Agenda item

Demolition and redevelopment of 16-26 Park Crescent and partial demolition of 77-81 Portland Place to provide residential accommodation (Class C3) comprising of two basement levels, lower ground, ground and first to fourth floor levels (64 flats); the development of nine mews properties comprising of part lower ground, ground, first and second floors within the rear courtyard of Park Crescent Mews; creation of terraces at rear ground, third and fourth floor levels and car parking, refuse storage and plant in the basement of the Park Crescent property; use of part ground, lower ground and basement level 1 and basement level 2 as a community use (Class D1). Associated landscaping within the rear courtyard area.

Additional representations were received from DP9 Ltd (12.6.2015) and Park Crescent (10.6.2015).

RESOLVED:

1.     The Committee agreed that a contribution of £13,165,000 towards the City Council's affordable housing fund is acceptable in lieu of on-site affordable housing provision in the particular circumstances of this case.

2.     The Committee considered that the substantial harm caused by demolition is outweighed by the public benefit of rebuilding the Crescent in a form close to the original design.

3.     Subject to 1. and 2 above, conditional permission be granted subject to:

(A)      the education payment to the value of £159,000 being used for public          realm improvements.    

(B)      A legal agreement to secure:

·                 Provision of £13,165,000 towards the City Council's affordable housing fund (index linked and payable upon commencement of development);

·                 The community space to be fully fitted out and ready for occupation prior to the occupation of the residential floorspace, and thereafter provided at a peppercorn rent for a minimum period of 35 years;

·                 £30,000 for the City Council's Environmental Inspectorate/Environmental Sciences Team to oversee the construction phase;

·                 Rebuilding the Park Crescent façade (in the event that the applicant fails to complete the development)”

·                 Provision of the on-site play space;

·                 Public realm to the value of £359,000 to be used directly in relation to and close to the site and that any surplus money to be diverted to the Affordable Housing Fund.

·                 Public access to the ice house;

·                 The costs of monitoring the S106 agreement.

(C)     Parking provision to be unallocated (as required by Condition 35).

4.     If the S106 legal agreement has not been completed within six weeks from the      date of the Committee’s 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 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.

5.     That conditional listed building consent be granted.

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