Planning Applications Committee - Wednesday 15 April 2026, 7:30pm - Wandsworth Council Webcasting
Planning Applications Committee
Wednesday, 15th April 2026 at 7:30pm
Speaking:
An agenda has not been published for this meeting.
Disclaimer: This transcript was automatically generated, so it may contain errors. Please view the webcast to confirm whether the content is accurate.
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
Excuse me.
I suddenly developed a frog.
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, good evening, councillors, and welcome to I think the last
official meeting of the council of any kind of this particular site.
Try again.
Is that okay?
That's okay.
I won't repeat what I said.
Just to say that my name's Tony, good, my name's Tony Belton, and I'm a Councillor for
Battersea Park Ward in Battersea.
Other members will introduce themselves as they wish to make comment.
But first of all, I'd like to ask the people on the top table here to introduce themselves,
starting with.
Is that working?
I think this is meant to work in both ways.
That's still not coming.
I can hear it.
Good evening, I'm Nick Calderon, the head of development management and not very good
at IT.
Good evening, I'm Duncan Mors, I'm the external legal advisor and I'm even worse with IT.
Thank you.
Evening all, Becky Hickey and I am the Clerk to the Committee.
And after that reasonably shaky start, let's get on and not be shaky.
There are no apologies for the attendance.
Councillor Humphries, you saw the minutes the last time,
So is it agreed I can sign the record of the minutes of the last meeting is correct record
Thank you
Are there any declarations of interests about any council of India
Clarifications mors probably can help
Given that the third application. Yes, sorry council of India council for East button award
Perhaps mr. Moore's can help given that the third application is about
nursing home, those of us who are closer to possibly being members of its future
occupants, do we have an interest in the matter or not? I can safely say no
Chairman.
Perhaps, good joke, but perhaps we can restrain our jocularity on this
I would normally take, because the public gallery,
I think, are interested, I would normally ask
that we move that forward, but actually,
in the particular circumstances of this evening
and the rest of the agenda, I'll stick to the agenda
as it is now, because on application number one,
which is only here, really, because there was an objector.
It had been through the process, and there was an objector.
And can I say, does anyone agree with the objective, or
are we agreed to approve the application?
Approved, okay.
So item two, rather more substantial, item two changes
to application of a ransom's doc in Battersea with five extra units and
quite a substantial building, but
It has been approved in general principle previously.
Anyone got any comments about it?
Councillor, Councillor Coley.
Thank you, Chair.
Councillor Coley, Councillor for St. Mary's Ward.
I just had one question.
In the sort of introduction to this application,
it talks about one of the modifications being a green roof,
but then I don't see any mention of a green roof
throughout the rest of the paper.
So does this modification include green roof changes or was it just slightly changing the
layout of the previous one?
Because I couldn't see anything about that in the application.
Can anyone give us an answer to that is Mr. Granger.
Thank you chair, Nigel Granger, East Area Team Manager.
I've developed the same frog.
The opportunities for green roofs is extremely limited in this because of this very architecturally
dramatic sawtooth roof so I don't think that that's actually carried through
because there's mechanical and electrical plant over the roof of the
the new stairwell which is one of the elements that's actually brand new as
part of this section 73 applications so I haven't seen that and there's
certainly no other there are landscape opportunities but not green roofs
Councillor Tiller.
Thank you, Chair.
Do we have any clarification about how the refuse and servicing arrangements will work
in practise, given the concerns raised about proximity to residential areas?
Mr. Granger.
Yeah, so the part of this scheme is to modify the waste and refuse recycling store.
That is in a location that's too far away.
That's our SPD recommends for the council's refused collectors to as a reasonable track
basically when we've got these large euro bins and bulk with bulk waste.
So that's generally around 10 metres.
So we have a collection point that's closer to the Branson's Dock Gates and the refuse
will be presented on the day of collection by one of the management company and it will
be presented in a location very close to the gates that's allocated as a multi sort of
space.
I mean this is one day a week and it's for the domestic refuse only, not commercial waste
and it's collected on that day and then rolled back on the same day to the store.
And that cycle happens 52 weeks a year.
Councillor Gavindya.
Thank you, Chair.
I had asked whether, why was it that we don't have a response to BTSC Society's comments,
actually on this paper and in the next.
I mean, it was traditionally the case
that the comments from the society
were specifically identified and specifically addressed.
Now, they might be woven into the general paper,
but that was my question.
My real concern is about the reduction in commercial space.
Now, the argument from the applicant
is that that's because of the fire regulations and so on.
Firstly, is that so?
But the second thing, and more importantly, is a very, very substantial reduction.
Does it almost make it unviable, unattractive, and therefore in future something else will have to happen or whatever?
And I know that the applicant, because I've been in correspondence with the applicant, which has been copied to the case officer,
They haven't marketed the site.
They have no potential occupier.
They have no understanding as to what the marketability
of this site is.
And I just wondered whether they had explained any of that
to the offices.
And the second bit is about the roof colouring,
which has upset local residents and the society.
Basically, the question is, the condition,
AC whatever it is, AC 18 I think, does that cover the colour aspect or is it more about
the material itself?
So just those two points.
I'm pretty sure I know the answer to the second definitely, but let's go turn to the expert.
Mr. Grainger?
So in terms of the commercial space, I mean, I've read a lot of material as part of the
application submission and I've also read the quite extensive document that's been circulated
to members as well.
There's a lot in there I'd agree with.
The original, it's quite an unusual situation because the original basement is a section
of five to six volts or they've sometimes been annotated as chambers within the drawing.
So they do exist, but they're nowhere near in any state or capacity that could be occupied
by a commercial entity.
So there would be investment.
I do believe that there would be additional excavation as well to actually make it a viable
prospect.
But the the application itself has retained. I think we've got 150 or 158 square metres of commercial floor area
and as part of this application, so
There was a in excess of 200 square metre reduction
But that space it I mean it actually it was it was the reuse of an existing space
So it does exist and the those bolts still exist
they are going to convert one of those bolts in the basement as storage space for the
the above ground commercial area.
So in terms of viability, a startup,
a small and medium enterprise company,
with additional storage at ground floor
with additional storage below,
I think it could be a viable proposition.
But the overarching premise on whether our reservoir
of employment generating floor space
would be materially harmed over the borough
or in that location, we took the view
that that modification to the application doesn't stack,
we don't agree that the reservoir would be harmed
insofar as what's coming forward in that location
in terms of the 2 ,000 odd square metres
of commercial floor space that would be provided
by the ransom stock development adjacent to the site.
And that's going through gateway two process at the moment.
I know the permission is 10, 12, 13 years old,
but it has been implemented, but that's finally going to actually happen.
And in addition to that, the application for the glass mills, in terms of demonstrating
that the office space and its loss in that particular location and the documents that
were provided to justify that loss, they were very extensive and compelling in the entire
discussion that the location irrespective of its p -tail which is good
it is heavily reliant on access by busses and there's no real sort of competitive
relationship to for instance the the office coming on stream at places like
Nine Elms so it's it's within that scope that we are not objecting to that
relatively lowish reduction in floor area.
Over 50%, yes.
Colour of the roof as opposed to just the material roof.
Condition four covers that, it covers, it's everything.
We'll require samples in a situation like this
where it's visually, obviously it can be seen
from one particular angle.
