Application Number: 19/P4050      Ward: Cricket Green

Officer Recommendations: GRANT Permission subject to the completion of any enabling agreement and conditions

RESOLVED that Application 19/P4050 be GRANTED Planning Permission subject to the completion of any enabling agreement and conditions.

Proposal: Erection of a three storey development comprising 11 self-contained units (7x 1b and 4x 2b), and erection of 7 x three storey townhouses (4b); with associated cycle parking, refuse stores, 4 x parking bays (2 disabled bays) and landscaping.

The Committee noted the report and presentation of the Planning officer.

An objector had registered to speak in objection and at the invitation of the Chair made the following points:

·         The development would break the link with the Canons and its historic grounds.  It was a poorly conceived design and visually intrusive and would have a negative impact on the conservation area. Proposed amenity space was not policy compliant.  The pergoda tree would be pruned by 50%.

The applicant’s agents responded to the objections as follows:

·         The site was underused and inaccessible and this development was an opportunity to open this up.  No objection had been received from Heritage Lottery and the tree would be made a central point of the development.  Care had been taken to create a design sensitive to the conservation area.

The Development Control Team Leader addressed the comments in the report of the Design Review Panel and responded to Members’ questions as follows:

·         The tree would need to be properly maintained so as not to impact on neighbouring properties, however the development had been designed to make a feature of the tree.

·         The officer report addressed the access to the site and the advice received from the Transport officer on restricting parking on the site. 

·         Conditions were proposed in relation to landscaping and these could be adjusted to incorporate in relation to management of the tree.

·         The officer report addressed the shortfall in garden space.  The developer had sought to address through a unique design.  In the round, the development was considered to be positive.

In response to a Member question, the Planning officer advised that low level planting was proposed at the boundary with Park Place to stop people stepping over from the car park.

Members made the following comments:

·         Mitcham Cricket Green and the oldest building in the borough was very close to the site and the Council had worked to secure funding to enhance the area.  To destroy the vista would be highly damaging.  It was felt that the style was not in keeping with the area and the Design Review Panel had not awarded the scheme a green rating.  The scheme did not respect the Council’s own values.

·         Part of what the Council stood for was delivering affordable family homes and that is what this scheme delivered.  The design is sensitive to the area and the Design Review Panel had commended the application.

·         The current site was underused and the proposal was sensitive to the area.  The scheme would deliver much needed affordable units which was central to the Council’s aims and values and would be supported.

·         There was some concern that the developer was using a small space to create new homes, however the application would be supported due to the need for new housing and the current condition of the site.

At the conclusion of the debate, the Chair moved to a vote and it was

RESOLVED that Application 19/P4050 be GRANTED Planning Permission subject to the completion of any enabling agreement and conditions.