Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 October 2022 were confirmed as correct.

The Senior Principal Development Management Officer (SPDMO), Be First Development Management Team, introduced a report and presentation on the details of the following application from Countryside Partnerships Plc and L&Q for reservedmatters at the site of the Former Assembly Plant at Beam Park Development Site, Thames Road, Dagenham:

22/01048/OUTSRM –A stand-alone hybrid planning application (part retrospective, part full, part outline), facilitating remaster planning of that part of the previously consented Beam Park development falling within LBBD (previous scheme phases 2B to 8, LBBD reference 19/01241/OUT as amended), to include residential development to provide an uplift of 947 residential units to total 3,119 units (of which 50% would be affordable by unit); a primary school, children’s play space; 3,508sqm for commercial, community and leisure uses in buildings ranging from 3-16 storeys in height; an energy centre and associated  infrastructure; open space; public realm with hard and soft landscaping; flood compensation areas; car and cycle parking and highway works and associated engineering operations.

22/02077/S106 – A Deed of Variation to the legal agreement attached to planning permission (19/01241/OUT) to remove the obligations relating to land within LBBD further to stand-alone planning application 22/01048/OUTSRM.

The application, being an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) development, was accompanied by an Environmental Statement.    

Further to the publication of the agenda, a supplementary report was circulated and referenced in the presentation, which outlined a number of amendments. This included recommendation 2 as set out in the published report, as well as the proposed heads of terms in the Section 106 Legal Agreement. In addition, the rewording of paragraph 12.4 of the published report concerning health care facilities, which sought to address and satisfy comments raised by the NHS; and details of further consultation responses and other amendments, none of which materially altered the officer recommendations. 

In addition to internal and external consultations, a total of 912 notification letters were sent to neighbouring properties together with the requisite statutory and press notices, to which one response was received, the material planning considerations of which was addressed in the planning assessment set out in the report.

Following  the officer presentation, several questions were asked by the Committee, and in response to these, assurances were provided in respect of the provision of adequate health care facilities both in the current and future phases of development, that the business case for a new station at Beam Park would not be harmed as a consequence of the application, and that the development would, as it stood, be adequately served by public transport provision, given that bus improvements and a contribution to upgrading Dagenham Dock Station would be secured through the application.

Regarding the Committee’s more general concern in relation to the procedural process taken in respect of the application, officers confirmed that the process was legally sound and would not prejudice the development within the London Borough of Havering, approved under the previous cross-boundary consent.

At that point, a representation was made by Mr Simon Thelwell, Head of Strategic  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

The Senior Development Management Officer (SDMO), Be First Development Management Team, introduced a report and presentation on an application from Bridge UK Properties 6, LP at the site of Diary Crest, Chadwell House, Selinas Lane, Dagenham, seeking planning permission for the demolition of the existing structures and construction of three industrial buildings(Class B2/B8/E(g)(iii)), with ancillary offices and associated external yards, accesses from Selinas Lane, pedestrian and cycle access route, hard and soft landscaping, hardstanding and circulation areas, cycle, car and HGV parking, boundary treatment, external lighting, infrastructure and all associated works.

In addition to internal and external consultations, a total of 550 notification letters were sent to neighbouring properties together with the requisite site & press notices. One objection was received from Abbey Concrete Products based in Freshwater Road, Dagenham, the material planning considerations of which were addressed in the planning assessment set out in the report. The applicant had entered into a dialogue with the objector to address the issues raised, and it was noted that subsequent to the publication of the Committee report, the objector’s concerns had been satisfied and the objection had been withdrawn.

Following the presentation, a question arose about public transport accessibility, and in response, the SDMO stated that although access was relatively low, it was mitigated by the fact that Chadwell Heath Station was in walkable distance and that the site was also served by a number of local bus routes.

Another question raised by the Committee concerned the traffic capacity at the surrounding junctions, and in response, the officer stated that this would be addressed primarily through the commitment of the applicant to make a financial contribution of £400k towards highway improvements and upgrades to local bus routes. Clarification was also sought and provided about the extent of the associated traffic assessment and modelling data referred to in the report. 

Anna Sinnott, Be First Planning Consultancy Team, representing the applicant, provided a brief overview of the proposed redevelopment of the site, setting out the economic benefits of the scheme, including £140m of private sector investment, up to 600 new jobs, and a commitment to local employment and apprenticeship opportunities. She explained that the ten high quality modern industrial units would vary in size across three buildings and would have a flexi-use classes designation to allow for a varied range of industrial uses.

She referenced the fact that the scheme had looked to maximise the industrial floor space intensification in line with both the London and Local Plans and linked to the emerging Chadwell Heath Masterplan. Other aspects of the scheme highlighted included the extensive landscaping, the removal of on-site parking and the creation of pedestrian and cycle routes through the site. The applicant was committed to maximising sustainability through an energy efficient buildings design.