It'd be seen for at both angles coming up and down Park Gate Road for a period of time
But the the scheme that I just talked about on the ransom stock redevelopment will essentially just cover one one flank of the entire
Relevation that from Selco Street, so it's important to get that colour, right?
we will get a
physical sample and
And or you know two or three options and make sure that it's not sort of Royal Mail pillarbox red
And that's it, say, an acceptable sort of chalky, dusty red that we can see on the CGI's.
One more point.
I, reading through it, I thought there was an element of value engineering going on here.
And I don't know whether that is the case.
So the material was changed and justification was that, well, you know, it could be like industrial.
I mean, you can almost hear an architect wax lyrical about industrial heritage.
But it essentially is value engineering in materials, is it not?
Well, we all know, but I think this proposal is a far better iteration over the previous
sort of sky gardens that had this reflective materials.
and the amount of glazing, the windows that faced directly south and ever trying to achieve
building regulations for overheating was just fantasy really, but we can't refuse something
on those grounds, but they designed it in such a way that building regulations marched
on with the sustainability agenda and this achieves policy compliance.
I didn't pick up actually, I should have done but I didn't pick up.
So in the bottom, on the eastern side of the site,
and the bottom half, there were three substantial trees.
You may recall one was cut down, another was poisoned,
but apparently not successfully.
I noticed the other day it's got green.
It seems to be doing okay.
And those two were given a TPO, I think,
or two TPOs to be precise.
Is that allowed for in any way, or is it just so completely outside of where the construction
was going, it's not mentioned, do you know?
I do know.
The proposal includes the remodelling of the, or certainly the upgrade of the existing car
park, which is pretty much just tamped concrete, so it's not particularly attractive.
But the car parking space is an additional landscaping.
The retention of those two trees, as you look at the side, they're on the east, aren't they?
So they retained an additional planting
and landscaping is also proposed
with much better surface treatments.
So the whole thing is a marked improvement
over what you see at the moment.
Okay.
Thank you.
Well, with those comments and queries,
people happy to accept the recommendation to approve?
Agreed, agreed unanimously.
And so we move on to Mead Bank,
which probably doesn't need much introduction.
We have a presentation from Mr. Sperling on this,
and so I can get out the way and people can see it,
we will move and hand over to Mr. Sperling.
If you'd like to introduce yourself, Mr. Sperling.
Hello, good evening.
Thank you, Chair.
My name is John Sperling.
I'm the Senior Planning Officer in the East Area team.
I'm going to present this application,
item three at Meatbank Nursing Home,
12 Park Gate Road, SW 11 4NN.
Okay, it's not changing screen.
Oh, there we go.
So the site is bordered by Park Gate Road to the north,
Battersea Bridge Road to the west,
and the Ethelburger Estate,
accessible via sales closed to the south and east.
The existing site is vacant and historically used
as a care home, providing residential dementia
and nursing care for the elderly,
totaling 176 bed spaces.
The facility is currently unoccupied and depending on the outcome of this application before members this evening
The current arrangement provides for pedestrian and vehicular access from Park Gate Road Park Gate Road to the north
Whilst the East a dedicated service area is provided and accessible by itself close
The site is not locally nor statutorily listed nor within a conservation area
Westbridge Road Conservation Area is located
approximately 20 metres west of the sites, just here.
This application seeks to demolish the existing buildings
to provide replacement care accommodation.
Use class C2 within a part four, five,
and seven storey building, plus basement level
with associated communal, wellness, and auxiliary facilities,
hard and soft landscaping, and associated car parking.
also servicing cycle parking substation and plant equipment.
The main body of the existing site is four storeys
with a part single two storey elements
to the eastern part of the site.
Just over here.
To the south of the site is a seven storey block of flats
which is part of the Ethelberger Estates.
And to the east, the two storey residential properties
along Sales Close.
To the west, on the opposite side of Battersea Bridge Road,
is a six storey block of flats called Musgrave Court.
To the northwest, along Park Gate Road,
are two to three storey terraced properties
with commercial ground floor and residential upper floors.
The proposal, sorry, to the east of these properties,
across Radstock Streets, is a part four
and eight storey contemporary Royal College of Arts
Roising Research and Innovation Building, just here.
This proposal was submitted in response to recent feedback
from the CQC, the Care Quality Commission,
who confirmed that the existing care home
would not meet current or future CQC requirements
for securing a new registration.
This is due to 80 % of the existing bedrooms
not having a full wet facility.
There is also insufficient communal space
for dining, recreation, and social activities.
For example, the existing average provision
is 3 .5 square metres per resident,
whilst the existing standard, sorry,
whilst the minimum standard is 4 .1 square metres
per resident.
As such, the proposal seeks to replace
the existing non -compliant CQC accommodation
with a modernised care village in a sustainable urban
setting whilst achieving a high standard
of sustainable design and architecture.
The care home use class U2 would be retained.
The built form is centred around a partial courtyard design with the main access being
from Park Gate Road.
The existing neighbouring properties at numbers 59 to 65 Battersea Bridge Road would neighbour
it as well as number 4, 6 and 8 Prince Albert Mews, so they neighbour the property.
The seventh storey element of the scheme would front Battersea Bridge Road and step down
to four storeys as the development moves eastward.
These images show existing and proposed views of the sites facing north along Battersea
Bridge Road.
The ground, first and second floor levels will be set on the boundary edge near the
public pavement with recessed balconies included at first and second floor levels.
From third floor level and upwards to the seventh storey, the main frontage will be set
back relative to the lower floor levels
to break up the massing along this elevation.
Wrap around balconies are included on the southwest corner
from fourth to sixth floor levels.
The breakup in massing is highlighted
by the change in materials,
which would be highlighted by condition
in the event of approval by members.
These images show existing proposed views
along Battersea Bridge Road, again,
facing a southeast direction,
which is the opposite view from the slides
we just saw previously.
Larger private balconies are proposed
at fifth and sixth floor levels.
Both terraces will expand across the width
of the respective flank wall.
The fifth floor terrace will project four metres deep
and the sixth floor terrace would project 2 .6 metres deep.
This elevation articulates a flat roof design.
The proposal would bring the built form in line
with neighbouring properties which would activate
the frontage at ground floor level,
albeit without entrances.
These images show existing and proposed views
of the sites from Park Gate Road facing south.
This section will comprise a mansard roof design
with dormer windows to lessen the visual impact
to the massing on this element of the proposal.
Landscaping and planting and associated boundary walls
with railings will be located on the pavement edge
along Park Gate Road.
This courtyard has been designed to be welcoming and a foliated space by providing a rain garden
and seating area accessible from the cafe and high quality landscaping including replacement
semi -mature trees.
Several private terraces to the units on the upper floor levels face the internal courtyard.
The proposal has an urban greening factor of 0 .42 which exceeds the minimum requirement
of 0 .4.
Within the courtyard, there are three proposed reception entrances, one for the care lobby
for the dementia care wing, which is this section here.
The two others within the element of the building, fronting Battersea Bridge Road, would serve
as the lobby reception space for the cafe bar area and the other leading directly to
lifts and stairs to access the upper floor levels.
In terms of the design, this aspect was assessed
in section two of the report.
As a summary, the site is situated
within a tall building zone.
The proposal achieves compliance with a maximum storey height
for this tall building zone of seven storeys.
