Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Cllr David Yarrow, with Cllr Ray Graham substituting.

Cllrs. John Morgan and Peter Curling declared a pecuniary interest in item 5 as they were trustees of the Fassnidge Trust. Both left the room and did not vote on the item.

Cllr Brian Stead declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 6 as he was a member of the 'Friends of the Bunker'. Cllr. Stead left the room and did not vote on the item.

It was confirmed that there were no matters notified in advance or urgent.

It was confirmed that items marked Part 1 would be heard in public and those marked Part 2 would be heard in private.

Demolition of existing Fassnidge Community Dining Hall and garage, and erection of part 4, part 7, part 8 storey building to provide a replacement community dining facility and 48 self-contained residential units with associated undercroft car and cycle parking, new vehicle access point, communal and private amenity areas, and landscaping.

Recommendation : Approval, subject to a S106 agreement.

fassnidge memorial hall - R/o High street, uxbridge - 12156/APP/2014/3099  (Agenda Item 5)

Demolition of existing Fassnidge Community Dining Hall and garage, and erection of part 4, part 7, part 8 storey building to provide a replacement community dining facility and 48 self-contained residential units with associated undercroft car and cycle parking, new vehicle access point, communal and private amenity areas, and landscaping.

Officers introduced the report and referred members to the addendum sheet that had been circulated.

The application related to Fassnidge Memorial Hall to the R/O High Street, Uxbridge. Planning permission was sought for a residential mixed use development, comprising a total of 48 new residential apartments (twelve 1-bed, thirty three 2-bed and three 3-bed) within a part four, part seven, part eight storey building with three distinct but coherent elements arranged alongside Harefield Road and Oxford Road roundabout. Four of the dwellings would be affordable and all dwellings would comply with the unit size standards prescribed by the London Plan Housing Design Standard.

The scheme would also provide a replacement community dining hall with a combined 300m² of modern floorspace. This would be flexibly designed and capable of accommodating a full range of compatible community uses and activities.

Development proposals at the same site had been brought to Planning Committees twice previously and had been rejected. It was noted that the size of the scheme had been reduced considerably compared to the previous proposals.

Members noted that Officers had concluded that the proposed development was considered to be sensitive to the surrounding area, including the adjacent grade II listed building. The location was considered to be highly sustainable due to the public transport connections and it was noted that planning policies encouraged the development of such sites. In principal, Officers had no objection to the development of the site.

In accordance with the Council's constitution a representative of the petitioners objecting the proposals addressed the meeting.

The petitioner objecting to the proposals made the following points:

·         They would like know why the Fassnidge Trust had moved a large proportion of its funds into an asset management company and requested a deferral of the decision on this basis.

·         The petitioners objected to the construction of an eight storey building at the location and consider that the site is not suitable for residential housing.

·         Several of the background reports are based only on desk research.

·         Air quality and noise levels at the site are of concern and considered to be a threat to the health of future residents and nearby neighbours.

·         That the redevelopment of the Community Hall appears to be being used as an excuse for construction of the flats.

·         The petitioners were of the opinion that the proposed development would add to the 'wall effect' created by existing high rise building, thereby amplifying traffic and other environmental noise.

·         The petitioners were of the opinion that the developer has been granted a number of concessions. These included:

o  That only four of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 119.

Erection of Battle of Britain Education and Visitor centre with exhibition space, auditorium, meeting rooms, library, cafe and shop and associated parking area and landscaping. Departure from Saved Policies OL1 and OL4 of the London Borough of Hillingdon Unitary Development Plan

Recommendation : Delegated approval, subject to no direction being received from the Mayor.

The battle of britain bunker, raf uxbridge, hillingdon road, uxbridge - 585/app/2014/3910  (Agenda Item 7)

Erection of Battle of Britain Education and Visitor centre with exhibition space, auditorium, meeting rooms, library, cafe and shop and associated parking area and landscaping.

Officers introduced the report and referred members to the addendum sheet that had been circulated.

The application related to the Battle of Britain Bunker, RAF Uxbridge, Hillingdon Road, Uxbridge. Planning permission was sought for the erection of a Battle of Britain Education and Visitor Centre with exhibition space, auditorium, meeting rooms, library, cafe, shop and associated parking area and landscaping.

Prior approval had been granted for the demolition of the existing building and planning permission was granted in December 2014 for enabling works to allow construction of the building which is the subject of this application. Enabling works would include the creation of a temporary compound to facilitate demolition together with a temporary structure to house volunteers during demolition and construction thus enabling the facility to remain open.

The application site is located within land designated as Green Belt, while the adjacent underground Bunker is a Grade I listed structure. Development in the green belt is generally considered inappropriate except in special circumstances. It is considered that the new facility, which will enhance the visitor and educational offering on the site together with assisting in securing the future of the listed bunker, provides special circumstances which would justify development in the green belt.

The proposed building, while offering enhanced facilities to visitors is also considered to preserve the setting of the listed bunker. The proposal was therefore considered to be acceptable in heritage terms.

Members noted that Officers had no objection in principal to the proposed development. Officers were of the opinion that the nature of the proposed cultural and educational facility justified development in the Green Belt and that approval should therefore be granted, subject to referral to the Secretary of State.

The Committee Members welcomed the proposal. It was agreed that a requirement to provide a minimum of four parking spaces for motorcycles would be imposed on the applicant. There was a discussion about coach parking at the site and it was considered that it would not be necessary to require dedicated coach parking at the site. This was because coaches would arrive by prior appointment only and also that the access road to the site is not a through road. A question was also asked about the contaminated land status of the site. Officers confirmed that this had been addressed in the addendum to the application.

The Committee agreed that Condition 6 be amended to require the provision of four motorcycle spaces.

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

Cllr. Jazz Dhillon was delayed en-route to the meeting and consequently did not vote on agenda item 6.

Resolved - That the application be approved, subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 120.