Agenda item

Change of use from Class B1 (Business) to Class D1 (Non-residential Institutions) for use as Islamic Culture and Educational Community Centre (Retrospective).

Recommendation :

In accordance with the Council’s constitution a representatives of the 2 petitions received objecting, 1 petition supporting the proposal and the agent addressed the meeting.

The first petitioner objecting to the application made the following points:

• The objections are based on the hours of use and parking, which was Monday to Sunday 6 am to 11 pm.
• The area was mainly residential.
• The Green Travel Plan stated that at peak times there would be 123 people with 73 of those walking to the site.  Concerns about residents being unable to park near to their homes.
• At certain times the Community Centre had been used outside of the hours being requested.
• There were concerns about the early morning usage of the centre.
• There had been people seen leaving the centre at 3 am  & 4 am.
• The noise form people leaving the site caused residents noise and disturbance
• The weekend attendance at the centre would impact on residents.
• The area had a Parking Management Scheme to stop commuter parking during the day.
• People using the centre often park across residents driveways causing access issues.
• Cars are often parked dangerously in the road.
• The facilities offered to visitors to the centre are not adequate.
• For special events visitors had been guided to Morrison’s car park, there were concerns about parking if this agreement was withdrawn

The petitioner supporting the application made the following points:

• Have been a resident of the borough for over 40 years and a business for 26 years.
• The centre met the needs and the faith related activities met the needs of the local community especially the elderly and children.
• The nearest facility was in Uxbridge and had reached capacity.
• The Centre had been in operation at The Forge for 10 months and had demonstrated they were good neighbours.
• There had been no formal complaints received since the building had been in use as a centre.
• The proposed use would contribute to the regeneration of the area.
• The building had been in a dilapidated state and had not appealed to business as it was not fit for purpose.
• Research had been carried out, which had confirmed that here was a surplus of office and industrial land available within a mile of the centre.
• A large Industrial estate was to be built at Stockley Park.
• The centre would provide employment opportunity’s for the local community.
• St Stephens Road Parking Management Scheme, the area is a residential area with some commercial uses.
• The proposed use of the site was a more peaceful use than Industrial.
• There was no significant traffic nor noise/chanting.
• The two parking spaces on site is reserved for Blue Badge Holders and visitors to the centre either come on foot or by bus.

A Ward Councillor attended the meeting and made the following points:-

• Here to represent the views of the opponents of the scheme.
• The are Parking Management Scheme and the Industrial and Business Area are the key issues.
• Support the recommendations contained in the report.

The committee recognised that there was a clear need for the facility but the use was not appropriate for this site.

The recommendation for refusal was moved, seconded and on being put to the vote was agreed.

Resolved – That the application be refused for the reasons set out in the officer’s report and addendum sheet circulated at the meeting.