The proposed care facility requires
additional ceiling heights to accommodate heating
and cooling and specialist equipment,
which is needed in order to provide the care required
by the applicant and the CQC.
Also, the increased height at ground level
on the Battersea Bridge Road frontage
creates a more cohesive continuation
of a more commercial aesthetic
within the immediately adjacent buildings.
A low level of less than substantial harm
has been identified to the setting
of the West Bridge Conservation Area,
which has been balanced against the public benefits
of the proposal.
All other heritage assets would remain unaffected.
As set out in the report, officers considered
that the proposal would not harm the local character
of the area in townscape terms,
as it sits in a transitional area
between Battersea Residential and Battersea Riverside.
It is considered that overall, the scale, massing,
and appearance of the development
would provide a good quality, sustainable design
and layout that would positively relate
to the prevailing local character
where other tall buildings are present
or within the development pipeline.
The overall domestic carbon saving is 68%,
and the non -domestic is 20%.
In terms of neighbouring amenity,
this comprehensive assessment can be found
in section three of the committee report.
In terms of daylight and sunlight,
the three associated tests,
Namely, vertical sky component, no skyline,
and annual probable sunlight hours
show that the losses have been identified
to number four, six, and eight Prince Albert Meuse,
as well as 11 Park Gate Road and James Sells Lodge.
These impacts have been found to fall
within acceptable parameters to offices
given the acceptable massing of the proposal
and the historic proximity, height,
and configuration of neighbouring properties.
With regards to privacy, outlook, sense of enclosure,
noise and disturbance, the impact would fall
within acceptable parameters subject to conditions.
In terms of the quality of the accommodation,
given the proposal is not a Class C -3 residential scheme,
the requirements of LP -27, which is the housing standards
in the local plan, do not directly apply.
However, policy LP -31 and section B -2
of the local plan partial review applies to proposals
for the development of specialist and supported housing
and states that there must be a high quality
and must meet best practise guidance
for this type of accommodation,
which is the CQC in this instance.
In this regard, the proposal would provide
an acceptable standard of accommodation
by reason of the proposed mix,
internal space standards, internal daylight and sunlight,
outlook, privacy and overlooking, sorry,
privacy and overlooking, and a means of space provision
which is considered acceptable to officers.
The future occupies will be supported by wellness
and communal spaces and auxiliary staff facilities
throughout the development.
This is aimed to foster interaction
and support emotional well -being of residents.
This includes a lounge of dining spaces,
auxiliary cafe and bar spaces, hobbies and craft rooms,
private dining room at ground level,
restaurant, communal dining spaces,
and at basement level will include a swimming pool,
gym, fitness studio, spa facilities,
hair, nail, and beauty salon,
male and female changing rooms,
therapy and treatment rooms,
and lastly, therapy and treatment rooms.
Clinical room and scooter station
is situated at ground level,
and there are consultation rooms
situated across the site.
The corridors at ground and first floor levels
have been designed in a form that supports
recognised dementia design principles,
prioritising clarity, legibility,
and ease of movement for occupants and staff.
The proposal would provide four kinds of care units,
including dementia care at ground floor,
nursing care at first floor,
reablement, which includes short
and long -term rehabilitation, also at first floor.
And lastly, domiciliary care,
also referred to as care suites in the report,
at first and sixth floor levels.
The dementia care units will be single occupancy,
include a bathroom and a desk.
16 units are provided in total,
but which two will be suitable for bariatric use.
The nursing bed units will also be single occupancy,
include a bathroom and a desk.
Both dementia units and nursing bed units
will be for occupiers who require specialist 24 -hour care
and support in short and long -term scenarios.
The reablement units would include a bathroom,
living room, and have single or double occupancy options,
as well as a bathroom and a living room.
These units would have the same level of 24 hour care
and support as the dementia and nursing units,
but be more provisioned for independent living.
However, additional support would be essential
due to the absence of kitchen facilities to prepare food.
The dementia, nursing, and reablement units
would be registered, reported on,
and inspected by the CQC.
And lastly, the care units would include
single or double occupancy options,
but include a living room, bathrooms,
and kitchen facilities for semi -dependent residents,
which includes 24 -hour care and support
provided on -site by an in -house team of specialists.
These units are designed for couples
where one or both partners require assistance
with their mobility or personal care needs.
Accommodation within these units would be available
on a leasehold or rental agreement.
Care services into the care suites are provided
by an onsite 24 hour operator managed care team
who are registered and inspected by the CQC.
All rooms have been designed to maximise
natural daylight and outlook,
while ventilation and heating would be individually
controlled for future occupiers' individual comfort.
At fourth floor level, a communal roof terrace
is proposed to offer a multi -functional space
with sensory planting, pergolas, and a terrace bar.
An adjacent hard -standing area would also be provided
in order to maintain year -round access
to the terrace space and flexibility of activities.
Sorry, apologies, the terrace space is in this slide here.
With regards to affordable housing,
Officers are satisfied that all units of the development,
namely the care bedrooms and the extra care suites,
meet the attributes of a care home accommodation
as defined by the London Plan.
Paragraph 4 .13 .4 of the London Plan
makes it clear that policy H13
does not apply to care home accommodation.
As such, no affordable housing provision
is required for this scheme.
Officers are satisfied that the correct controls
are in place through section 106 agreement
to ensure that the operation of the scheme
would not trigger affordable housing requirements.
With regards to the trees impact,
the scheme would result in the loss
of two existing TPO specimens,
including a T3 Norway maple and T4 silver birch,
with a degree of pruning proposed to T7, the cedar.
This does not comply with the British standards,
nor the LP 56 are the ones worth local plan.
To address this area of non -compliance,
the scheme has been amended to provide
28 new trees on site.
Given the loss of the two existing TPO trees,
planting has been provided adjacent to Park Gate Road
to reinstate the lost contribution to local amenity.
This includes two red maple semi -mature trees
to a height of six to 6 .5 metres
with a girth of 30 to 35 centimetres.
One red maple is also located in the Dementia Garden,
which is also semi -mature.
Two beech trees, also semi -mature,
are proposed to a height of six to 6 .5 metres.
This would be adjacent to the Dementia Care Garden
and the T7 and T8 trees, which are here.
Three sweetgum semi -mature trees are proposed here,
to a height of six to 6 .5 metres,
and one Himalayan birch tree
to a height of six or seven metres tall
will be located more within the courtyard area.
Given the uplift in planting along Park Gate Road
and the total tree provision across the site,
no further objections were raised by officers
in this matter,
subject to compliance with recommended conditions.
Subject to these conditions and more,
officers view that these elements of the proposal
are acceptable.
And lastly, Chair, on this basis,
we're recommending the application for approval,
subject to conditions and Section 106 legal agreement,
and the application is still liable.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Spalding, for that very comprehensive summary.
So many issues there.
There's issues of affordability of lights and lighting and scale and
how it fits with the general environment.
So many, many issues, but I know Councillor Ayres wants to make a particular comment anyway.
Councillor Ayres.
I read the design review panel's report, two of them, and I agreed with some of them but not others.
The design review thought that the massing didn't work, that the stepping back didn't work,
and the horizontal change of colours didn't work.
Well, I think they all work rather well myself.
I think it's quite a sophisticated looking building.
