Agenda item

Demolition of existing buildings and erection of a seven storey, 262-bedroom hotel, basement and surface car parking, bar/restaurant, meeting rooms and other associated works.

Recommendation : Approval subject to a S106 agreement

Demolition of existing buildings and erection of a five storey, 192-bedroom hotel, basement and surface level car parking, bar/restaurant, meeting rooms and other associated works.

35805/APP/2009/2433

In accordance with the constitution a representative of the petitioners in support of the application addressed the meeting.

The petitioner in support of the application made the following points:-

• The proposed Hotel is of a high quality design establishing a higher standard of Hotel along the Bath Road.
• The proposed Hotel had been reduced to 5 storeys with 192 rooms with the main feature being retained.
• Planter boxes makes a feature linking to the proposal to the Green Belt.
• Landscaping was important and enhances the area and this would be maintained.
• If allowed this application would give the opportunity to improve the quality of this section of the Green Belt.

Clarification was sought on issues relating to the public access and disabled access to the sunken garden.  Officers advised that the gardens would have CCTV at all accesses and that condition 15 should be amended to include details of access to the sunken garden for people with disabilities and mothers with prams and pushchairs.

Members asked for a condition to be added to ensure that there would be community access during daylight hours.  Officers suggested that as well as the condition that an informative be added to advise the applicants what the condition expected.  The condition and informative was agreed by the committee with the wording to be agreed by the Chairman and Labour Lead.

A member asked that there should be good signage for people with disabilities and suggested that an audit be carried out prior to the Hotel opening.

It was suggested and agreed by the committee that an informative be added in relation to a signage audit being carried out prior to opening of the Hotel.

The recommendation with an additional two conditions and informatives was moved, seconded and on being put to the vote was agreed.

Resolved

That delegated powers be given to the Director of Planning and Community Services to grant planning permission, subject to the following:

1.         That the Council enter into a legal agreement with the applicant

            under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as

                        amended) to secure the following:

i) The provision of a 10-year Green Travel plan to be prepared in accordance with TfL guidance and to include a bond of £20,000.

ii) A scheme to be submitted to and approved by the Council detailing how construction training will be provided to Hillingdon residents, or a contribution towards construction training for Hillingdon residents in the sum of £2,500 for every £1 million construction cost.

iii) A scheme to be submitted to and approved by the Council detailing how hospitality training will be provided to Hillingdon residents, or a contribution towards hospitality training for Hillingdon Residents in the sum of £400 per employee.

iv) A contribution of £25,000 towards the management of air quality within the vicinity of the site.

v) A contribution of up to £25,000 towards improving the pedestrian infrastructure on the A4 within the vicinity of the application site, including works to the highway to improve the shared foot/cycle path, including markings and signage improvements and the reconfiguration of two pedestrian crossings to include dropped kerbs and tactile paving.

vi) A contribution of £20,000 towards public realm improvements within the area.

vii) 5% of total cash contributions secured towards the management and monitoring of the resulting agreement.

2.         That the applicant meets the Council's reasonable costs in the preparation of the Section 106 agreement and any abortive work as a result of the agreement not being completed.

3.         That the officers be authorised to negotiate the terms of the proposed agreement.

4          That if the S106 agreement is not completed within a period of 6 months from the date of this resolution, that the agreement shall not be completed without a further resolution of this Committee.

5.         That subject to the Mayor of London not directing the Council under Article 6 of the Town and Country Planning (Mayor of London) Order 2008 to refuse the application, or issue a direction under Article 7 of the Order, that the Mayor of London is to act as the local planning authority for the purpose of determining the application, and on completion of the S106 Agreement, the application be deferred for determination by the Director of Planning and Community Services under delegated powers.

6.         That officers be authorised to negotiate any additional conditions and/or informatives requested by the Mayor of London.

7. That if the application is approved, the conditions and informatives set out in the officer’s report, addendum sheet and an additional two conditions and informatives be attached.

Amended Condition 15

adding the words "and to the sunken garden area" between the words "building entrances" and "(to include"

Condition

"Before development commences, a scheme setting out plans and details (including times of access, areas the public can use, routes to and from the site, management and security arrangements) for how members of the public will be provided access to the site, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  There after the development shall accord at all times with the approved public access scheme for as long as the building is in use.

REASON

To ensure members of the public have access to the external amenity areas of the site, In pursuance of the Council's duty under section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, to accord with the terms of the application and to ensure the development provides a safe and secure environment in accordance with policies 4B.1 and 4B.6 of the London Plan, to accord with policy BE38 London Borough of Hillingdon Unitary Development Plan, Saved Policies (September 2007)."

Additional Informative

"You are advised that in relation to condition [insert number of the condition] the Council seeks to ensure that access to amenity areas at the site is provided at least during day light hours."

Additional Informative  

"You are advised that an audit  of proposed signage should be carried out before the development is occupied to ensure that people with disabilities are aware of the location of convenient facilities within the development."