Finally in recognising the Committee’s concerns about transport and junction capacity, Ms Sinnott explained that an extremely robust approach had been taken with the transport assessment modelling with the focus being on developing sustainable transport modes such as walking, cycling  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

The Senior Development Management Officer (SDMO), Be First Development Management Team, introduced a report and presentation on an application from LBBD for minor-material amendments for the development at Padnall Lake, Padnall Road, Romford as detailed below:

A variation of conditions: A2 (Approved Plans); A3 (Maximum Quantum of Floorspace); B2(Approved Plans); C1 (Contaminated Land); C2 (Phasing Plan); C3 (Construction Management); C4 (Archaeology); C5 (Materials and Balconies); C6 (Electric Vehicle Charging Points); C7 (Landscaping Details); C8 (Tree Protection); C9 (Landscape and Ecological Management Plan); C10 (Piling Method Statement); C11 (Child’s Playspace); C19 (Renewable Energy Infrastructure); C21 (Air Quality); C28 (Noise); C29 (Circular Economy) attached to planning consent 20/01686/FULL (as amended by non-material amendment reference 22/01415/NONMAT) for a ‘Hybrid' planning application which sought detailed planning permission for Phase 1 and outline planning permission for Phase 2 (all matters reserved) for the erection of buildings comprising up to 219 residential units (Use Class C3), open space and public realm, means of pedestrian and vehicular access and circulation, car parking and cycle parking, and associated works; and detailed planning permission for the erection of buildings ranging between 2 and 6 storeys (Plots 1, 2 and 3) comprising 70 residential units (Use Class C3) and 181 sqm (GEA) of non-residential floorspace (Use Class D1), open space and public realm, parking and cycle parking, plant, other associated works; and associated infrastructure, dated 5th March 2021, to allow minor material amendments to the detailed component comprising amendments to the facades and floor plans of Plot 1 and Plot 2, removal of Block 2 , relocation of energy centre from Plot 4 to Plot 2, associated landscaping and works; and minor material amendments the Outline Component comprising amendments to Open Space, Access and Circulation, Maximum and Minimum Building Heights, and Building Plots.

In addition to internal and external consultations, a total of 906 notification letters were sent to neighbouring properties together with the requisite statutory and press notices, to which three responses were received, the material planning considerations of which were addressed in the planning assessment set out in the report.

In response to the officer presentation, several questions were asked by the Committee which the officer addressed and included issues associated with the proposed flat roof design, reasons for the removal of both the ‘green roof’ in block 1, and the proposed community space, as well as clarification as to the overall garden space within the development.

Anna Sinnott, Be First Planning Consultancy Team representing the applicant provided a brief overview of the amendments proposed, and in doing so also sought to address a number of the questions raised by the Committee as set out above.

The SDMO stated that the proposed amendments outlined in the application would ensure the delivery of a high-quality scheme providing 289 homes in 100% affordable housing tenures. No increase in the number of units was proposed but the development would deliver a high proportion of much needed family sized housing, thereby helping to address an acute need for more affordable family  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

The Senior Development Management Officer (SDMO), Be First Development Management Team, introduced a report and presentation on an application from LBBD for approval of reserved matters for the development at Padnall Lake, Padnall Road, Romford as detailed below:

Reserved matters application (details relating to access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale) in respect of Development Plots 5, 6 and 7 for the erection of buildings (2 to 11 storeys in height) providing 190 residential units with associated amenity space, public realm, car and cycle parking and other works, pursuant to planning permission 20/01686/FULL (and variation approved under planning application 22/01492/VAR).

In addition to internal and external consultations, a total of 573 notification letters were sent to neighbouring properties together with the requisite statutory and press notices, to which two concerns were received from one respondent, the material planning considerations of which were addressed in the planning assessment set out in the report.

Anna Sinnott, Be First Planning Consultancy Team representing the applicant provided a brief overview of the proposed amendments set out in the application.

The proposed scheme would deliver 190 affordable units, 86 of which would be family sized three-bedroom homes. The architecture and design were considered to be of a very high-quality and fully accorded with the parameters set out under the hybrid planning consent, as amended. The proposed design had benefitted from the input of the independent Quality Review Panel and the GLA, as well as extensive pre-application advice from Be First Officers. The houses reflected an innovative design typology, providing residents with a high-quality amenity space which would be shielded from the A12. Likewise, the flats provided an exemplar standard of accommodation, with all units benefitting from dual aspect and a varied outlook.

The proposed design had resulted in improvements to neighbouring amenity when compared with the illustrative scheme proposed under the extant hybrid planning permission for this phase, with a reduced impact in relation to matters such as daylight and sunlight.

The phase 2 scheme would provide 6,720sqm of landscaped open space in the form of the Linear Park, which would benefit both new and existing local residents. Likewise, the proposals included improvements to the access areas leading into the pedestrian subways, with landscaping and accessibility enhancements, significant urban greening and biodiversity benefit, as well as high-quality play space, which was integrated within the wider landscaping scheme.

Car and cycle parking accorded with planning policy and the parameters set by the outline consent. This phase would also benefit from the provision of an additional car club space, which had been secured under the minor material amendment 22/01492/VAR presented at the meeting prior to this application.

The proposed development would deliver 190 affordable homes, which benefited from a very high standard of design and landscaping, that accorded with all relevant strategy and parameter documents. The development was considered to comply with all relevant planning policies, and therefore,

The Committee RESOLVED to:

1.  Agree the reasons for approval as set out in the report, and

2.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.