Issue - meetings

(Director of Planning and Economic Development) To consider the attached report.

The Committee considered an application which sought the demolition of an existing public house and garages on an adjoining site and its replacement with a mixed use development of retail and food and drink units on the ground floor with 64 residential units over the six floors above. The proposed development had 62 parking spaces and access and car parking and was on a prominent site at the beginning of Loughton Broadway within the Council’s Debden Town Centre and Broadway Development Brief which had been adopted by the Council in 2008. The committee received details of the design of the building proposed.

The committee noted that the development could proceed if the recent approval of a retail park on Langston Road and its associated changes to the local road layout were implemented.

The committee noted that the proposed building, of a contemporary design had a staggered appearance with upper floors lowering towards adjoining properties. The suggested conditions included the re-provision of a minimum of 150sqm for a drinking establishment and a section 106 agreement which would secure education and healthcare contributions. Any approval would also be subject to the applicant agreeing to an extension of time for the signing the Section 106 Agreement.

The highways officers considered the parking provision was acceptable on the basis of almost one space for each unit as was the effect on traffic generation from the site.

It was proposed that no affordable housing would be provided within the development on the basis that it would be financially unviable which had been verified by the Council’s specialist consultants.

The Committee noted the representations made to the Council including a petition and objections from Town Centre Partnership, Loughton Town Council and Loughton Residents Association Plans Group.

The Committee heard from a representative of the Town Centre Partnership, an objector and the local Town Council. During the presentation by the applicants agent, members of public interrupted the proceedings and, on resolution of the Committee, the public gallery was cleared for the reminder of the discussion. The meeting was adjourned between 8.05pm and 8.20pm to facilitate the clearing of the gallery.

The committee heard from the applicants agent and local ward members.

The main issues for the committee were the loss of the public house and whether the size and scale of the building were appropriate. Evidence was that the public house was not a viable business and that principle of the loss of the building had been accepted when the Development Brief had been agreed. An area for a new drinking establishment was proposed.

Concern was expressed by some members that the new building was too high and of a bulky appearance and that giving permission to the development would set a precedent for high rise developments elsewhere. It was felt that the development could prove to be a catalyst for regeneration of the area and would create jobs. There was also a presumption in favour of development and the site was in a sustainable area, close  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38