Issue - meetings

RECOMMENDATION:  Approval subject to conditions and completion of Section 106 Agreement.

WARD: Cockfosters

NOTED

1.    The introduction by David Gittens, Planning Decisions Manager.

2.    Officers had initially recommended the proposal for approval. However, following the failure of the applicant to reach agreement with the Council regarding the level of off-site affordable housing contributions, officers were now recommending that planning permission be refused on this ground. Officers were recommending that the reasons for refusal be limited to this issue.

3.    The deputation of Kim Rickards, agent for the applicant.

4.    Members’ debate, including further concerns regarding the proposals in relation to the single-aspect layout of some flats, and the loss of D1 space, and questions responded to by officers.

5.    The support of the majority of the committee for the refusal on these three grounds: 5 votes for and 3 abstentions.

AGREED that planning permission be refused for reasons based on:

(1)  Insufficient information/evidence to support the lack of Affordable Housing contribution sought;

(2)  Poor quality of accommodation due to high number of single aspect units which indicates that the proposal constitutes an overdevelopment of the site;

(3)  Lack of a financial or other contribution to compensate for the loss of the community facility on the site.