Planning Applications PDF 1 MB - Meetings, agendas and minutes

3.5 In this instance, the Class B8 warehouse floorspace on the ground floor is
considered to have limited employment potential as it is used primarily for storage and
only 7 people work in half of the building's floorspace. There is also evidence to suggest
that the use of the warehouse and the heavy traffic associated with it could cause
conflict with the existing predominantly residential uses in the surrounding area. There
are no objections in principle to the loss of this use, therefore. The retention of an
employment use in the form of Class B1 offices in the proposed mixed-use scheme is
welcomed. Whilst there would be a reduction in office floorspace of 86 sqm, the
submitted condition report and an officer's site visit has confirmed that the current
offices are in poor condition and also underused, and the proposed offices would
involve a significant upgrade of the existing accommodation which has the potential to
provide space for at least as many employees as the existing offices (as serviced
offices, the proposal could accommodate 80 - 100 employees). It is therefore
considered that the scheme, in redeveloping and enhancing an underutilised site for a
mixed use development which retains accommodation for employment, would be
consistent with the aims of Policies LE1 and DM B1, as well as the aims of the London
Plan.
3.6 Policy 3.3 of The London Plan states that 32,210 net additional homes should be
delivered per annum in London. Of this, the London Borough of Hammersmith and
Fulham has a target to deliver 615 net additional dwellings per annum. The Council's
Core Strategy Policy H1 and DM Local Plan Policy DM A1 support this by stating that
the Council will seek to exceed the London Plan's targets by, amongst other things,
seeking housing on windfall sites where land and premises are shown to be surplus to
requirements of other land uses. The proposed redevelopment to provide 8 residential
units would contribute to these targets. The site has an area of 950sqm, and eight fourbedroom
units would give a residential density of approximately 424 habitable
rooms/hectare or 85 dwellings/hectare. This is at the mid-to-lower end of expected
density ranges for housing within this urban location with a PTAL rating of 6a, according
to London Plan Policy 3.4 and Table 3.2. However, the provision of large family housing
is welcomed. Given the need to protect amenity to neighbouring residents, and the fact
that the proposal retains the existing employment uses which is also welcomed, officers
agree that it would not be desirable to try to achieve a greater number of units within
this scheme, which would trigger the need for consideration of affordable housing to be
provided. The proposed houses would be for market sale.
3.7 The proposed land uses and residential density are therefore considered
acceptable and in accordance with Policies LE1 and H1 of the Core Strategy, and
Policies 3.3 and 4.2 of The London Plan.
VISUAL AMENITY
3.8 Core Strategy Policy BE1 and Policies DM G1 and DM G7 are relevant. These
policies require new development to be compatible with the scale and character of
existing development, reinforce local distinctiveness, be neighbourly, be inclusive,
adhere to sustainability principles and secure by design, and to respect the setting of
heritage assets, including conservation areas. In addition, Design policies 1 and 45-50
of the Planning Guidance SPD will also be considered.
3.9 The existing warehouse/office building dates from the 1970s and is a flat roofed
building rising to 2 ½ storeys, built from light coloured brick. There are two large roller-