Planning Applications PDF 1 MB - Meetings, agendas and minutes

2.7 The London Fire And Emergency Planning Authority have been consulted, but
have not responded.
2.8 The Metropolitan Police's Crime Prevention Design Advisor has been consulted,
but has not responded.
3.0 PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS
3.1 The main planning issues to be considered in the light of relevant national,
regional and local planning policies include:
- The principle of development in land use terms
- The quantum and tenure of the scheme
- The impact of the design and scale of the proposed new development, including the
impact on the adjoining conservation area
- The effect on amenity of neighbours
- The quality of the proposed residential accommodation
- Highways and parking
- Environmental matters - sustainability, flood risk and contaminated land
LAND USE, QUANTUM, TENURE
3.2 The existing site has an established use as a Class B8/B1 warehouse and office
facility and is currently occupied by an office supplies business. The applicant has
submitted information to demonstrate that the existing offices are outdated and no
longer fit for purpose. The company is relocating as the existing premises and location
are not suitable to run and expand the business. The current site provides 926sqm of
warehouse space on the ground floor and 858sqm of office space on the first floor.
Currently, 67 employees work at the site, of which 60 work in the first floor offices and 7
in the warehouse. The proposal would involve the removal of the warehouse space and
the replacement of offices within a mixed use residential and office scheme, with the
floorspace of the new offices being 772sqm.
3.3 Core Strategy Policy LE1 states that the Council will require the 'retention of
premises capable of providing continued accommodation for local services or significant
employment unless: continued use would adversely impact on residential areas; or it
can be satisfactorily demonstrated that the property is no longer required for
employment purposes.' Further, Policy DM B1 of the Local Plan states: 'Where the loss
of employment use is proposed in line with borough wide policy LE1 (sub para.3) the
council will have regard to:
- the suitability of the site or premises for continued employment use with or without
adaptation;
- evidence of unsuccessful marketing;
- the need to avoid adverse impact on established clusters of employment use; and
- the need to ensure a sufficient stock of premises and sites to meet local need for a
range of types of employment uses in appropriate locations.
The mixed use enhancement of employment sites will be considered acceptable where
these are under-utilised, subject to the satisfactory retention or replacement of
employment uses in the scheme where this continues to be appropriate.'
3.4 Additionally, London Plan Policies 4.2 and 4.3 specify that employment land and
premises should be retained where needed and intensified where appropriate, but that
surplus land or premises should be released to provide for other uses such as housing.