Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 July 2021 were confirmed as correct.

The Principal Management Development Officer (PMDO), Be First, introduced a report on an application from Bluewater Investments Ltd seeking a planning permission at the site of the former Railway Hotel, Shafter Road, Dagenham for the conversion of existing roof space, with elevated ridge line and new dormers; three storey side extension; rear extension at first and second floor levels; together with associated alterations to provide an enlarged storeroom to ground floor retail accommodation (Tesco Express), and six new residential units (Class C3).

In addition to internal and external consultations, a total of 76 notification letters were sent to neighbouring properties together with the requisite statutory site notice.  A total of six responses were received objecting to the application including the three Village ward councillors, the full material planning considerations relating to which were addressed in the planning assessment set out in the report.

The PDMO reported that ongoing consultations had been undertaken with LBBD Transport in relation to safety mitigation measures at the site which resulted in a supplementary report being presented setting out a package of measures totalling £37,000. Consequently, officers had sought an additional contribution that went above and beyond those already recommended in the published report.  The applicant, in acknowledging the consultee response, made an offer for an additional £10,000 to create a new kerb line providing pedestrian space delineation circa 50m, new surfacing and strategically placed bollards to maintain existing parking bay access and provide safe pedestrian areas, so as to mitigate against conflict of movements in the vicinity of the site.

In response to the officer presentation, the Chair stated that given the road safety concerns at this site he sought assurances that the proposed conditions associated with the application were sufficient, robust and enforceable to protect residents.  He also questioned why the applicant was only prepared to contribute a further £10,000 towards the additional highways works identified as necessary by LBBD Transport officers.  It was explained that should planning permission be granted, then as part of the application all conditions would have to be met to the satisfaction of officers prior to the commencement of the development, and that if any of the conditions were subsequently breached/not adhered to then this would be addressed by planning enforcement officers who would have the power to impose financial penalties.

As for the additional highways works, it was noted that they had been put forward by professional highways advisers who had assessed what was necessary for the wider area. The contribution offered by the applicant reflected those works directly adjacent to their site.

Clarity was sought and provided by the PDMO as to the wording/meaning of the Waste Management and Delivery and Servicing Management Plans, both of which were included as conditions to approval to the application.

Finally, in respect to matters of heritage the PDMO confirmed that the building was a locally listed asset and whilst that meant it was not afforded the level of protection nationally, officers were comfortable with the relevant conditions imposed on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

The Principle Management Development Officer (PMDO), Be First, introduced a report on an application seeking approval for a Section 73 Agreement to vary a number of the conditions within the planning permission that had been granted by Minute 49 (23 March 2020) relating to the demolition of all existing buildings and structures and construction of 87 no. Class C3 residential units; and ancillary works at 53-135 Roxwell Road and 2-4 Stebbing Way, Barking (19/01920/FUL refers).

The application sought changes to conditions 2 (Approved Drawings); 7 (Fire Statement); 8 (Electrical Vehicle Charging); 10 (Hard Landscaping); 11 (Playspace); 12 (Car Parking); 13 (Cycle Parking); 14 (Refuse); 15 (Flood Risk); 16 (Communal Television and Satellite System); 17 (Accessible and adaptable dwellings) and 20 (Energy), to ensure compliance with building regulations as well as maintaining and, where possible, improving the overall design quality of the development.

In additional to internal and external consultations, a total of 117 notification letters were sent to neighbouring properties together with the requite site and press notices, from which one response was received, the material planning considerations of which were addressed in the planning assessment set out in the report. 

There being no questions or issues raised by Members, the PDMO advised that following careful consideration of the relevant provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework, the Development Plan and all other relevant material considerations, officers found the proposal to be acceptable. Officers were satisfied that any potential material harm in terms of the impact of the proposal on the surrounding area would be reasonably mitigated through compliance with the conditions listed in the report and associated legal agreement.

The Committee RESOLVED to:

(i)  Agree the reasons for approval as set out in this report; and

(ii)  Delegate authority to the Strategic Director, Inclusive Growth (or authorised Officer), in consultation with the Strategic Director, Law and Governance, to grant planning permission subject to the completion of a legal agreement under s106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) based on the Heads of Terms identified at Appendix 6 and the Conditions listed in Appendix 5 of the report; and

(iii)  That, if by 13 March 2022 the legal agreement has not been completed, the Strategic Director, Inclusive Growth (or authorised Officer) be authorised to refuse planning permission or extend the timeframe to grant approval.

The Principle Management Development Officer (PDMO), Be First, introduced a report on an application from Eastbrook Studios Limited seeking approval for a Section 73 Agreement to vary a number of the conditions within the planning permission that had been granted by Minute 3 (6 July 2020) relating to a change of use and refurbishment of two existing on-site workshops to flexible sound stage with ancillary offices; construction of new sound stages with ancillary offices, storage and toilets; construction of a new office building and workshops; and associated works at Eastbrook Studios, London East Business and Technical Park, Yewtree Avenue, Dagenham (20/00314/FUL refers).

The application sought changes to conditions 2 (Approved Drawings); 3 (Phasing Plan); 4 (Contaminated Land); 5 (CEMP and SWMP); 6 (Construction Logistics Plan); 7 (LUL Method Statement); 9 (Great Crested Newt, Bat and Reptile Surveys); 11 (Fire Statement); 12 (Surface Water Drainage Scheme and Management and Maintenance Plan); 13 (Energy Assessment and Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal Panels); 14 (Acoustic Report); 16 (Car Parking / Blue Badge Parking / Electric Vehicle Charging Points); 17 (Cycle Parking); 18 (Delivery and Servicing Plan); 20 (Hard/ Soft Landscaping); 21 (Refuse and Recycling Storage); and 22 (borehole management), to reflect proposed design amendments, updated documents and the removal of scheme phasing.

