Planning Applications PDF 1 MB - Meetings, agendas and minutes

Pipistrelle species, which are one of the species shown to be attracted to lit areas.
However, the lighting proposals would be designed to direct lights downwards at an
angle of less than 75 degrees in accordance with general guidance (the lights would be
pitched downwards at 65 degrees), and would be fitted on masts no higher than 8m,
which is below the height that most species fly. It would be a condition of any approval
(Condition 34) that a survey of bat roosting habitats on and surrounding the site is
submitted prior to development, which would inform a further review of the impact on
bats and a mitigation strategy if necessary. Therefore, it is not considered that the
development on the nature conservation area would cause demonstrable harm to its
ecological value or to biodiversity, in accordance with Policies DM E1 and DM E3.
3.17 The proposal would involve the removal of 24 trees and 5 grouped trees/shrubs,
including the two Cherry trees mentioned above. The removal of trees would be
necessary in order to redevelop the site. Twenty trees on the site would be retained. Of
the trees proposed to be removed, none are classified as the highest category i.e.
Category 'A' trees (all 11 category A trees would be retained); 2 are classified as
Category 'B' (7 of the 9 Category B trees would be retained); 15 are Category C, plus
the 5 groups which are also Category C (3 Category C trees would be retained); and all
7 Category 'U' trees would be removed. Officers acknowledge that the trees proposed
to be removed are generally not high quality specimens, with the exception of the large
(17m) healthy Sycamore tree on the southern boundary with the park (a Category 'B'
tree). The other category B tree is on the same boundary and is a smaller Sycamore
(14m). The large street trees which have a significant amount of visual amenity and
screen views of the site from South Africa Road would all be retained. It is also
acknowledged that the removal of the trees would be necessary to enable development
to take place. Nevertheless, the loss of a large number of trees is regrettable, and it is
considered that the proposal would only be acceptable if an equivalent number of trees,
of at least equal if not higher potential quality, are replaced. The replacement trees
should be planted near to the boundaries of the site, or further into the park (with the
agreement of the Council's Parks department and the Friends of Hammersmith Park)
should it not be possible to plant all the replacements on the boundaries. A condition
(Condition 6) would be attached to any planning approval, requiring a replacement tree
planting schedule, detailing the number, species, size and location of the replacement
trees, and funding for the replacement tree planting will be secured via the S106
agreement.
IMPACT ON THE AMENITIES OF RESIDENTS
3.18 The development has the potential to impact on the amenities of nearby residents
living in flats to the north west, south west and east of the proposed development, and
on the potential occupiers of the proposed residential redevelopment of the BBC
Television Centre to the south (if consent were to be approved in the future). The
potential impacts could be pollution from noise and light, as the proposed built
development is not of a scale or nature to cause loss of amenity in terms of loss of light,
privacy or outlook for neighbours. The potential for traffic noise and comings and goings
from the site and the pavilion should also be considered.
Lighting
3.19 The proposal would incorporate floodlighting around the whole of the site.
Currently, only the sports pitch is surrounded by floodlights and the lighting columns
would be increased in number. Policy DM H10 of the Local Plan states that 'the
potential adverse impacts from lighting arrangements will be controlled by requiring all
developments that include proposals for external lighting to submit details showing that