Agenda and minutes

To note any changes to the membership.

1.1      There were no changes to membership.

To receive declarations by Members and Officers of the existence and nature of any pecuniary interests or any other significant interest in matters on this agenda.

2.1      Councillor Rigby explained that a week before the meeting, all six Members of the Sub-Committee were provided 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 emails containing objections or giving support. Members of the Sub-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 this meeting in the officers’ presentation or by Members of the Sub-Committee, it did not mean that the issue had been ignored. Members will have read about the issue and comments made by correspondents in the papers read prior to the meeting.

2.2     Councillor Boothroyd declared that in respect of Item 1, DP9 were planning consultants for the scheme, and for some clients of Thorncliffe where he was Head of Research and Psephology, but his role did not involve working with planning consultants.

2.3      Councillors Glen, Hyams, Shearer and Rigby declared that in respect of Item 1, they had visited the site the morning of the Committee. 

2.4      Councillor Rigby declared that in respect of Item 1 he had met the Applicant online with the Officer in March 2021 for an early siting of the scheme. 

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

3.1      RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 20 October 2021 be signed by the Chair as a correct record of proceedings.

T1 Japanese maple tree

Late representations were received from Tant Building Surveying Ltd (19/11/2021), a neighbour (21/11/2021) and the Owner (22/11/2021).  

Officer memorandum dated 22/11/2021 correcting an error on p13 of the report.

Elliot Lipton addressed the Sub-Committee in objection to the TPO being confirmed.

RESOLVED (For: Councillors Rigby, Glen, Hyams and Shearer, and Against: Councillors Barraclough and Boothroyd)

That the provisional Tree Preservation Order No. 681(2021) not be confirmed on the grounds that it was not expedient to make the TPO permanent because of the tree’s limited contribution to the conservation area.

Applications for decision

Demolition of three existing buildings on site for the construction of a ground plus 9 storey mixed use development (Use Class E) comprising of retail, cafe/restaurant, office, and gym as well as a new pedestrian arcade, public realm works and associated works.</AI6>

An additional representation was received from the Applicant (19/11/2021).

Late representations were received from a resident (21/11/2021), a ward Councillor (22/11/2021), Save Britain’s Heritage (22/11/2021), Montagu-Evans on behalf of REM Ltd (22/11/2021), Historic England (23/11/2021) and the Place Shaping and Town Planning team (23/11/2021).  

The Presenting Officer tabled the following changes to the recommendations and Conditions and the following additional Conditions.

Item No. 1 456 - 472 Oxford Street London W1C 1AP

Revised Recommendation

Subject to the views of the Mayor of London, grant conditional permission subject to the completion of a legal agreement to secure the following:

                                          i.     A carbon offset payment of £1,198,134 (index linked) payable on commencement of the development.

                                        ii.     Provision of and adherence with an Employment and Skills Plan for the construction and operational phases of the development.

                                       iii.     Provision of a financial contribution of £816,278 towards the Westminster Employment Service, payable prior to commencement of development

                                       iv.     Provision of highways works and works to the public realm necessary to facilitate the development in consultation with TfL with regards to the relocation of taxi and bus stands from Orchard Street to Oxford Street.

                                        v.     Provision of ‘Be Seen’ energy monitoring (details to be approved in consultation with the GLA).

            vi   The costs of monitoring the agreement

2. If the s106 agreement has not been completed within eight weeks of the committee resolution, then:

a) The Director of Place Shaping and Town 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 Place Shaping and Town Planning is authorised to determine and issue such a decision under Delegated Powers; however, if not;

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

3. That the Sub-Committee authorises the making of a draft order pursuant to s247 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 for the stopping up of a part of the public highway on Orchard Street and Granville Place.  That the Director of Place Shaping and Planning, Executive Director of Environment and City Management, Director of City Highways or other such proper officer of the City Council responsible for highway functions, be authorised to take all necessary procedural steps in conjunction with the making of the order and to make the order as proposed if there are no  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.