Agenda and minutes

To note any changes to the membership.

There were no changes.

To receive declarations by members and officers of the existence and nature of any personal or prejudicial interests in matters on this agenda.

2.1      Councillor Davis declared that any Members of the Majority Party who had or would make representations on the applications on the agenda were his friends. He also advised that in his capacity as Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning it was inevitable and part of his role that he got to know, meet and talk to leading members of the planning and property industry including landowners and developers and their professional teams such as architects, surveyors, planning consultants, lawyers and public affairs advisers as well as residents, residents associations and amenity groups. It was his practice to make such declarations. He stated that it did not mean that they were his personal friends or that he had a pecuniary interest but that he had worked with them in his capacity as Cabinet Member for Planning.

2.2      Councillor Davis also explained that all four Members of the Committee were provided a week before the meeting with a full set of papers including a detailed officer’s report on each application together with bundles of every single letter or e-mail received in respect of every application including all letters and e-mails containing objections or giving support. Members of the Committee read through everything in detail prior to the meeting. Accordingly, if an issue or comment made by a correspondent was not specifically mentioned at the meeting in the officers presentation or by Members of the Committee, because of the need to get through a long agenda, it does not mean that Members have ignored the issue as they will have read about it and comments made by correspondents in the papers read prior to the meeting.

2.3      Councillor Davis also declared that in his capacity as the Cabinet Member for the Built Environment with specific responsibility for planning he regularly met with developers as part of the City Council’s pre-application engagement with applicants. This was wholly in accordance with normal protocols and the terms set out in the Localism Act 2011 and as amplified in the Communities and Local Government Act Guidance document “A Plain English Guide to the Localism Act”. Councillor Davis added that the meetings held with applicants and in some case objectors too were without prejudice and all parties were advised that a final formal decision was only taken when all the facts were before him and his Committee through the normal planning application process.

2.4      Councillor Davis wished to declare that in his capacity as Cabinet Member he knows a number of the directors of planning consultancy companies in Westminster. The planning consultancy companies were representing the applicants on a number of items on the current agenda, including Four Communications, Belgrave, GVA, Gerald Eve, CBRE and Savills.

2.5      Councillor Davis made the following further declarations as they related to the specific applications on the agenda:

Item 1: He knew the Directors of Northacre and the Directors of GVA. He had held a number of meetings with the applicants as part of the pre-application process, and knew  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

To sign the minutes of the last meeting as a correct record of proceedings.

The minutes of the meeting held on 26 January 2016 were approved and signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.

Applications for decision

Demolition of existing buildings and erection of mixed use development comprising office (Class B1) and retail (Classes A1 & A3) across x2 four storey podiums, each with three residential buildings above (total of x6 residential buildings) ranging from 14 to 20 storeys high, providing 268 residential units (including 10 x affordable residential units). Provision of new walkway and landscaping between the podiums and a retail pavilion at ground level. Erection of three basement levels comprising residential facilities, cycle storage (commercial and residential), plant and parking spaces.

Additional representations were received from The Westminster Society (07.01.16), the Head of Affordable & Private Sector Housing (16.02.16) and Bilfinger GVA (18.02.16).  A schedule of accommodation including bedroom sizes had also been received from Squire & Partners.  

Late representations were received from Ms Barbara Weiss (22.02.16), Ms Skyline Campaign (22.02.16), Mr Chris Doherty (22.02.16) and Mrs Sophia Massey-Cook (22.02.16)

RESOLVED: That

1.    Subject to the concurrence of the Mayor of London, grant conditional permission subject to a S106 legal agreement to secure the following:

1. Provision of affordable housing on-site; 
2. A payment of £10,000,000 towards the provision of affordable housing elsewhere in the City (payable on commencement of development and index linked);
3. All highway works surrounding the site required for the development to occur including vehicle crossovers, changes to on-street restrictions and footway repaving;
4. The applicant to comply with the Council's Code of Construction Practice, provide a Site Environmental Management Plan prior to commencement of development and provide a financial contribution of £33,000 per annum during demolition and construction to fund the Environmental Inspectorate and monitoring by Environmental Sciences officers; 
5. Unallocated car parking;
6. Walkways agreement;
7. A contribution of £8,909 towards Legible London signage;
8. Dedication of highway and associated costs;
9. Free lifetime (25 years) car club membership for residents of the development;
10. Employment and Training Strategy for the construction phase and the operational phase of the development. 
11. Costs of monitoring the S106 agreement.
12. Provision of tree planting on Victoria Street.
13. A payment of £500,000 towards public realm improvements works to Strutton Ground (payable on commencement.
14. Establishing a residents liaison committee.

