KINGSTON TOWN PLANNING SUB-COMMITTEE

5 DECEMBER 2012

PLANNING CONSULTATION (12/12241/FUL): KINGSTON RAILWAY STATION, WOOD STREET, , KT1 1UJ

REPORT BY THE HEAD OF PLANNING AND TRANSPORT

SUMMARY

1. This report seeks the Committee's views on application 12/12241/FUL for the erection of extension to platform 3 including extension to existing bridge over Richmond Road, prior to consideration of the application by the Development Control Committee.

2. The application is still under consideration and although the period set aside for consultation responses has expired, some may still be received. Further information will be circulated to the Sub-Committee upon the receipt of any further consultation responses. The proposal raises a number of considerations which are set out below in the main body of the report.

RECOMMENDATION

It is RECOMMENDED that the Sub-Committee express its views on the application so that the Development Control Committee can consider them when it determines this planning application.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION

To enable the Neighbourhood’s views to be considered.

SITE AND SURROUNDINGS

1. The application site concerns Kingston Railway Station which is a primary gateway into the town. Kingston Railway Station is located in the middle of the one-way system which includes the A307 & A308 (Clarence Street , Kingsgate Road , Sopwith Way and Richmond Road).

2. The application itself specifically concerns the eastern part of the station, adjacent to properties on Richmond Road and residential dwellings along Canbury Park Road and the student accommodation Quebec House.

3. The application site lies within flood zones 2 and 3a.

4. Richmond Road and the Railway embankments are designated as 'Green Corridors'. 5. The application site is designated as Proposal Site 10 (Kingston Station) within the K+20 Kingston Town Centre Area Action Plan.

PROPOSAL

6. The proposal relates to the extension of platform 3 of Kingston Railway Station.

7. The proposed extension would lengthen the platform by 44.5 m in order to accommodate 10/12 carriages, compared to the 8 currently used. The extension would extend to the east of the existing platform and would be 2.5 m wide. The extension to the platform involves the extension to the existing bridge suspended above Richmond Road. The application also involves the erection of a parapet edging to the platform 1800 mm in height. This would be constructed of steel posts with steel infill panels with a section of clear panels alongside No 16 Richmond Road. Above the 1.8 m high panels would be a horizontal trunking at 2.3 - 2.5 m in height from the platform to house bulkhead lighting.

CONSULTATIONS

8. Neighbour Notification - 191 surrounding owner/occupiers have been consulted. 18 letters of objection have been received and 1 further objection letter signed by 7 residents of Canbury Park Road. Concerns raised include: (a) Increase in noise and general disruption. Noise can come from people using the platform; the additional train carriages; station announcements; door alarms etc (b) Loss of privacy as people can stare directly in the rear of properties along Canbury Park Road (c) The concrete structure which would replace a green embankment would be an eyesore (d) Light pollution from the platform lights (e) The security of the premises at the rear would be compromised as the platform would make it easier to access the properties (f) The height of the bridge if extended would be inadequate for large vehicles to pass underneath on Richmond Road. (g) The applicant states that no trees will be lost as a result of this proposal. This statement is incorrect. A number of trees along the embankment would be lost which would have a negative impact upon residential amenity as they currently act as a noise buffer from the trains (h) The intrusion of possible CCTV is not welcomed (i) Increase in litter to the rear gardens of properties along Canbury Park Road (j) Loss of light to properties on Canbury Park Road and Richmond Road (k) Loss of wildlife (bats, foxes and birds mainly) currently living in the embankment.

9. Two additional letters were also received which were sent to from residents of Regents Court who have long standing issues with Kingston Station, particularly people accessing their land to avoid paying fares.

10. Many of the objection letters questioned why Network Rail are proposing to extend the platform to the east and not the west. Network Rail provided the following response: "As part of the design process, an extension of the existing platform at the western end was one of the options. However, this would also require extending the platform over a road bridge (Kingsgate Road). The main restrictive issues at this end are the existing building on site which would need to be demolished and the curvature of the track (the track at the eastern end of the station where the platform extension is proposed is straight). The demolition of the building and the significant infrastructure works that would be required to extend the platform over Kingsgate Road would be highly disruptive to the local community and prohibitively expensive. It was anticipated that any extension at the western end over Kingsgate Road would have required works to the track itself, and associated signalling and cabling works which could not be justified for this project. The existing proposal is designed to result in minimal impact on the local area, including minimal closure of the railway which would affect the travelling public".

