion took place on the refuse storage as it was identified that refuse vehicles would not be able to access the site.  It was requested that a condition be added for the landscaping to be looked at, to include the location of the refuse storage.  This was AGREED.

9.8  The Interim Head of Regulatory Services stated that a way of addressing the access issue could be for the development to be car free.  The applicant indicated that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9