Decision details

NOTED

1.    The introduction by Sharon Davidson, Planning Decisions Manager, clarifying the proposals.

2.    The following updates to the report as reported:

·         Traffic, Transport and Access

Trip Generation

The committee report states that the mode share projections used to inform the TA are based on ticket sales and customer survey results.

To clarify, there has been no customer survey carried out yet to inform the projections for this event. The projections are based on ticket sales and information gained from previous years events in other locations. A customer survey of this event is expected to be carried out by the applicant to inform mode share data for any future events at the site.

Pedestrian Access

Para 9.35 – The committee report states that pedestrian points of access to the site will be provided along the southern boundary with Tottenham Marshes. To clarify, all access into and out of the site for festival goers will be over the bridge over Pymmes Brook. Whilst a pedestrian route will be provided through Tottenham Marshes as shown in Figure 1, pedestrians will be routed towards the main entrance to the festival across the bridge. The access points from the site onto the marsh are emergency routes only.

To clarify, the final ingress/egress plan will be submitted to and agreed with the LPA prior to the event. However, the main ingress to the site will be through a stewarded route through the marshes and over the bridge or along Watermead Way/Meridian Way and Leeside Road.  Entry to the event through the marshes will only be permitted up until 8pm after which time access will not be permitted given this route will be unlit. Egress from the event will be along Leeside Road and Meridian Way and not permitted through Tottenham marshes.

·         Consultation Update

Transport for London

TfL have confirmed that the proposal as it stands is acceptable subject to conditions requiring the provision of cycle parking (the applicant intends to provide a 30m x 30m facility with capacity for you to 1000 bikes which TfL deem sufficient for this event) and a requirement that a transport survey is undertaken during the festival to ascertain whether the predictions made in the transport management plan regarding mode share are accurate. An additional condition to cover this is recommended.

Objections have been received from Tottenham Hotspurs Football Club and  Stonebridge Lock Coalition since the report was published. (The Spurs letter was circulated in full for Members). In summary, the objections raised are:

                THFC

THFC have stated that whilst there are no major events  (over 10,000 spectators) planned to take place at the stadium at the same time as the festival, that in the absence of key timetabling information to confirm that sufficient public transport capacity exists they object to the application especially in the absence of express support from TfL, British Tansport Police and the Metropolitan Police.

Officer Response:

Full consideration of the impact on the transport network is provided in section 9 of the committee report and has been based on the latest available timetabling information for train and underground services.

The Transport Management Plan and Event Management Plan also provide details of crowd management to ensure that transport nodes are not overwhelmed.

Since the publication of the report TfL have confirmed that they have no objections to the proposals. The Police have been consulted but have not commented on the planning application. They are involved in the Licensing process and I understand that they are not raising objections to this individual event on capacity ground.

Stonebridge Lock Coalition

10 mature trees have been felled on the Wild Marsh West line tpo provide emergency exits for these events.

The events will encourage footfall through the marsh and the noise and light pollution from the events will extend beyond the usual daytime period disrupting nesting birds and breeding m\ammals and foraging bats. There will be increased levels of litter entering the Lee Navigation and Pymmes Brook as a result of the event.

The organisers should be required to provide habitat enhancements and ecological features to ensure there is a biodiversity net gain.

Officer Response:

Clearance of trees has taken place outside of the application site and outside the control of the LPA. It is understood however, that the applicant has carried out these works in agreement with the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, guardians of the Marsh.

Festival goers will use an existing route through the marsh that will be unlit. Lighting levels and lighting direction at the event site will be agreed with the LPA to ensure that sensitive areas are protected to limit any adverse impacts on special ecological areas.

Conditions have been imposed to ensure litter and waste are minimised, managed appropriately and cleared from the site and adjoining areas.

·         Ecological Survey Update

Since the publication of the report further survey work has been undertaken to establish the presence of breeding birds at the site. These took place on the 8^th and 15^th April with 2 further surveys planned on 25^th April and 2^nd May.

The applicant has provided an interim report in the absence of the completion of the surveys to inform officers and members of the committee of the latest position with regards to protected species.

The ecologist who carried out the surveys has confirmed that there were no sightings of black redstart, either on site or in the surroundings. It was noted that the IKEA building next to the site is using visual and audible bird deterrents which may reduce the likelihood of black redstart and other breeding birds occurring on site. Feral pigeons Columba livia were recorded in Unit 9 on site. The applicant’s ecologoist has advised that the noise disturbance from the festival is not likely to significantly disturb nesting pigeons or other common, urban nesting birds, to the point where the nest is abandoned or young impacted. However, they have identified appropriate mitigation measures to protect the nests and these have been confirmed as acceptable by the Council’s own Ecological Consultant.

The additional surveys planned remain necessary as it is still early in the nesting season. Conditions to secure appropriate mitigation would be added following receipt of final report should the findings remain consistent with the above.

3.    Members debate and questions responded to by officers.

4.    The support of the majority of the Committee for the officers’ recommendation: 10 votes for and 2 abstentions.

AGREED that subject to the receipt of satisfactory ecological survey results, the Head of Development Management/Planning Decisions Manager be authorised to grant planning permission subject to conditions and add any additional planning conditions necessary to secure appropriate mitigation as well as make any minor amendments to the wording of the conditions in the report.