Issue - meetings

Planning Application Number 2007/1841:  Woodberry Down Kick Start Phase 1, Site 1 (Old School Site): Redevelopment to provide a mixed use scheme comprising 456 residential units (Class C3), 1128 sqm Priority Community Facility with associated retail (Class D1/A1), 906 sqm of flexible accommodation to include retail, restaurant, business and other uses (Class A1, A2, A3, A4, B1, D1, D2), ground and basement car parking (212 spaces).  Development to comprise seven blocks of four to twenty five storeys in height, new access road and junction to Woodberry Grove, new public open space and new Local Area for Play (detailed application).

8.1  The Planning Officer introduced the report, as set out in the agenda.  He referred to the addendum and stated that a total of 186 affordable dwellings had been approved for the Old School site (Woodberry Down Kick Start site 1) by Committee in March 2008 (155 social housing and 31 intermediate tenure units).  The agenda report sets out the request from Berkeley Homes to change 39 of these 155 social rented units to intermediate tenure. 

8.2  The addendum also detailed the planning contributions - education provision.  It was stated that Officers were satisfied that the potential delay in contributions, due to the building of affordable housing initially at the Old School development reflecting the stated lack of current demand for private dwellings, would not have serious repercussions on the other Planning Obligations arising from the development.

8.3  Councillor Middleton expressed concerns regarding the scheme, on behalf of residents, her comments are summarised as follows:

§  It was about time that the Borough was getting some decent homes.

§  Lack of consultation between the developers and local residents.

§  Businesses and shopkeepers had not been consulted since June 2008.

§  The narrowing of Seven Sisters Road was not identified in the report and the majority of residents were in objection to this proposal.

§  The site was located in Brownswood ward and not New River, as listed in the report.

8.4  In response to the issue raised regarding Seven Sisters Road, the Principal Solicitor clarified that the roads within the site were the responsibility of the Council’s highways department, however Seven Sisters Road was owned by TfL and was therefore their responsibility.

8.5  Peter Naughton spoke in support of the scheme with objections, his comments are summarised as follows:

§  Delighted that the Council had completed the section 106 agreement with Berkeley Homes, however he was concerned that it was now not the case that the money would be retained within the scheme. He requested clarification on the s106 agreement.

§  The mix of units was previously not seen as a concern ………….

8.6  In response to the query regarding the s106 agreement, the Planning Officer explained that all s106 monies would be allocated to the scheme and retained within the development area.

8.7  Robin Smith (Hackney Homes) and Shaun Tickle (Agent) spoke in support of the scheme, their comments are summarised as follows:

§  It was proposed that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8