The report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing is enclosed.

The application proposes 1202 homes and 192 sqm of commercial space within 9 buildings ranging from 8 to 34 storeys in height with car parking, public realm and landscaping following demolition of existing structures. Neighbour notification generated seven objections together with comments from the Marble Arch Inn and Friends of Angel Meadow (FOAM).  

The Planning Officer informed the Committee that an additional condition had been added and this was detailed in the Supplementary Information report which requires details of the interim treatment of all land not included in phase one to be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority before development commences. All works approved in discharge of the condition to be implemented in full before the first occupation of any home in phase one.  

There was no objector present at the meeting. 

The applicant’s agent addressed the Committee on the application. 

The Chair invited the Committee to ask questions and comment on the application. 

A member of the Committee referred to the inclusion of affordable housing and asked officers for the reason why the proposal had be set a level of 7%, which included remediation in view of the 20% policy. 

The Planning Officer reported that a viability appraisal had been independently assessed on behalf of the Council which concluded that the development would only be viable with a 7% level of affordable housing. This would be reviewed at a later date to determine any changes in viability. If further affordable housing is considered appropriate it would be included within the development or as a contribution to off-site provision. 

A member of the Committee noted the scale of the proposal and questioned whether social infrastructure such as nurseries and GP surgeries would be included within the development. The planning Officer was also asked whether the proposed development had been designed to promote intergenerational living and include provision for residents with a disability. 

The Planning Officer reported that Victoria North is a very large-scale development that will take between 15-20 years to complete within the lower Irk Valley area. The overview and vision includes social infrastructure and that will be included within individual proposals as development proceeds. The units within the development will include town houses and 1-3 bedroom flats to promote intergenerational living to ensure the development is successful. 

A member of the Committee referred to the importance of ensuring the transporting of contaminated soil is done away from adjoining residential neighbourhoods and to conduct environmental assessments of the development land. Also, planning officers were informed that the proposed hours of work for the construction of the development appeared to be outside that of the current policy. In view of the scale and the length of time the development would take to complete and the close proximity of a residential neighbourhood, the proposal was made to include a condition for construction times to be as follows: 

8.30am-6.00pm Monday to Friday  

10.00am-2.00pm Saturday 

No construction to take place on bank holidays or on Sunday. 

The Planning Officer reported that the majority of the contaminated material had been removed. The remaining contaminated soil would be removed in a safe manner. An additional condition could be added to address concerns on the hours of operation of the site. 

A member referred to the long-term vision for the development of the area and wider area of the lower Irk Valley and expressed concern that plans for this vision for the inclusion of social infrastructure planning for families needed to be forthcoming sooner rather than later.  

Councillor Andrews moved the recommendation of Minded to Approve for the application, subject to the signing of a section 106 agreement in relation to affordable housing and to the inclusion of an additional condition requiring the hours work to be amended as proposed. Councillor Stogia seconded the proposal. 

Decision  

The Committee is Minded to Approve the application, subject to the conditions contained in the report and supplementary report, and to the signing of a section 106 agreement in relation to affordable housing and to the inclusion of an additional condition requiring the hours work to be amended as follows: 

8.30am-6.00pm Monday to Friday  

10.00am-2.00pm Saturday 

No construction to take place on bank-holidays or on Sunday. 

(The Committee adjourned at this point for 10 minutes.)