2.    If the S106 legal agreement has not been completed within two months of the date of this resolution then:

a)    The Director of Planning shall consider whether it will be possible or appropriate to issue the permission with additional conditions attached to secure the benefits listed above. If so, the Director of Planning is authorised to determine and issue the decision under Delegated Powers; however, if not; 

b)    The Director of Planning shall consider whether the permission should be refused on the grounds that the proposals are unacceptable in the absence of benefits which would have been secured; if so, the Director of Planning is authorised to determine the application and agree appropriate reasons for refusal under Delegated Powers.

Councillor Boothroyd requested that his vote against the decision to grant the application be recorded.

Demolition of the existing buildings, redevelopment of site comprising two buildings at ground and two upper levels and excavation of part two/ part three storey basements, to create 1 x 5 bedroom unit and 2 x 1 bedroom units with associated roof gardens and terraces, car parking and cycle parking. (Site includes 15 Lancelot Place and 1 Trevor Walk).

Additional representations were received from Mr Neale Stevenson (16.02.16) and the Knightsbridge Association (17.02.16).

Late representations were received from the Knightsbridge Association (17.02.16), CBRE Limited (18.02.16), Stacey Ramsay and Simon Neame (18.02.16), 10 Lancelot Place (19.02.16), Knightsbridge Residents Management Company Limited (19.02.16), Stephanie Loizou (20.02.16), Lewis & Tucker Chartered Surveyors (21.02.16), Caroline Stoclin (21.02.16), Councillor Rachael Robathan (21.02.16), Maria Tzortzi Epiphaniou (22.02.16), Charles Nasser (22.02.16), Mr D Gidwaney (22.02.16), Mr Justin Jenk (22.02.16), Thomas & Thomas Partners LLP (22.02.16), Sherrards Solicitors (22.02.16), Caroline Lemaire (22.02.16), Najy Nasser (22.02.16), Victor Ilyukhin (22.02.16), Philip Antscherl (23.02.16), Dr Therese Cattan (23.02.16), Tom Budgett (23.02.16) and QI Ltd (23.02.16).

RESOLVED:

That conditional permission be granted, subject to the deletion of condition 4; the amendment of condition 19 to include the maintenance of plants with, no time limit; and an additional condition that there be no Saturday working.

Demolition and redevelopment of Nos. 3-11 Lancelot Place to provide five single family dwelling houses (Class C3) comprising two basement levels (plus sub-basement plant room), ground, first and second floor levels.

Additional representations were received from the Knightsbridge Association (17.02.16) and High Point Estates Ltd (17.02.16).

Late representations were received from Stacey Ramsay and Simon Neame (18.02.16), Knightsbridge Residents Management Company Limited (19.02.16), 10 Lancelot Place (19.02.16 and 23.02.16), Stephanie Loizou (20.02.16), Caroline Stoclin (21.02.16), John and Ruth Richards (22.02.16), Thomas & Thomas Partners LLP (22.02.16), Charles Nasser (22.02.16), Caroline Lemaire (22.02.16), Mr D Gidwaney (22.02.16), Maria Tzortzi Epiphaniou (22.02.16), Najy Nasser (22.02.16), Sherrards Solicitors (22.02.16), Dr Therese Cattan (23.02.16), Tom Budgett (23.02.16) AND

Late representations were received from the Knightsbridge Association (17.02.16), CBRE Limited (18.02.16), Lewis & Tucker Chartered Surveyors (21.02.16), Councillor Rachael Robathan (21.02.16), Charles Nasser (22.02.16), Mr Justin Jenk (22.02.16), Thomas & Thomas Partners LLP (22.02.16), Victor Ilyukhin (22.02.16), Philip Antscherl (23.02.16), and QI Ltd (23.02.16).

RESOLVED:

That conditional permission be granted, subject to an amended Construction Management Plan to include a marshal; the alteration of the dummy windows; and no Saturday working.

Use of the ground floor as a retail unit (Class A1) and alterations to the ground floor front elevation.

Additional representations were received from Clive Jones (17.02.16) and Lucy Whitcutt (18.02.16).

Late representations were received from the Mayfair Residents Group (22.02.16).

Councillor Glenys Roberts and Councillor Paul Church addressed the Committee as Ward Members.

RESOLVED:

Thatconsideration of the application be deferred, to enable Members to undertake a site visit.

Demolition and redevelopment behind retained Regent Street and Little Portland Street frontages (Nos. 11-12), including rebuilding of mansard roof, to provide retail floorspace at part ground and basement floors and 44 residential dwellings at first to seventh floor levels, with ground floor entrance and ancillary residential at part basement; erection of plant at roof (seventh floor) level, and external terraces to some flats on rear elevations.