Although I would recommend that the finished colours of the bricks are a little less dark
and a little less cool, I mean along Seales Road, the colours of those bricks would be
quite oppressive I think.
So if they were lighter and warmer it might help it.
There are many things to like about this scheme.
I think it's fantastic it's got a swimming pool.
I know it looks a bit strange to have a swimming pool,
but I think it's fantastic.
And I think the basement facilities are very good.
But I do question the length of your arrival point in the basement to reception.
I don't see the point of it.
Why is it not right by the arrival point?
My overall feeling is that it's aiming to be a village.
It does not look like a village.
It doesn't. It looks like a bit of a lumpen urban design.
I mean, I think it's quite good urban design, but it's not a village.
And I think some of this is a serious missed opportunity
in the design of the corridors, not the lower corridors,
but the upper corridors, where you've got door after door after door.
No daylight.
It's very institutional. It's missed an opportunity to make those corridors casual
conversation meeting spots, minor meeting spots. And my other, my is it's very technical,
this is sounding kind of sound terribly boring. It's going back to waste management and parking,
But I don't know how many of you had the time to look at the swept path analysis drawings,
but there are five or six of them beautifully done, all different colours.
And it seems to be trying to prove that it's all all right.
But if you actually read the small print, it said that there are four or five different
vehicles, the fire tenders, box vans, DB32 refuse, whatever that is, which have to do
three point turns to get in and out. And that's all overlooking Seals Road, right off Seals
Road, which is the most threatened, I think, of the areas that we're looking at, the neighbouring
areas. And the other point about that is that all this manoeuvring is going to be by the
only parking, which is for disabled parking, seven spaces.
Is seven spaces enough, really, for all these people?
What about visitors?
I mean, even if you only need seven people,
seven spaces for the occupants,
there are going to be people that visit
that need to come by car.
And I don't even see a drop -off point,
there's a drop -off point, I suppose, if you're in a taxi,
but what do you do with your car if you're not a taxi?
So, I think this is a very valuable building.
It matters to the area.
What it provides is very good.
But it could have been so much better
and it's not a village.
I will, however, support it.
Thank you very much.
Thank you, that raises a lot of questions.
I'd like to make sure that we keep to a certain structure.
I've got a number of issues.
I know that Councillor Worrell wants to discuss transport and construction issues.
So if we can keep on those kind of issues to begin with, Councillor Worrell.
Thank you, Chair.
Councillor Worrell, Shaftesbury and Queenstown Ward.
I have major concern around the building and the timing of this building in relation to what else is happening in the area.
We've already agreed, I think, Howie Street, we've agreed within Westwood.
We've also agreed to run some stock now.
And now we're possibly agreeing this one.
In terms of the pressure in the area, in terms of building works that are actually taking
place, deliveries actually taking place, the environmental impact on people, the dust and
the noise, etc.
I'm just wondering, and I'd be interested in what the officers say, around the timings
all these taking place all at once, or in some of the time span, and the impact on the quality of life of people actually live in that area.
And how that such could be timetabled.
And in addition then, the knock on effect on the local transport routes.
The other thing in terms of picking up on that as well is, Councillor Ayers did bring up the issue of parking.
I have a member of the family actually in a residential home at the moment with dementia.
So I spend a lot of time visiting them.
And I agree with Councillor Erses that there is not enough car parking here for visitors,
never mind the amount of staff that actually present.
Care homes and this village are labour intensive.
And I cannot see here how that actually allows for people who want to visit and also for staff to actually come here.
The pressure on the local bus routes, and the bus routes are already under a lot of pressure.
I used to use the busses along there a lot,
and I cannot see how the added impact of this
will actually be compensated by the actual busses
in the particular area.
So those are the two issues that I want to bring up
at this stage, and it would be useful to see here
with the officers a few points on those.
If it helps people, funnily enough,
the map associated with the previous application,
map on page 14, I think, page 15,
which shows the application that we've just considered.
The blank space above it has just started construction.
The space on the other side of the road from that
is where the Vivian Westwood construction
is going to go on very shortly.
And at the bottom of the page
is the site we're just talking about.
So we've got four major construction sites
that all could happen at the same time.
Mr. Tiddley, this looks like an interesting one for you,
and construction management and transport,
traffic, parking, all kinds of things.
Thank you, Chair.
David Tiddley, the head of transport strategy.
If I pick up the construction management issue first.
So yes, I mean, in fact, there's been a lot of development
there for probably the last 20 years I think ever since I've been here there's
been the college and the Fosters building and lots of things going on up
there and this is another one as you as you as you rightly say now the
development is there is a condition unsurprisingly a base the need for a
construction management to be sent to the council and approved prior to prior
that would be expected to include details of construction routine,
the types of vehicles that would be used, the numbers of vehicles and the timing of them.
And that plan would then be subject to assessment, not just by my colleagues,
but also colleagues within the highways teams and with transport for London.
Particularly what's called the network management side of those organisations,
which is about trying to ensure that the highway network is able to operate with multiple things happening.
And if that requires things to be reordered and re -changed and reallocated accordingly, then that is what will need to be done.
So for example, on things like making roads one way or parking suspensions and things like that,
there's a limit to how much an area is able to accommodate those sorts of things.
We're well aware of that and the development would need to accommodate any needs of any needs or
Constraints that we wish to put on it as part of that scheme. So hopefully that's that's covered
in terms of transport more generally I
Think it's it is the case that of course at the previous established use was a care home with I think
176 beds and this is effectively a smaller number of beds.
So I think we have to start with the position that there was a previous
development here that actually had potentially more people and had no actual,
as far as I'm aware, relatively limited conditions on how it could be serviced and could be used.
So this does give us the opportunity to ensure that adequate conditions and
obligations are placed upon the developer to help try and
ensure that there is satisfactory and safe arrangements.
Now the numbers of beds here is reduced,
but the numbers of parking spaces is reduced pro rata even more,
because at the moment there was space for 14 vehicles and in this proposal there's seven.
That does it have an impact then on the way the transport assessment is being handled?
Although, again, as you mentioned, there is also a drop off,
sort of quick turning circle drop set down position as well.
Now the assessment effectively indicates that consequently,
people are almost forced to arrive by other means because there's limited parking on site.
There's a red route on one side.
There's a housing road on another side.
It would be, and the assessment effectively takes account
of that and notes also the measures within the travel plan
that will seek to ensure that people arrive
by more sustainable transport forms.
And in fact, the assessment indicates that public transport
and walking generally would take the brunt
of most of the demand.
All that said,
There's also two other conditions here.
One's a car parking management condition and one's a servicing and delivery condition.
Try and ensure that those, again, satisfactory management is maintained.
And I think that what's not particularly explicit here is given the size of this development,
we clearly wouldn't expect anybody who was living in here or
anybody working here to be able to apply for parking permits outside the site.
Partly because there's a red route one side and there's a housing managed road the other side.
So effectively, I think we are broadly satisfied.
And the final thing I'll probably just say is that we are now within planning policy terms,
we are in a sort of vision -led approach to transport.
and transport is now effectively,
we are looking at what's policy compliant
and we are led by maximum parking standards,
a vision led approach,
rather than the old sort of prescriptive standards
and predict and provide type things.
And then finally, the MPPF does generally say,
you know, we should only be looking to refuse development
and transport grounds where we think the impacts are severe.
