Agenda item

Construction of outdoor gym including new canopy and boundary enclosures.

(Councillor Webb left the Chamber for the hearing of this item.)

10.1  The Planning Officer introduced the report as set out in the agenda.

10.2  The Interim Head of Regulatory Services informed the committee that the application site was in fact located on common land as well as metropolitan land and as such, any development on the subject site must remain unrestricted and open to public use in perpetuity.  To this effect it was confirmed that no fencing or any other means of enclosure forms part of this application.

10.3  Reference was made to the addendum which stated that an objection email dated 13 October 2008 had been received from the Hackney Parks Forum and Mabley Green Users’ Group.  Although they had not been formally consulted during the statutory consultation period, the objectors were informed of the proposed development through the 2012 Team and at meetings with the Head of Green Spaces.  The main objections and the responses to those were detailed within the addendum.

10.4  Matt Delaney, The Great Outdoor Gym Company, was in attendance to answer any questions that arose.

10.5  The Chair wished to clarify why this particular location was chosen and Matt Delaney responded by stating that they had gone to the Council and asked them where they felt was the most suitable place for this equipment to be located.

10.6  Councillor Hanson wished to know the estimated lifespan of the equipment and it was explained that the equipment had a guarantee of five years, however it was made of galvanised steel so had the potential to last up to twenty years.  The canopy was also fire retardant.

10.7  The Committee wished to clarify who was responsible for the maintenance of the site and it was explained that the site would belong to the Council, however the management arrangements would need to be finalised.

10.8  Councillor Desmond asked whether any supervision was proposed for the site.  Matt Delaney stated that as the site would belong to the Council, any supervision would need to be contracted by the Leisure Department.  He added that the adidas money could be match-funded in order to fund 20 hours per week supervised sessions and coaching.

10.9  Concern was raised over the advertising and how they would be perceived, as the adidas slogan would be displayed on the equipment.  Matt Delaney explained that the advertising would be kept to a minimum and that this had been managed well at other sites within London.

10.10  In response to a question from the Chair asking why the area of hard standing on Mabley Green could not have been used for the new equipment, David White, 2012 Unit, explained that this area would remain as car park and part of this would be used for changing rooms for the new facility.

RESOLVED that:

1.  SCB0 – Development in accordance with plans

The development hereby permitted shall only be carried out and completed strictly in accordance with the submitted plans hereby approved and any subsequent approval of details.

REASON: To ensure that the development hereby permitted is carried out in full accordance with the plans hereby approved.

2.  SCB1 - Commencement within three years

The development hereby permitted must be begun not later than three years after the date of this permission.

REASON: In order to comply with the provisions of Section 91(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended.

3.  SCM2 – Materials to be approved (Amended)

Full details, with samples, of materials to be used on the external surfaces of the structures and equipment shall be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority, in writing, before any work commences on site. The development shall not be carried out otherwise than in accordance with the details thus approved.

REASON: To ensure that the external appearance of the building is satisfactory and does not detract from the character and visual amenity of the area.

4.  SCT – Protection of trees during site work

No development will take place on site until full details of tree protection have been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Council and until such approved protection has been erected on site.  Tree protection will be in accordance with BS5837:2005 (Trees in relation to construction – Recommendations) and will protect the root protection area calculated as described in Table 2 of that British Standard.  The protective fencing will be 2.4m high and conform to Figure 2 of BS5837:2005 i.e. a scaffold framework comprising a vertical and horizontal framework, well braced to resist impacts, with vertical tubes spaced at a maximum interval of 3m.  On this weldmesh panels should be securely fixed with wire or scaffold clamps.

REASON:  In order to protect the existing trees during building operation and site works.

5.  Provision of litter bins.

Before the development commences provision of facilities for the disposal of litter and refuse by members of the public within the site shall be made in accordance with details to be submitted to and approve by the Local Planning Authority in writing.

6.  NSC – Ground Levels

  There shall be no rising of existing ground levels on the site.

  REASON: To prevent the increase of flooding due to impedance of flood flows and reduction of flood storage capacity.

7.  NSC - Permeable structures

All walls and fencing of the hereby approved development shall be permeable to flood water.

REASON: To prevent obstruction to the flow and storage of flood water and consequent risk of flooding.

REASONS FOR APPROVAL

  The following policies contained in the Hackney Unitary Development Plan (1995) are relevant to the approved development/use and were considered by this Council in reaching the decision to grant planning permission: EQ1 (Development Requirements), EQ21 (Metropolitan Open Land), EQ31 (Trees), EQ40 (Noise Control), EQ48 (Designing Out Crime), OS1 (Enhancing Metropolitan Open Land), OS2 (Open Spaces and Parks), OS4 (Protection of Character of Open Spaces and Parks) and OS5 (Development Affecting Open Spaces and Parks) as well as policies 3D.8 (Realising the value of open space and green infrastructure) and 3D.10 (Metropolitan Open Land) of the London Plan 2008.

INFORMATIVES

  The following Informatives should be added:

    SI.7   Hours of Building Works