11. Environment Agency - No objection.

12. English Heritage - No requirement for archaeological works.

ASSESSMENT

13. The main considerations material to the determination of this application are:

• Principle of Proposed Development • Impact on Character of Area • Impact on Neighbour’s Residential Amenity • Highways and Parking • Trees • Legal Agreements • Sustainability • Other Material Considerations

Principle of Proposed Development 14. Policy 6.1 (Strategic Approach) of the London Plan states that the Mayor will work with all relevant partners to encourage the closer integration of transport and development through the schemes and proposals shown in Table 6.1 and by: • seeking to improve the capacity and accessibility of public transport • supporting measures that encourage shifts to more sustainable modes and appropriate demand management.

15. Table 6.1 of the London Plan states two transport schemes which relate to the improvements proposed at Kingston Station: • Southwest London - Ten-car capability on inner suburban and Windsor lines; and • Southwest London - Further capacity increases.

16. Policy 6.2 (Providing Public Transport Capacity and Safeguarding Land for Transport) states that the Mayor will work with strategic partners to: • improve the integration, reliability, quality, accessibility, frequency, attractiveness and environmental performance of the public transport system • increase the capacity of public transport in London over the Plan period by securing funding for and implementing the schemes and improvements set out in Table 6.1.

17. Proposal Site P10 (Kingston Station) of the K+20 AAP states that the Council will pursue the upgrading of Kingston Station with partners: TfL, Network Rail, the Department for Transport and South West Trains, to include a secure public cycle parking facility. In the longer term there is potential for mixed use redevelopment to provide a new station, retail, and A2/A3 uses at ground level with B1 offices/workspace above and general and/or managed student housing to create a high quality landmark development, with an improved public realm, better pedestrian/cycle links across the relief road and a secure cycle parking facility. The site is within Flood Risk Zone 2 (medium risk) and development proposals should accord with Policy K24. Development proposals should take account of the storage of hazardous materials at Kingston Gas Holders.

18. Policy K16 (Public Transport) of the K+20 AAP states that the Council will work with partners including TfL, London Rail, Network Rail, the Department for Transport, transport providers, including London Buses and South West Trains, SWELTRAC, landowners and developers and seek to ensure that the following improvements to public transport infrastructure and services are implemented: • More frequent and reliable rail services, including more late night rail services on the Richmond to Kingston loop line • Significant improvements to Kingston Station including: a new entrance and ticketing hall, better interchange facilities, lifts, secure cycle parking, later opening, better security, staffing and information and in the longer term a new station with development above.

19. There is no policy objection to the principle of the extension of the platform, subject to compliance with other development plan policies.

Impact on Character of Area 20. The application site does not fall within the boundaries of a Conservation Area or an Area of Special Character.

21. The main element of the extension that would be visible in the street scene would be the extension to the bridge over Richmond Road. The application proposes to widen the existing bridge by 2.5 m to the north. Along the northern elevation of the proposed platform extension would be 1800 mm high steel panels with no colour specified at this stage. The applicant intends for the external finish of these panels to be secured via condition if the application is approved. The side of the platform will also include 16 translucent panels which would be located alongside the proposed development at 16-18 Richmond Road.

22. The proposed platform extension would be particularly visible from the rear elevations and gardens of properties on the southern side of Canbury Park Road and the properties within the easterly facing elevation of Regents Court.

Impact on Neighbours’ Residential Amenity 23. Within the immediate surroundings of Kingston Railway Station are a number of residential properties.

24. Regents Court is directly to the north of the station. As Regents Court follows the profile of Sopwith Way the building is angled to front Richmond Road on the easterly facing elevation. This easterly facing elevation will look directly out onto the proposed platform extension to the south east.

25. To the south of the railway line is Quebec House, a 129 bedroom student halls of accommodation. There are no habitable room windows in the northern elevation of Quebec House which face directly onto the railway.

26. To the immediate north of the railway track, currently to the east of the existing platforms are the rears of properties along Canbury Park Road. The upper floors of the Public House at No 20 Richmond Road are also in residential use. The proposed platform extension would extend to the rear of No 4 Canbury Park Road, thus also being to the rear of No's 2 and the Public House.

