Planning, Design and Access Statement Underbelly Cavendish Square
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Planning, Design and Access Statement Underbelly Cavendish Square APRIL 2021 Q210207 Contents 1 Introduction ______________________________________________________________ 1 2 Site and Surrounding Area __________________________________________________ 3 3 Planning Policy Overview ___________________________________________________ 6 4 The Proposals ___________________________________________________________ 13 5 Design and Access _______________________________________________________ 16 6 Key Planning Considerations ________________________________________________ 18 7 Conclusions _____________________________________________________________ 22 Figure 1 Proposed Site Plan ______________________________________________________ 14 No table of figures entries found. Quod | Underbelly Cavendish Square | Planning, Design and Access Statement | April 2021 1 Introduction 1.1 This Planning Statement has been prepared by Quod in support of an application for planning permission and advertisement consent, submitted to Westminster City Council (‘WCC’) on behalf of Underbelly Limited (‘the Applicant’). In summary, this submission seeks consent for the following: • Temporary planning permission for a Spiegeltent touring structure, a box office, a bar area, 8 catering units, toilets, storage, outdoor seating areas and fencing in conjunction with Underbelly Summer Event 2021 on Cavendish Square over the Summer period (14 June 2021 – 8 October 2021); and • Temporary advertisement consent for associated signage for the pop-up Summer Event for the same time period identified above, which include all installation and de-installation periods. 1.2 The application site comprises the open space at Cavendish Square, Marylebone, London, W1G 0PR (‘the Site’), which is located a short distance north of Oxford Street and west of Regent Street. The site is bound on all four sides by a mix of office, commercial, health and education uses. The Applicant 1.3 Underbelly is a UK based live entertainment company and its festival and events division produce numerous annual events. These events include Underbelly at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Underbelly Festival on London’s Southbank (Summer and Winter Festivals), Underbelly Festival Hong Kong, Edinburgh’s Christmas and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council. Most notably in relation to this application, Underbelly also produced Christmas in Leicester Square, Christmas in Trafalgar Square and West End Live in Trafalgar Square on behalf of the Society of London Theatre and Westminster City Council. 1.4 Through its Underbelly Productions arm, it produces and promotes live theatre in London’s West End, throughout the UK and on tour internationally. Description of the Development 1.5 Specifically, planning permission is sought for the following: “Planning permission for a period from 14 June to 8 October 2021 for the temporary erection (including installation and de-installation) of a Spiegeltent touring structure (with an internal capacity of approximately 650 seated or 800 standing), a box office, a bar area, 8 catering units, toilets, storage, outdoor seating areas and fencing in conjunction with Underbelly Summer Event 2021 at Cavendish Square.” 1.6 In parallel, advertisement consent is sought for the following: Quod | Underbelly – Cavendish Square | Planning, Design and Access Statement | April 2021 1 “Temporary display of signage at Cavendish Square in association with the pop- up Summer Event over the periods between 14 June to 8 October 2021 (dates include all installation and de-installation periods).” Scope of Applications 1.7 Prior to submission, the scopes and contents of these applications have been agreed with WCC Events and Planning Officers and comprise the following application documents: • Cover letter – includes a list of all drawings submitted for approval (Appendix 1); • Combined planning and advertisement consent application form, ownership certificates and notices. • Completed CIL: Planning Application Additional Information Requirement Form which confirms that ‘floorspace’ created is temporary and is therefore not CIL liable (Reg. 5(2) 2010); • Site Location (i.e. ‘red line’) plan (UB-CSS-21-001) (1:1250 @A3); • Complete set of planning drawings including existing and proposed plans and elevations (including drawings of proposed advertisement) – full list of drawings set out in the Cover Letter; • Planning, Design and Access Statement; • Operating Event Management Plan; and • Arboricultural Method Statement. 1.8 The proposed temporary development will not increase the area of hard standing on the site and will be integrated with the existing surface water drainage system. As such, the proposed installations would not be subject to any risk of flooding and, therefore, a flood risk assessment is not considered to be required. 