Agenda item

Construction of a 4-storey University Technical College (UTC) on 'The Picturehouse' development plot together with associated improvements, including car and cycle parking, vehicular drop-off/pick-up zone formed off Blyth Road, landscaping and the provision of an electricity substation enclosure to the front.

RECOMMENDATION: Approval

Construction of a 4-storey University Technical College (UTC) on 'The Picturehouse' development plot together with associated improvements, including car and cycle parking, vehicular drop-off/pick-up zone formed off Blyth Road, landscaping and the provision of an electricity substation enclosure to the front.

Officers introduced the report and referred Members to the addendum sheet

that had been circulated. It was noted that the application was a full application rather than a reserved matter. The Old Vinyl Factory site was being brought forward in separate phases of development and the current UTC proposal would replace a previously proposed cinema and ancilliary restaurant. The proposals included soft landscaping, that was considered to be well designed and had regard to the wider public realm of the local area.

The proposed educational use of the site for a UTC was supported at all levels of planning policy. The standalone application was considered to be acceptable within the wider outline consent for the development of the Old Vinyl Factory and it was noted that the Highway Department also considered the application to be acceptable.

Members asked for confirmation of where 40 staff parking spaces proposed would be situated. It was also asked whether these spaces would be allocated to particular staff and what the impact would be on local on street parking. Officers advised that parking considerations would be addressed through the legal agreement and that the parking conditions attached to the approval of the previous application were still valid, although the number of parking spaces to be provided may need to be reduced. It was requested that the wording of the recommendation, in relation to the required agreement under Section 106 of the Planning Act and/or Section 278 of the Highways Act, be revised to make reference to both traffic and parking impact. 

A full assessment of the need for parking provision would be undertaken. An initial assessment had been carried out which suggested that 51 spaces would be required, although only 40 staff parking spaces would be provided on site. This difference was due to both feedback from Transport for London and to the development of Crossrail, which it was hoped would reduce the parking requirement. The Chairman advised that the parking arrangements proposed were no different to those for other schools. It was anticipated that the UTC would develop a Green Travel Plan. However, it was not within the remit of the Council to specify that, for example, only persons who agreed to use a particular mode of transport would be employed. Any necessary mitigation would need to be considered later. In response to a Member question, it was noted that there would be 5 disabled visitor spaces on site.

In response to a Member question about ownership of the development site, it was confirmed that the owner was working with the Education Funding Agency and that the S106 agreement and UTC agreement required the agreement of both parties. The relevant Heads of Terms would ensure linkage to the development of the wider site. It was noted that the scheme was publicly funded by the Education Funding Agency.

Concerns were raised that the submitted plans only included the provision of one lift and that the Access Officer had identified this as being an issue. The Chairman asked whether the proposed planning condition number 17 of the officer report covered this issue sufficiently. It was noted that access to lifts would be ensured through building regulations. In addition, it was requested that the Head of Planning be asked to review the wording to ensure that the Access Officer's comments in relation to lift provision were adequately covered. This would then be reviewed by Chairman and Labour Lead.

The Committee agreed the following verbal changes to the Recommendation section of the Officer's report:

·         Condition 19 be removed and replaced with an appropriate informative.

·         Item 1. A) iv. Within the recommendation be amended to read: Traffic 'and Parking' Impact Studies.

·         Condition 17 to be reviewed by the Head of Planning to ensure suitable provision for lifts other access measures. Final wording to be agreed by the Committee Chairman and Labour Lead.

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

Resolved - That the application be approved as per the officers' report, changes to the report noted above and the addendum sheet circulated at the meeting.