27. A planning application was approved on appeal to develop No's 16 - 18 Richmond Road for a 6 storey building comprising a restaurant at ground floor and 9 residential flats above. Whilst this development is yet to be constructed the developer advises that initial works have started on-site. It is therefore considered that the development will be completed in the near future. The proposed development has a number of primary habitable room windows (bedroom and living room) in the southern elevation that will directly face the proposed platform, particularly the proposed first and second floors. The proposed extension would be approximately 5 metres from these habitable room windows. Translucent panels have been proposed alongside this residential elevation in order to allow light into the ground, first and second floor windows.

28. Measures which Network Rail have suggested to safeguard residential amenity are: • The public address system will need to operate at current audible levels throughout the station (including the areas of extended platform) at peak times between 7 - 11 am and then again at 4 - 7 pm. At all other times, the volume level can aim to be reduced, and where possible (particularly at the ends or less congested areas of the platform) switched off. • The lighting proposed will consist of bulk head lighting at a 45 degree angle. This is designed to reduce the lighting pollution produced. The station lighting is required to remain on 24 hours a day for security reasons.

Highways & Parking 29. There are no parking related issues associated with this application.

30. The extension to the bridge above Richmond Road will suspend above a busy and well used highway. In this location the highway is forced to dip down in order to provide the required head room for large vehicles to pass under the existing bridge. Noting the Councils Neighbourhood Traffic Engineer's comments, the proposed bridge extension would not have a detrimental impact upon the ability for buses and large vehicles to pass underneath.

31. At this stage, the exact details of construction and the potential disruption to the public highway are unknown.

Trees 32. There are a number of trees and vegetation along the northern embankment of the railway that would need to be removed in order to extend platform 3. None of these trees are protected by a Tree Preservation Order and all fall within the ownership of Network Rail.

33. A number of concerns have been raised with regards to the loss of trees and the potential visual impacts this has on the surrounding residential properties. If the application were to be approved a condition requiring landscaping could be applied to any consent.

Legal Agreements 34. No legal agreement is required for this application.

Sustainability 35. There are no issues of sustainability associated with the construction of the platform extension.

Other Material Considerations Ecology 36. The embankments alongside the railway line are designated as 'Green Corridors'. Green Corridors, are relatively continuous areas of open space that run through the Borough's built environment, consisting of railway embankments and cuttings, roadside verges, canals, parks, playing fields and rivers which links sites to each other. These Green Corridors allow animals and plants to be found further into the built up area than would otherwise be the case and provide an extension to the habitats of the sites they join.

37. A number of concerns have also been raised with regards to bats using the trees and bushes along the embankment. Prior to determination of this planning application Network Rail have removed the vegetation on the embankment. No planning permission is required to remove this vegetation however during the works residents did contact the Council and the Police with regards to works which could harm bats or bat roosts. As this would be a criminal offence, the Police are the regulatory body overseeing the correct procedure for the works.

BACKGROUND PAPERS held by Iain Buzza (author of this report) Tel. 020 8547 5002 Email [email protected]

Application file Relevant Committee reports and related papers/correspondence

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

(c) Crown Copyright. All right reserved. Royal Borough of Kingston 2007. Licence number 100019285.

Ward : Grove Description of Proposal : Erection of extension to platform 3 including extension to existing bridge over Richmond Road. Plan Type : Full Application Expiry Date : 25/06/2012 Previous Relevant History

Applicant's Plan Nos:

119799 - DRG - PS27 - 001 REV P03 (Superceded) Received 07/11/2012 119799-DRG-PS27-001 P04 Received 22/11/2012 Block Plan Received 16/04/2012 Design and Access Statement Received 04/04/2012 Existing plan Received 30/04/2012 Proposed Management Plan Received 07/11/2012 Site Location Plan Received 04/04/2012

Development Plan : Mayor for London - The London Plan Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames - Unitary Development Plan First Alteration

UDP Policies

UNITARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN K15 Town Centre Road Network K16 Public Transport K9 Design Quality in the Town Centre LONDON PLAN JULY 2012 LP 6.1 Strategic approach LP 6.2 Providing public transport capacity and LDF CORE STRATEGY CORE POLICIES CS 06 Sustainable Travel CS 08 Character, Heritage and Design LDF CORE STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT DM08 Sustainable Transport for new Developmen DM10 Design Requirements for New Developments