And then finally, I think getting back to the issue of the sweat path analysis, again,
that would be dealt with by the servicing and delivery plan to make sure that the numbers
of times that that happens is suitably managed.
And having looked at the sort of incidents, casualties and other sort of conflicts in the area,
again, we're relatively confident that we can make it work.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Anyone to pursue that point?
Yes, please.
Just to clarify then, in terms of the management plan that you talked about in your first answer,
we've got four different developments with our own management plans.
I then make the assumption that all four plans will be linked in order to make sure that
they, because this is a very small area in terms of the area, and that they will be linked
with each other and actually the impact of one against the other will be actually looked
That would be my first question.
The other one, the second question is,
I understand your assessments in terms of the parking.
Two issues that arise though is that,
yes, the number of beds are reduced,
but the type of role of the village changes slightly.
So there could be increase in actually visitors
actually coming there.
The staff ratio in terms of dementia care
is something that you need to consider.
We already have an issue of people using
the parking spaces on the Surrey Lane Estates,
then to park there and to come across.
So how would that actually be managed?
Because by restricting the parking in one area,
and I understand your argument about trying to force people
onto other forms of transport,
and there's distinct value in that,
is that inadvertently you push people then
across onto the Surrey Lane Estates area,
and then we have then a parking management issue
in terms of the residents that actually live there.
So it's the linkage between all those three that interests me.
Yeah, so the only thing I would probably add is that that would be addressed by anybody visiting this site,
being unable to seek a permit for that area.
Obviously, you could probably park on a metre and pay for a metered parking like any other visitor could.
But the eligibility for access to parking permits would protect the existing amenity of permit holders in the surrounding areas.
When you say Surrey Lane, I mean, Ethelburger State is at least as close, closer perhaps.
Same applies, same argument applies, isn't it?
If you just, Councillor Ayers wanted to come back, but sorry I do.
Yes, thank you, Chair.
Did I understand you right that the trucks and things which have to do three -point turns,
Will they be banned from the site?
Okay, well then my next point is about the staff thing.
Because surely many of the staff will be people
like district nurses as well as the full -time staff.
They'll be visiting medical people.
They're gonna need car parking spaces, surely.
Not people who come there and stay there all day,
but people who come for a morning's clinic, say.
I mean I just I I suspect the parking is going to be a nightmare in that tight little border
where Seales Road is, they're all backing to and fro and there's all these people fighting
to get into the car park.
I'm not happy with the car parking and the traffic, sorry.
Do you want to come back on that Mr Sedley or?
I don't think that's your view Councillor.
Okay fine. Councillor Govindia and then Councillor Humphreys.
Thank you, Chair. I'm just sticking to the transport aspect of the discussion for the moment.
So we're going to have visitors and we've agreed, well we've talked about it, the visitor parking is limited
and the P -Tel rating of the area is pretty poor as well.
And so has the applicant told us what is their expectation of visiting numbers?
And in terms of their responsibility towards their clients, have they sort of talked about how they would accommodate their clients, loved ones, visiting them?
Because presumably in a normal people's home, having a loved one visit you is part of quality of life.
and to make it easier and attractive for them is something that the applicant should have
taken some responsibility for.
So is that reflected in their application?
I don't see it, but in case I missed it.
The second group of people who will need transport are the staff.
And I, you know, again, Councillor Orell talked about
sort of the financial care needing more staff
than standard care.
And also shift work and 24 seven kind of cover,
visiting professionals and all of that.
And what's the traffic arrangement, transport arrangement,
parking arrangements and facilitation for being able
to come and go as they need to reflected
in the applicant's thinking.
And then the servicing side, and as I read the papers,
almost all the servicing is through the sales clause.
Quite a narrow road from what I've seen on the maps.
I mean, perhaps if you could help us see.
Standard council style of the road.
Yeah, but it's an estate road rather than a highway road.
And therefore quite tight,
and quite tight with properties almost on each side,
and therefore the volume and the scale of servicing could be a bit of a nuisance to the immediate occupants.
So again, it's a concern.
And then on the issue of construction traffic and so on, unfortunately, and perhaps planners could help us there,
Presumably, we are stuck where each one is merit, so we can't really deny this because
there are three adjoining sites under development.
So I just want clarity on that, that we can't penalise this applicant because others have
come before it.
But nonetheless, that puts us in a dilemma to how much this area can be loaded with both
disturbance and traffic mayhem.
Can I just interrupt, Councillor Givens, I think it's absolutely the case we can't discriminate against this one as opposed to the others.
I think the question was asked just to put Mr. Tiddly on the warning that he could have a problem timing all these developments and the results of the developments.
I'm just absolutely right and that's exactly what I'm seeing in a sense.
So in terms of agreeing a kind of construction development plan with them, how much input
has TFL made it because of the critical road there and what account is being taken of the
kind of the capacities of the bridges and where is the spoil going because that will
determine where the transfer was going.
All of those questions in my head sort of says,
well, nightmares ahead, really, or am I exaggerating?
I'm wondering, would Mr. Sperling and Mr. Grainger
are chatting to each other?
The one of you who's coming in,
or is it back to Mr. Tiddley?
Well, I'll just quickly clarify.
We've, as part of this, due to the proximity
of Battersea Bridge Road being transported
and the road network, we approached TFL's
special planning team and they came back
with no objections, so they don't think
that the actual end use and they were aware
of the construction phase was a particular issue.
And you're right, Councillor and Chair,
that certainly it's established law that we can't,
We can't regard granting or considering an application for permission in terms of its
cumulative impacts at construction phase.
That is simply something that we would be making a big error on if that was to be considered.
Council Humphreys.
Thank you, Chair.
I don't think I've said it yet, have I?
I think particularly the angle that I'm concerned about is the delivery aspect because as we've
heard from the presentation, this isn't just a home, there's all sorts of things going
on and it's part of the offer, isn't it?
All sorts of other activities and facilities and specialists coming in and all sorts of
stuff so that the impact of all that extra material that needs to come in, whether it's
or whatever or other people coming in.
As just the logistics of the delivery scheme
on that little road, I have concerns about it
if it all happens to coincide at a similar time.
I just had one specific question
about the general parking quantum.
Obviously, if this was just a purely residential scheme,
we see them all the time at this committee
with big, big schemes coming in for approval
that have been approved with no parking at all.
In fact, maybe one or two car club spaces or disabled spaces.
I think we had a big discussion about a very big scheme at Gasworks not that long ago where
there was a very, very small amount of parking for such a very, very big scheme.
So I just wanted to ask, does the category of a care home get any extra dispensation
from the planning laws about the ability to have any more spaces?
Because if it were purely just a residential scheme, it would be perfectly acceptable to
have it with no parking.
Any technical answer on that?
Yes, so as you correctly say, Councillor, residential development effectively is, because
it has maximum parking standards, is increasingly coming at zero or very low.
There is no specific standard for care homes, as I understand, so it's rather on its merits.
Just quickly interject as well, please, on servicing and other matters, is that the proposal,
we are in a London and we have a principle of private car vehicle restraint for residential
and across other methods and people getting to work and not expecting to be able to park
a car at work.
There's no difference between this in the practical sense and the actual application
of policy in terms of a member of staff accessing this facility as a job of work and not expecting
to be able to park within the red line curtilage of the site.