The Presiding Officer tabled the following amendments to the proposed conditions to the draft planning permission:

            Amendment To Condition 3

You must apply to us for approval of detailed drawings (scales 1:20 and 1:5) of the following parts of the development -

1. All alterations to the shopfronts;

2. Proposed reuse of the two existing marble columns (in the Little Portland Street entrance lobby);

3. Typical new windows.

You must not start any work on these parts of the development until we have approved what you have sent us. You must then carry out the work according to these detailed drawings.  (C26DB)

Additional Condition (18) of Planning Permission

You must apply to us for approval of samples of the facing materials you will use, including glazing, and elevations and roof plans annotated to show where the materials are to be located.  You must not start any work on these parts of the development until we have approved what you have sent us. You must then carry out the work using the approved materials.

Reason: To protect the special architectural or historic interest of this building and to make sure the development contributes to the character and appearance of the Regent Street Conservation Area.  This is as set out in S25 and S28 of Westminster's City Plan: Strategic Policies adopted November 2013 and DES 1 and paras 10.108 to 10.146 of our Unitary Development Plan that we adopted in January 2007.

RESOLVED:

1.    The Committee agree with the applicant's request that:

a)    442 sqm of the residential accommodation hereby approved can be used  to provide the residential accommodation arising from the commercial redevelopment of 5-9 Cork Street and 12-14 New Bond Street (instead of already approved residential accommodation at 13 and 15 Maddox Street), with the conversion works at Morley House to commence within 12 months of occupation of the Cork Street development unless either:

i.      The council approves a different location for this residential floorspace within the Regent Street or St James's Estates, or

ii.    The £1.941 million payment in lieu has been made (this being the payment in lieu of the residential requirement arising from the approved scheme of development at Cork Street, based on the current adopted Council formula).

b)    the remaining residential accommodation hereby approved can be used to address Westminster's mixed use policy requirements that may arise from future commercial development schemes (effectively a residential 'credit') subject to the following parameters:

i.      The credit would last for seven years from the date of the grant of planning permission for the residential redevelopment of Morley House;

ii.    The  credit can  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

1.  Demolition of the existing building and erection of a building comprising lower ground, ground and first to sixth floor levels. Use of the part basement and ground floor levels as retail accommodation (Class A1), first to fourth floors as office (Class B1) and a duplex residential unit (Class C3) on the fifth and sixth floor. Installation of plant and associated screening at rear ground floor levels and at main roof level. Creation of terraces/balconies at first to sixth floor levels.

2. Demolition of the existing building and erection of a building comprising lower ground, ground and first to sixth floor levels. Use of part basement and ground floor levels as retail accommodation (Class A1) and part basement, ground and the first to sixth floor levels as five residential units (Class C3). Installation of plant and associated screening at rear ground floor levels and at main roof level. Creation of terraces/balconies at first to sixth floor levels.

RESOLVED:

Application 1

That planning permission be refused, on grounds of the loss of residential and non-compliance with the mixed use policies.

Application 2

That conditional planning permission be granted.

Site 1: Demolition of 11-14 Grafton Street and 163-164 New Bond Street, excavation of new sub-basement storey, and erection of replacement building over sub-basement, basement, lower ground, lower ground mezzanine, ground and part five and part six upper storeys for use as car / cycle parking and refuse store at sub-basement level, plant at part basement level, retail (Class A1) at part basement, lower ground, lower ground mezzanine, part ground, first and part second floor levels, Class B1 offices at part ground (reception), third and fourth floors; dual/alternative use as office (Class B1) and/or retail (Class A1) at part second floor level, two flats (Class C3) at fifth and six floor levels and installation of plant at roof level.

Site 2: Use of part ground, first, second and third floors of 26 Bruton Lane to create 3 residential units (Class C3) and replacement of windows at ground to third floor.

Two additional representations were received from Gerald Eve LLP (18.02.16).

RESOLVED:

Site 1:

1.    That conditional permission and listed building consent be granted, subject to a legal agreement to secure the following:

i.      The dismantlement and re-instatement of the listed  "Wartski" shopfront;

ii.    Provision of the residential accommodation at Crowndean House, 26 Bruton Lane (15/08341/FULL) before occupation of new office accommodation;

iii.   The provision of car parking spaces for Crowndean House in the basement of 11-14 Grafton Street;

iv.   Provision of Site Environmental Monitoring Plan and £28,000 per annum towards construction monitoring;

v.    Management and maintenance of the car lift;

vi.   Payment of an arboricultural contractor (to be appointed by the Council) for works to the trees on the New Bond Street frontage, subject to them not being removed as part of any separate public realm works;

vii.  Monitoring costs of £500 for each of the above clauses.

