Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on 26 April 2021 were confirmed as correct.

The Principal Management Development Officer (PMDO), Be First, introduced a report on an application seeking planning permission at Plot 2, Segro Park, Chats Road, that involved the demolition of an existing research building, gatehouse and associated hardstanding to allow for the construction of an industrial building (Use Class B2, B8, E(g)(iii)), with ancillary offices, entrance building, security hub, gatehouse and access ramps; creation of new vehicular accesses from Hitch Street and Choats Road; pedestrian and cycle access from Choats Manor Way; cycle, motorcycle, car, van and HGV parking; hardstanding and circulation areas; sprinkler tanks; pump house; relocated pumping station; and all other ancillary and enabling works including landscaping, drainage, engineering, ground stability works and boundary treatment. 

In addition to internal and external consultations, a total of 118 notification letters were sent to neighbouring properties together with the requisite statutory press notice. No responses were received to the neighbour notifications.

The applicant was afforded the opportunity to present an overview of the application. Having become the Mayor of London’s industrial developer for East London, Segro was made responsible for the regeneration of 86 acres of vacant brownfield sites located in Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Newham. Consequently, they shared the plans to develop a ground-breaking multi-storey industrial/warehouse facility that would form the second of six phases across Segro’s Dagenham Dock site. The benefits of the scheme were outlined, as regenerating a prominent vacant site, with a flexible modern industrial workspace that maximised employment potential, enhanced the local environment respecting biodiversity, as well as providing a financial contribution towards improving infrastructure in the locality.

A number of questions arose from consideration of the application which were addressed by the PDMO and/or the applicant concerning the increased level of parking provision, landscaping and specifically the number and quality of new trees, the air quality assessment, the level of financial contribution towards public transport and the provision of fire safety measures in connection with wheelchair users.

In summary, the PDMO indicated that the proposed development would be acceptable in land use terms and, when considered as a whole, would provide an appropriate land use within the adopted Core Strategy SIL designation, as the part of the statutory Development Plan, as well as accord with the London Plan and emerging Local Plan.

Through the construction and operational phases, and secured within the s106 agreement, the proposed development would bring substantial employment and regenerative benefits and educational opportunities to the borough. Further contributions would be secured in terms of wider placemaking, through master-planning, public realm enhancements and improvements to the local cycle network.

Officers were mindful that the proposed level of parking exceeded the standards specified in Local and London Plans policies. However, on balance, the proposed level of parking provision was seen as acceptable given the on and off-site mitigation measures that had been secured to encourage a reduction in parking from the opening of the new market and over time. 

The Committee RESOLVED to:

(i)  Agree the reasons for approval as set  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

The Chair advised that this would be the last meeting to be attended by Nasser Farooq, PMDO, Be First, following his success in securing a position with Bellway Homes as their new Planning Manager for Kent and South-East London.  He placed on record his personal thanks to Nasser for his support during his time as Chair and Members also paid tribute to Nasser’s professionalism and guidance and wished him future success.