1.9 Given the proposal does not require any groundworks to be undertaken, the proposed temporary installations will have no impact on archaeology. As such, an archaeological assessment is not considered to be required. Quod | Underbelly – Cavendish Square | Planning, Design and Access Statement | April 2021 2 2 Site and Surrounding Area 2.1 This section of the planning statement describes the application site and surrounding area and provides a summary of the Site’s planning history. Site and surrounding area 2.2 The application site comprises Cavendish Square, which is located in the heart of Westminster to the north of Oxford Street and west of Regent Street. It is a large, grassed area, with paved walkways traversing the site diagonally from north-west to south-east and north-east to south- west. 2.3 The Site is currently laid out as an area of public realm. It is popular with visitors to Oxford Street and Regent Street as well as leisure space for employees and residents of nearby offices and homes. 2.4 Although immediately bound by a circular road known as Cavendish Square, beyond that the site is bound by Henrietta Place/Margaret Street to the south, the A5204 to the north and a series of offices buildings to the east and west. 2.5 The buildings surrounding the Site are predominantly commercial, with retail stores being to the south and offices to the north, east and west. The buildings are generally mid-rise, at around 6 storeys, with some exceptions including 33 Cavendish Square which stands at 21 storeys, which is located to the south east of the site. 2.6 The Site is sensitive in heritage terms, being located within the Harley Street Conservation Area and within the setting of numerous heritage assets. The buildings to the south are of relatively little architectural value but there are several Grade II or II* Listed Buildings to the north, east and west. These buildings include: • Royal College of Nursing (Grade II) • 3 Cavendish Square (Grade II*) • 4 Cavendish Square (Grade II) • Harcourt House (Grade II) • Statue of Lord George Bentinck (at south end of Square Garden) (Grade II) • 1, 3 and 5 Harley Street (Grade II) • 4 Harley Street (Grade II) • 15 Cavendish Square (Grade II) • 16 Cavendish Square (Grade II0 • 2 Harley Street (Grade II) • 1 and 1A Cavendish Square (Grade II) • 17 Cavendish Square (Grade II) Quod | Underbelly – Cavendish Square | Planning, Design and Access Statement | April 2021 3 • Bridge (Grade II*) • Number 7 and Attached Railings (Grade II) • 5 Cavendish Square (Grade II) • 18 Cavendish Square (Grade II*) • 12 Cavendish Place (Grade II) • 14 Cavendish Place (Grade II) 2.7 This list includes those listed buildings in immediate surround of the site, but there are numerous other listings in close proximity. 2.8 The site is well served in terms of public transport and local facilities. The Transport for London Public Transport Accessibility Level (PTAL) for the Site is 6b (excellent- the highest rating), which has been determined on the basis that the Site is within 5 minutes walk of Oxford Circus and Bond Street tube stations as well as an extensive number of bus stops. 2.9 The site is also located within the Core Central Activities Zone, as per Westminster City Plan 2016. 2.10 Beneath the site is an area for underground vehicle parking, providing spaces for over 400 cars, operated by Q-Park. 2.11 A Site Location Plan is included below (Figure 1). Figure 1 Site Location Plan Quod | Underbelly – Cavendish Square | Planning, Design and Access Statement | April 2021 4 Planning History 2.12 Of key importance is the application submitted in October 2019 for the redevelopment of the underground car park. The development (application reference 19/08460/FULL) proposes: “Demolition and erection of above ground structures in conjunction with the use of an underground car park (Sui Generis) as a flexible mixed use commercial development comprising uses within the following use classes A1-A5, B1, B2, B8, C1, C2, D1, and D2 along with the excavation of a 4th basement level, new entrances and associated landscaping and highways works to provide up to 25,953 sqm (GIA) of floorspace”. 2.13 The application has resolution to grant, subject to the agreement of the S106 and the views of the Mayor of London. 2.14 The proposals will see the closure of the car park and feeder roads and reuse of the structure as a four-storey state of the art development. New uses will be introduced, and the public realm will be enhanced and increased. 2.15 The proposed Underbelly development will not conflict with the proposed development for the car park, given its temporary nature. 2.16 There is no other recent relevant planning history for