2.    If the S106 legal agreement has not been completed within two months, then:

a)    The Director of Planning shall consider whether the permission can be issued with additional conditions attached to secure the benefits listed above.  If this is possible and appropriate, the Director of Planning is authorised to determine and issue such a decision under Delegated Powers; however, if not

b)    The Director of Planning shall consider whether permission should be refused on the grounds that it has not proved possible to complete an agreement within an appropriate timescale, and that the proposals are unacceptable in the absence of the benefits that would have been secured; if so, the Director of Planning is authorised to determine the application and agree appropriate reasons for refusal under Delegated Powers.

3.    That the reasons for granting listed building consent as set out in Informative 1 of the draft Decision letter be agreed.

Site 2:

That conditional permission be granted.

Use of building for residential purposes (Class C3) to provide 73 residential units (45 private units and 28 affordable units).Re-cladding of all existing facades, installation of balconies and terraces including creation of two terraces to rear at first floor level and associated landscaping works at rear of building. Provision of 44 off-street car parking spaces and 131 cycle parking spaces within an enclosed private car park with access from Guildhouse Street. Reduction of plant room at roof level, installation of plant at lower ground floor level and installation of solar panels on roof at seventh floor level.

An additional representation was received from Penwell Construction Limited (17.02.16).

RESOLVED:

1.    That conditional permission be granted, subject to a S106 legal agreement to secure the following:

a)    Provision of 28 affordable housing units on site in perpetuity to be made ready for occupation prior to the occupation of the private residential units;

b)    Footway works required to move one of the crossovers in Guildhouse Street and any associated changes to on-street parking;

c)    Free lifetime (25 years) car club membership for residents of the development;

d)    unallocated parking;

e)    The costs of monitoring the S106 legal agreement.

2.    If the legal agreement has not been completed within six weeks of the date of the Committee resolution then:

a)    The Director of Planning shall consider whether the permission can be issued with additional conditions attached to secure the benefits listed above.  If this is possible and appropriate the Director of Planning is authorised to determine and issue such a decision under Delegated Powers; however, if not

b)    The Director of Planning shall consider whether permission should be refused on the grounds that it has not proved possible to complete an agreement within the appropriate timescale, and that the proposals are unacceptable in the absence of the benefits that would have been secured; the Director of Planning is authorised to determine the application and agree appropriate reasons for refusal under Delegated Powers.

Excavation of basement extension including swimming pool below garden and former stable block, internal and external alterations to existing buildings, demolition of former gardener's house to rear of site and replacement with building containing lift to basement level and utilities, erection of glazed link structure between main house and former stable block, demolition and replacement of bay window extensions to garden elevation of main house and infill extension at ground floor level between main house and boundary wall with No.19. Alterations and extensions to enlarge existing dwellinghouse.

An additional representation was received from the London & Middlesex Archaeological Society, for and on behalf of the Council for British Archaeology (18.02.16).

RESOLVED: That

1.    Conditional permission and conditional listed building consent be granted.

2.    The reasons for granting conditional listed building consent as set out in Informative 1 of the draft decision letter be agreed.

Dual/ alternative use of building as either a sports and leisure facility (Class D2) or offices (Class B1) and internal and external alterations including installation of lift within north-west staircore, internal lighting, addition of balustrades to gallery, installation of new sports floor, alteration to internal layout within crypt, formation of new entrance ramp, erection of canopy and alterations to railings within Bell Street and erection to two storey extension to south-west corner to accommodate new staircore.

Late, undated representations were received from Belgrave Communications Ltd.

RESOLVED:

1.    Conditional permission and conditional listed building consent be granted, subject to the amendment of condition 4 to allowopening at 6.30 on Sundays, Bank Holidays and public holidays: and to the amendment of condition 6 to allow 5 private hire events per month and 2 per week.

2.    That the reasons for granting conditional listed building consent as set out in Informative 1 of the draft decision letter be agreed.

Segregated cycle route running through West Carriage Drive in Hyde Park as part of the East-West Cycle Superhighway and associated works. Route also includes part of Serpentine Road and South Carriage Drive.

RESOLVED:

That consideration of the application be deferred, to enable the applicant to consider alternatives.

Downstream extension of Westminster Pier measuring 32 metre (length) by 10 metre (width) including the modification of the existing V-berth end pontoon and the installation of one pile and associated works.

An additional representation was received from Historic England (17.02.16).

RESOLVED:

That conditional permission be granted.

Details of construction logistics plan pursuant to Condition 7 of planning permission dated 22 December 2014 (RN: 14/05095/FULL), for erection of new pedestrian bridge with incorporated garden extending over the River Thames from land adjacent to The Queen's Walk on the South Bank to land above and in the vicinity of Temple London Underground Station on the North Bank. (The Garden Bridge).

Additional representations were received from Gerald Eve LLP (17.02.16) and Adams Hendry Consulting Ltd. (19.02.16).

RESOLVED:

That the details given be approved, subject to clarification that Temple Place will remain open.