But there is travel plan, and this is the same with potential higher volume visiting
establishments like such as schools, where there is obviously a very big part of the
organisation that runs the end use of the proposal
to educate the people up front,
make sure that they understand before they take on a unit
what the parking restraints and the,
if somebody considers it's a challenge that
people who want to visit them won't be able to park,
then they would have to not choose to take on a unit
within that space.
So the educate and people, you know,
the way that travel plans work is very specific
between the employers and the end users
and what their expectations are
and how that is delivered and articulated
on a constant updated format to everybody to know,
to educate them that there are constraints with parking.
There's the other side of the equation, of course,
is that this is a facility for people,
particularly for people suffering
a particularly unpleasant disease.
which a certain proportion of us all will have.
And to solve all the problems of parking, et cetera,
we could park them all somewhere in the countryside in Surrey
so all their loved ones would have to travel a lot further,
and there'd be all sorts of other access problems.
It is of big value to have a service of this kind in London.
As soon as you get it in London,
you're faced with the planning constraints
that exist in inner London.
I think we have to take those factors into account as well.
Chancellor Givindya.
Claire, I mean, this is about sales close.
Presumably it is a housing estate road
and not a public highway.
And presumably, the applicant would need consent
from the housing director for using estate road.
road for accessing this development and so on. Is that the case and if that if so
has such an agreement or understanding being reached?
It's an existing access that's been used for X number of years and
the establishment would be okay painted all right any other any other questions
any other queries yeah Oh counsellor yes all right but I was a general science
gone counsellor I think in the introduction I mean like yes in terms of
In planning terms, the height is within the kind of guidance.
Planning indicates the height in the area
is within that tolerance.
But it's the way in which the development fills the site,
which is what is the concern, both from the residents
and also looking at the plan.
It almost completely fills the site,
if that's basically what's happening.
Building right up to the edge and creating an Apart Gate
particularly, quite a canyon effect given what's on the northern side of Park Gate Road.
And that is a concern in the sense of the volume rather than the height is causing a bit of concern
which then leads to some of the loss of trees and the pruning of a rather fine cedar which I
guess you have to prune and it may not survive as well although it's not settled or it might look
like not a cedar after it's had a prune.
So that's a potential risk as well.
I mean, I am concerned that once the facility is desirable
and necessary, and we are all going to need that help.
And then of course, it is right that people
who age in SSI in the community live in that community
and continue to live in that community.
We saw that's agreed and all that is fine,
but it's just about the impact of the development
on the neighbourhood and the way in which
the neighbourhood can cope with it.
And that's where I think the site is over -ambitious
in terms of the way it fills up the entirety of the site
and presses itself hard against its neighbours.
Thank you, Chair. I was actually going to say something slightly similar to what Councillor
Green has just said, that the proposal itself I have no doubt will be an admirable place
to live for people with needs and all that kind of stuff, but part of our job here as
the planning committee is to balance those needs of the applicants and the business and
of future residents of that facility with the immunity and the impact on the neighbours
around and the surrounding areas and all the rest of it.
And that's where I think this neighbour has got slightly out of kilter with – I have
no doubt that the facility itself will be excellent.
It sounds great.
I'll keep an eye on it myself in not that many years' time, perhaps.
But I do think there is an impact on neighbouring residents and the place generally.
A specific question came up in the consultation objection comments, and I've seen it before,
but it was on this one as well, about a lack of consultation as far as for this specific
application.
Yet on, what is it, page 133, 14 .7, it lists the steps that the applicant has made to do
that statement of interaction with consultation.
I just wonder that those two things as they stand stand in stark opposition to each other
so I just want to give us a little clue as to how that balances out because it seems like from the
Responses we've had from residents and neighbours. They don't seem very impressed with the consultation, but officers seem to think what was done was
Adequate could we just square the circle on that one perhaps to start off with?
Any come here council great mr. Granger I
I think with the best will in the world, and we've all been around, you know, for a long
time doing this, I don't think, I think there will always be one person or a set of people
that will criticise the scope and nature and degree of a consultation, whether it be pre -application
done by the applicant themselves or the statutory process that's conducted by the council.
there's always an expectation for us,
particularly to cast a wider net.
But in looking at what we considered
to be a logical consultation area
that was centred by the application site
and not just spinning off in random directions
in order to get a degree of coherency,
I think that 682 addresses is pretty good,
pretty good considering that the Royal College of Art would get one letter.
So, you know, there are a lot of addresses in there and a lot of organisations and obviously
there's blocks as well. So, yeah, certainly what the applicant did behind the scenes is
within parameters and we've obviously fulfilled our duty as well.
I should put that a little bit stronger, I think.
I think that since I've been here,
it's quite a long time,
there is of course no laid down legislative format
of what consultation should be
and how much should accept that there should be consultation.
I would say that the amount I've seen
from the applicants here in terms of consultation meetings
is greater than most I've seen.
So I think you could hardly accuse them on that fault.
May not be sufficient for many of the public, but greater than most, I would say.
That's reassuring to hear, and thank you for that.
As we know, it's not always the case, you know, because you say it isn't prescriptive,
so what one applicant thinks is acceptable isn't necessarily what another one does.
So that's somewhat reassuring.
Thank you, gentlemen, both, for that.
Could I move on somewhere else?
Indeed.
Thank you.
Shall we get down to a bit more of the number of the impact on the neighbouring buildings?
I think it's particularly James Earl Lodge, isn't it, that has a big impact, the BRE guidance
on page 100 on that one, it says it's a significant impact, daylight, sunlight and all the rest
of it.
Obviously, as we heard in the introduction, there's perhaps not quite a severe but also
severe impact on some of the other smaller surrounding properties.
So, officers obviously in there, summing up, think that's acceptable, but forgive me, I
can't remember exactly which page it is.
Maybe it's in 3 .6 or 365.
The sort of justification in layman's terms, shall we say, is sort of, well, that's a smaller
building.
It might get developed in the future.
It's kind of like it's their fault that they're going to be impacted, which I'm sure that's
not how it was meant to come across, but it's kind of how it reads on paper.
And you can understand residents concerns that they're going to have a significant impact
It's described in the report as having a significant impact on their
Daylight sunlight just one of our officers are completely happy with that on those specific examples
Yes, thanks yet, yeah, we we
We are
given the
circumstances of the sites and the nature of the separate the existing separation distances and the open aspect
It's unusual the relationship the physical relationship with the proposal that steps down to four storeys
so the reason why the
Highest points of this proposal is is on the western side of the site on the pavement edge on Battersea Bridge Road
Is because that's where it's it is tolerable and least impactful
especially in the context, in the urban
townscape context of Musgrave Court being
six, seven storeys and the Ethelberger
slab block behind being seven storeys,
so it makes total sense.
But policy LP4 and D9 does talk about
tapering away from sites, and this is,
in this instance, in townscape terms.
And also, the knock -on effects of that,
the corollary, if you will, of the urban
design principles also seeks to assuage the impact
on daylight, sunlight, and reducing the overall mass
towards the other sensitive users.
I'm trying to avoid saying receptors a lot
because I've had a lot of that recently,
but anyway, the human beings in the building.