In addition to internal and external consultations, a total of 372 notification letters were sent to neighbouring properties together with the requisite statutory press notice, from which one response was received, the material planning considerations of which were addressed in the planning assessment set out in the report. 

The design changes were summarised by the PDMO and it was noted that the proposal complied with the relevant policies set out in the National Planning Policy Framework, the London Plan, the Draft London Plan, the Local Plan and the Draft Local Plan and all other relevant material considerations.  The proposal would not have an adverse impact on the local area, Green Belt, heritage assets, or on residential amenity and other matters such as transport, flood risk and sustainable drainage, energy, sustainability and biodiversity had been assessed as part of the application and were considered acceptable.  It was also recognised that the proposed development would result in a betterment to the provision of the approved film studios, ensuring the potential for the site to become a world-class and highly competitive studio site, creating new job opportunities and attracting investment into the Borough, bringing a brownfield site back to productive use.

The Committee RESOLVED to:

(i)  Agree the reasons for approval as set out in the report;

(ii)  Delegate authority to the Strategic Director, Inclusive Growth (or authorised Officer), in consultation with the Strategic Director, Law and Governance, to grant planning permission subject to the completion of a legal agreement under s106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) based on the Heads of Terms identified at Appendix 6 and the Conditions listed in Appendix 5 of the report; and

(iii)  Note that the applicant had already made firm  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

The Principal Development Management Officer (PDMO), Be First, introduced a report on an application by the Council for approval of reserved matters, S106 strategies and discharge of planning conditions at Barking Riverside, Renwick Road, Barking, as follows:

21/01104/AOD - Details pursuant to Conditions 33 and 34 (Sub Framework Plan (SFP) and Part Discharge of Conditions 7((SFP) (including planning compliance statement), Condition 36 (Code of Construction Management) and Condition 37 (Nature Conservation and Landscape) attached to planning consent 08/00887/FULL dated 23/07/2009 in relation to Plot H East only.

21/01288/S106A - S106 obligations requiring new strategies for energy and waste, as well as an update to the Housing Strategy, for Plot H East.

21/01171/REM - Application for the approval of reserved matters (access, appearance, landscaping, layout, scale) pursuant to Conditions 45 (Zone Details) following outline approval 08/00887/FUL for Plot H East at Barking Riverside. The proposed development comprises the erection of 107 dwellings (Use Class C3) with associated parking, landscaping and provision of affordable housing. The application also seeks to the partial discharge of Conditions 7 (Stage/Zone Relationship), 15 (Ecological Monitoring Scheme), 46 (Remediation), 49 (Landscape Management Plan), 53 (Drainage) and 56 (Plot Level Access Statement). The outline planning application was an EIA application for which an environmental statement was submitted.

In additional to internal and external consultations, a total of 561 notification letters were sent to neighbouring properties together with the requite press advert. No responses were received. 

The PDMO concluded that the redevelopment of the site for residential use was acceptable in principle and would contribute to the Borough’s housing stock through the provision of 107 high quality units compliant with relevant standards, comprising 50% affordable units which would meet an identified need in the Borough.  The scale, siting and design of the development was considered appropriate to the site’s context and would result in a high-quality finish, whilst respecting the amenity of neighbouring occupiers, and the landscaping strategy would positively contribute to the appearance and public realm of the area and enhance the arboricultural, biodiversity and environmental value of the site.  It was further noted that the development had a sustainable approach to transport, whilst ensuring an acceptable impact on local highways and infrastructure, and was also considered acceptable in terms of sustainability and air quality.

The Committee RESOLVED to:

(i)  Agree the reasons for approval as set out in the report;

(ii)  Delegated authority to the Strategic Director, Inclusive Growth (or authorised Officer), in consultation with the Strategic Director, Law and Governance, to approve the S106 Strategies (21/01288/s106a) and the Sub-Framework Plans (21/01104/AOD), and

(iii)  Delegated authority to the Strategic Director, Inclusive Growth (or authorised Officer), in consultation with the Strategic Director, Law and Governance, to approve the Reserved Matters subject to the Conditions listed in Appendix 6 of the report.

The Management Development Officer (MDO), Be First, introduced a report on an application by the Council seeking approval to vary the wording of Condition 4 attached to planning consent 20/00114/FUL granted on 27 March 2020, to allow Unit 1a on the ground floor of the Travelodge hotel at London East Business and Technical Park, Yew Tree Avenue, Dagenham, to be used as a convenience store (Use Class E(a)) alongside already consented uses as a gymnasium and restaurant.

In additional to internal and external consultations, a total of 30 notification letters were sent to neighbouring properties together with the requite site notice.  No responses were received. 

The DMO concluded that the proposed variation as detailed would complement the existing retail, leisure and employment complex on the site whilst having an acceptable impact on neighbouring amenity, design, highway safety and parking provision. Whilst the proposal constituted a minor material amendment it was not considered to have a significant impact on the existing hotel development or on the wider local industrial location.  The proposal was therefore considered acceptable and in keeping with the development policies.

The Committee RESOLVED to:

(i)  Agree the reasons for approval as set out in this report; and

(ii)  Delegate authority to the Strategic Director, Inclusive Growth (or authorised Officer), in consultation with the Strategic Director, Law and Governance, to grant planning permission based on the Conditions and Informatives listed in Appendix 5 and subject to the completion of a legal agreement under s106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) based on the Heads of Terms identified at Appendix 6 and the Conditions listed in Appendix 5 of the report.