But,
but having said that, because the piecemeal nature
of the elevation that faces James Searle's lodge,
and the piecemeal progression of that over years and years,
and it being single storey, then two storey,
then eventually go out further away.
There's a 20 metre separation distance
to the four storey element,
which in this location is very unusual,
and that degree of separation is rather generous.
So placing a new obstacle in a similar separation distance
at 20 metres away from that, but in a more coherent pattern
has had or would have an inevitable impact
on the received daylights at ground floor in VSC
in vertical sky component terms.
The NSL calculations have also been done.
They would be impacted, but the bedrooms,
the guidance tells us that they should be assessed,
but are less important, but certainly,
this is not something that is completely new
or distinct to this site and this proposal,
because the Randall Close proposal over,
literally to the west, there's a nursing home
next to Butler Court, which is the old
Battersea police station, and the blocks were placed
much closer, 17 metres closer at 567,
and storeys in height, and had in that instance,
because of orientation and other factors,
had a very similar impact to the occupiers
of that care facility.
So, you know, and that's each on its own merits,
but that arrangement has been found
to be acceptable before, and that was closer.
So this instance, we think that the,
by maintaining those separation distances,
it is a space, when you put a place in your obstacle,
there is an inevitable impact because of the open nature
of the environment, but we think that this is tolerable
and within acceptable premises.
If I could just come back on that.
I accept what you're saying, Mr. Grainger.
My point perhaps was more about the perception
of what's been said, and we sit around this table
and officers particularly are obviously much more aware
the nitty -gritty and the technicalities of these things, but for the residents being
impacted to be, I just wanted to say perhaps for their understanding of their listening
or watching the committee that on the one hand we're saying there's a significant impact
on their homes and on the other hand we're saying but it's okay then.
So it's just I don't want them to feel that they're being slighted by the fact, and it's
helpful for you, thank you for explaining the context so they understand that and they
don't feel that they're just being ignored and sidelined.
and it has been taken properly, as we should and as we do,
into account in the decision that we're making.
I would just interject there,
the Randall closed development, which I know pretty well,
do you know it?
I think it's worked very well in the circumstances.
So to make comparison with that is quite an interesting one.
Go on.
I had one other specific question,
which you can probably help me with.
So it fails on the greening factor for this, so there's some offset contributions, aren't
there, to the – and it doesn't say.
So I was just perhaps curious or interested to do – where will that offsetting be?
Because if it's in Northumberland, it's not really going to help any of the residents
in Wandsworth at all, is it, particularly?
I just wonder if there's any factor.
So if we do – no, just as a parallel, if we do an offsite contribution for affordable,
We know it's going to be somewhere else in the borough.
At least some residents in the borough will benefit from it.
But, you know, much as I love the folk in Northumberland, I'd much rather us get the
cleaner air than them.
So just until we've got any idea, can we specify that it could be in the borough?
Yeah, this has come up before, I think.
It does meet, you did mention, I think you mentioned the urban greening factor, which
it does actually meet at 0 .42, and 0 .4 is the standard.
in terms of its biodiversity net gain that we're talking about.
I mean, I think I skirted around this as an answer before with Mr. Colder eventually assisting,
but the way that this works is that there are companies,
this has generated a whole new industry in terms of creating these places that you can green
and that are flower meadows for at least 30 years and things like that at a cost,
but at least it's a flower meadow and not very, very low grade agricultural land or
something like that if it was in the first place.
But there isn't a facility I don't, I'm certainly not aware of that we can be locationally specific
on where those areas are at the moment.
Right.
I think it's important that we at least make our own view clear that if it's not a facility
an offset is offered, that the offset should be where it benefits our residents.
Now, they may not be able to provide it, but at least from what we want, we should be very
clear about what we want.
And I say that more so because the central government's thinking about the whole area
planning is that whether our, you know, environmental impediments to a planning application, then
there are ways of overcoming it by sort of levying a fee and that fee could be spent
anywhere. Now we just make our point clear now that if such things are going to be there
put into the system to encourage development, the offset fees should be used in Wandsworth
for the benefit of Wandsworth residents. The law may not allow it but at least what we
we want, we just need to be very firm and clear about it.
Well I think you're absolutely right on that,
absolutely right.
Mr. Calder, you got any comment?
Absolutely wrong about that, I'm afraid.
Yeah, it's a nationally prescribed standard,
so it can be anywhere in England, so I'm afraid.
As much as we'd like to, if we had sites we could put it in
and put those forward, then we would,
but you then neutralise that area.
So even trying to adapt, we were looking at ones
with common or some of the commons,
but you can't use common land,
so it has to be somewhere else,
so it ends up being private fields.
So it might be in Surrey, or it might be nearby,
but it could be in Northumberland,
for the benefit of all those geordies.
Just to pursue this, Chair.
I think that it's about actually,
I know what Mr. Calder just said, but it is about what is it that we as elected councillors
of this council want for our residents. And whilst that's what the government views, maybe
we should be saying, well, to make it very clear to our members of parliament that this
is our view and they should support our view.
I think we certainly should make it very clear to our political colleagues elsewhere that
This is not an acceptable situation.
I agree with that entirely.
Councillor Apps.
Councillor Apps, Shaftesbury and Queenstown Ward.
I actually, this is one of the points I wanted to come in on,
because what we'd actually like to have is zero carbon buildings,
passive buildings, and not have to offset.
But I do recognise, having visited care homes before,
that they are very intensive use buildings,
and so that might be difficult to achieve.
So my question for officers really was,
how does this 68 % carbon reduction
compare with other care homes?
Is this considered reasonable, or do we think,
are we wanting care homes to go further
in terms of their carbon reduction?
There's some very bad climate news
that's just coming through at the moment
about the impact of our global warming,
and the kind of likely long -term impacts
on all of our lives.
So I do think we need to take it seriously.
Thank you.
Any comment again?
How does this?
I guess it's to comparing with the last care home
that I think that came to committee
was the one up the road near the Huguenots burial ground.
And I have no reason to look at the,
I think that the carbon saving at 68 % would be much greater than what we achieved four
years ago or five years ago.
So that, by way of comparison, I don't think is a comparison.
But yeah, this also has a – because it's mixed between achieving a baseline carbon
saving and then offsetting the rest of that with a per tonne payment as a financial in lieu
payment that is spent on sustainability projects within the London Borough of Wandsworth.
It's ring -fenced.
Along with that is a BRIAM score, which is targeted towards more commercial functions,
but that has achieved a targeted rating of outstanding.
So this building really stacks up in terms of sustainability and is an environmental
benefit.
Yes, I think what I was hoping for was more regional and national comparators rather than
just within Wandsworth.
And I understand that's sometimes difficult to ascertain, but I think it would be good
if we could try and set the highest standards we can for our buildings and do make these
national comparisons.
Thank you.
I've got a feeling some of that is a little bit outside the realms, but there's very important
stuff.
I agree with that entirely.
Councillor Humphries.
Can I go off on a different tangent, just one last thing?
Thank you.
More specific question again, thanks.
Jobs for local residents.
There's a comment from the EDO with a contribution,
but I just wanted to know if there's any direct recommendation
or an informative that we could put on this to make sure
that of those 100 jobs that are going, at least as many of them as possible
can be for, again, for our ones as residents rather than anybody else's.
Good point.
Have we got anything on the location of the employees?
We certainly have had on other applications.
In terms of the work match, 131D.
It's a borough wide.
I think they can actually go a bit granular and try and get sort of like ward basis if
I'm not totally making that up.
But we would hopefully try to achieve that.
Having known some of the people who are employed by Meade Bank, I don't think they'd have any
problem fulfilling the locality because I know quite a few of them were local folk doing
in caring jobs.
So I don't think there'd be any problem with them achieving that actually.
Can we add it in then?
I don't think it's needed because we were already covering this sort of employment and
training opportunities in the section 106 and there's obviously the local employment
and enterprise arrangements.
So it'll be something that our colleagues in economic development will pick up in any
case.
It would be quite helpful.
It would be quite helpful to note our comment as a specific, just as a reminder to them,
because it's a bit woolly in the terms.
If it's more specific in the 106th grade, but in what we've got in the report, it's
not very specific on what we're going to get out of it.
It's just a contribution.
And so if we could put something in there that would be more specific, saying it's an
ask from the committee, it's not going to contradict that, is it?
Did we go for an informative then?
Yes, yeah.
Okay, happy with that.
No problem.
Now, any other particular areas?
Can I, I mean, there are obviously a lot of concerns and for some people I think this
is a very difficult application.
Scale is perhaps just not arguable.
the lighting and various things in various areas
are quite a bit arguable,
but it's also an incredibly valuable resource.
And unless someone's going to move something,
I feel that we've got to come to a decision at some point.
I guess on the whole, most of us are in favour
of having the facility, but I'm encouraging members
to think about how we get to that conclusion.
Councillor Gomindia.
I think I said earlier, I mean, it's not about the facility.
A, we need it and we need more of it.
And in a sense, this site is already there, has a history of it, and all of those things
are true.
But I just wonder whether a little further push at the applicant might improve the scheme
in the long – for the future.
the kind of filling the entirety of the site, more or less.
Maybe a little push back, whether there
is some imaginative thinking that could not necessarily
lose the quantum, but rearrange the quantum, and so on.
I think I was taken by Councillor Ayres' point
about corridors, which, I mean, this
is supposed to be more open and loving and caring
and all that.
And in a sense, it's replicating an institutional feel to it
and all of this.
And I just wonder whether a little push further.
There's applications with the department
for just about six months.
It's not like it's been sitting on our books forever.
So I kind of wonder whether it might benefit from saying,
Members who are not unhappy with your principal point that you want a care home in this location,
but have various bits of detail they're unhappy about, and how about a small rethink or whatever.
I'm not saying a kind of formal deferral, but of course that's probably the only device we have.
But I'm just throwing that as a suggestion,
because there is sufficient anxiety around the table,
not about the principle, but about the way
they have gone about executing it,
and whether there is a way in which delay might improve it.
Or at least for us to feel that we've
done our best to create a best facility for people who
who probably don't have a say in their time there.
I'm a little bit leery of a deferral
without any guidance
as to where one might look for improvement.
I mean, the scale and style of the design
and the application in front of us
seems to me to be pretty, a lot of work, time and money has been spent on it, I am sure,
and it's not easily adaptable, I would not have thought.
I wouldn't wish to differ just because we're not strong enough to take a decision.
So I'd like some indication, otherwise I think I'd press for actually a decision,
because unless we have some indication of the area
that we think there could be some movement on,
I think that's leaving the officers
with a little bit of a difficult task.
But I'm open to anyone's suggestion.
Look, I understand where you're coming from.
I think it's about trying to be a little more creative
in our approach here.
The two areas where I think there was some disquiet was about the parking and that arrangement,
visitors and so on, and whether that is an area on which we could defer or could assist.
And the other, I think, is worth looking at is whether the park gate road frontage could
be reviewed to provide more of a setback at ground level,
rather than a kind of setback of the fourth storey, which
is what's happening upon that bridge road.
So those are the two areas where I
think we could reset the deferral might assist
crime find a solution.
I'm not sure that's guidance enough, frankly.
I think I could have.
That's my suggestion.
Yes, I mean that's fair enough.
I mean I'm not, I feel that's not quite sufficient.
I think we're gonna have to take the officer's
recommendation as it stands and see whether
we approve or disapprove.
So can I put to the committee whether we approve
the recommendations from the officers as in the paper.
So those in favour?
Those against?
Those abstaining?
Six one three, six three one, six one three.
Okay, well thank you for that.
A difficult one, I know.
And I recognise that people in the public gallery
will necessarily be disappointed,
but I hope they think we've considered it seriously enough.
Thank you.
Can I move on to the next item on the agenda, which is the decisions paper.
Is that agreed?
Noted.
And the closure of investigation files noted.
Sorry, TPOs.
Sorry?
TPOs.
Oh, did I miss the TPOs?
Oh, gosh.
And the TPOs, yes.
TPOs, those two TPOs agreed.
Council Jeffries.
Thank you, Chair. Forgive me. Just a brief point. James Jefferies, Councillor for Thamesview
Ward. I just wanted to test the rationale for the first TPO, TPO 516. So we are saying
TPO now rescind if it causes damage later on down the line. Does that mean then that
we're saying that this private individual applicant
has to suffer damage to their property
before they can do anything about it.
Now, this is my last meeting as a member of this council,
so it's an opportunity to go out
defending private property rights.
But I think there is a serious point here, though,
that around restricting freedom of action regarding a tree
that doesn't sit along the pavement boundary,
but which could cause material damage to this property,
costs that won't be borne by this council.
So I just wanted to test whether this TPO is excessive,
and it might be through the discussion that it's not,
but I just wanted to test that point.
Are you going to respond, Mr. Gordon?
Yes, if I can.
Yes.
Well, only briefly.
Part of the issue was when they objected to the TPO,
they didn't actually provide any evidence,
and there was no evidence to show that there was damage.
I think if there had been clear damage,
we might still have had the TPO,
but with the acceptance that it's a replacement tree.
In this instance, they get a TPO on an absolutely
amazing tree, but also if the damage is there,
then we can get a replacement further away from the,
I think it's the Front Boundary Wall
was the issue on this one.
But it'll be their responsibility, but yeah.
I know the concerns and that is often the reason for objections to TPOs.
Okay, agreed.
And I think we covered all the others, did we not?
In which case, thank you.
And can I say to Councillor Ayers and Councillor Jeffries and
Councillor Coakley, I will miss you.
and your very creative and positive responses.
And good luck to all the rest of us,
possibly good luck to all the rest of us
in terms of what happens on May the 7th
and hopefully some of us will be back here to fight on.
That's it, cheers.
And there's nine or 10 votes lost for me in that six.
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- Front sheet April 2026, opens in new tab
- Application 1 - 2026-0350, opens in new tab
- Application 2 - 2025-3409 East, opens in new tab
- Application 3 - 2025-3651 East, opens in new tab
- Background paper, opens in new tab
- LATE ITEMS PAC APRIL 2026, opens in new tab
- 26-113 TPOs, opens in new tab
- TPO 516 MAP, opens in new tab
- TPO 516 ORDER, opens in new tab
- TPO 517 MAP, opens in new tab
- TPO 517 ORDER, opens in new tab
- 26-114 Decisions, opens in new tab
- 26-115 Closure of Investigations, opens in new tab
- 26-116 Closed Appeals, opens in new tab