PLANNING APPLICATIONS COMMITTEE 15 APRIL 2010 (7.15pm – 11.10pm) PRESENT: Councillor John Bowcott (in the Chair); Councillors Richard Chellew, David Dean, Maurice Groves, Marc Hanson, Philip Jones, Ian Munn, Geraldine Stanford, Peter Southgate and Gregory Udeh. ALSO PRESENT: Councillor Rod Scott Council Officers Environment & Regeneration Sam Amoako-Adofo (Planning Enforcement Team Leader), John Hill (Head of Public Protection and Development), Richard Lancaster (Senior Transport Planner), and Sue Wright (North Team Leader - Development Control). Corporate Services: Sharon Lauder (Legal Services); and M.J.Udall (Democratic Services) 1 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST (Agenda Item 1) Councillor David Dean declared an interest in Agenda Items 4(1) & 4(2) (Applications 10/P0389 & 10/P0390 – Imperial Fields, Tooting & Mitcham FC, Bishopsford Road, Morden) by reason that he knew both the Chief Executive and Chair of the organisation running the site. Councillor Maurice Groves declared an interest in Agenda Items 4(1) & 4(2) (Applications 10/P0389 & 10/P0390 – Imperial Fields, Tooting & Mitcham FC, Bishopsford Road, Morden) by reason that this site used to be in his portfolio as a Cabinet Member and that he had promoted the Hub (located on the site) over the last few years; and indicated that he intended to leave the room whilst the items were discussed. 3. Councillor Ian Munn declared an interest in Agenda Item 4(5) (Application 09/P2617 – Windmill Park (Former Windmill Trading Estate), 300-312 Commonside East, Mitcham) by reason that he had been appointed to Mitcham Common Conservators by Merton Council, but that he considered this not to be prejudicial interest. 4. Subsequently, during the meeting, prior to its discussion by Councillors, Councillor John Bowcott declared an interest in Agenda Item 4(11) (Application 09/P2346 – 41-47A Wimbledon Hill Road, Wimbledon, SW19) by reason that he had been Chairman of the Merton Design Review Panel which had considered these proposals, but that he hadn’t participated in the discussions or decision making; and indicated that he felt able to consider this application on its wider planning merits at this meeting. 1 All minutes are draft until agreed at the next meeting of the committee/panel. To find out the date of the next meeting please check the calendar of events at your local library, online at www.merton.gov.uk/committee or by using the contact numbers at the end of this volume. 7 PLANNING APPLICATIONS COMMITTEE 15 APRIL 2010 2 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING (Agenda Item 3) Officers confirmed that the tabled modifications list didn’t relate to the Minutes of the previous meeting, but only included changes to planning applications (under agenda item 4 below). RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2010 be agreed as a correct record. 3 TOWN PLANNING APPLICATIONS (Agenda Item 4) The published agenda and the modifications list tabled at committee form part of the Minutes. (a) Modifications: A list of modifications for items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 & 11 and additional letters/representations and drawings received since agenda publication, were tabled at the meeting. (b) Oral representations: The Committee received oral representations at the meeting (i) made by third parties and applicants/agents in respect of item 4, and (ii) made by objectors only in respect of items 8, 10 & 11. In each case where objectors spoke, the Chair also offered the applicants/agents the opportunity to speak; and the Chair also indicated that applicants/agents would be given the same amount of time to speak as objectors for each item. The Committee also received oral representations at the meeting from the following Councillors (who were not members of the Committee for this meeting) in respect of the items indicated below – Item 10 – Councillor Rod Scott. (c) Order of the Agenda: Following consultation with other Members at various times during the meeting, the Chair amended the order of items to the following – 6, 8, 10, 11, 4, 7, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 & 9, RESOLVED: That the following decisions are made: Items 1 & 2: Imperial Fields, Tooting & Mitcham FC, Bishopsford Road, Morden (ref. 10/P0389 & 10/P0390) 1. Declarations of Interest: - Further to their declarations of interest, Councillors David Dean and Maurice Groves left the room whilst these items were discussed and voted upon. 2. Period of Abeyance and Delegation – Officers - (i) referred to the early submission of both applications to Committee due the next meeting not being until June, and the applicants indicating that such a delay in deciding the planning applications could jeopardise their grant funding from Sport England, Football Association etc (as outlined in paragraphs 1.2 on agenda pages 24 & 40); (ii) highlighted that, whilst the 21 day neighbour consultation had ended on 10 April 2010, the consultation period via the press regarding the site didn’t expire until 2 All minutes are draft until agreed at the next meeting of the committee/panel. To find out the date of the next meeting please check the calendar of events at your local library, online at www.merton.gov.uk/committee or by using the contact numbers at the end of this volume. 8 PLANNING APPLICATIONS COMMITTEE 15 APRIL 2010 29 April 2010; and (iii) proposed that additional recommendations be added to each of the case officers reports on these two applications - (a) requiring that any permission be subject to a period of abeyance of 14 days; and (b) the Director of Environment & Regeneration be delegated authority to deal with any new representations that may be received arising from the above- mentioned press notice. The Committee agreed to consider the applications on this basis (and subsequently agreed both these additional recommendations as detailed below). 3. Consultation Representations from (a) Environment Agency; and (b) Greater London Authority (GLA) – Officers drew attention to these representations, copies of which had been circulated via the Supplementary Agenda; and indicated neither had objected to either application, but advised that - (a) the Environment Agency had requested that an additional condition be added to any permission in both cases (and this had been included on the tabled modifications sheet); (b) the GLA had indicated that Merton could determine the applications as they deemed fit (and therefore any permissions granted would now not be subject to any Direction from the Mayor of London); and . (c) the GLA had asked that the applicant should note that further incremental increases in the footprint on the site were very unlikely to be acceptable. 4. Consultation – Other Representations – Officers outlined details of the two other representations received to date from neighbouring residents in Wandle Road and London Road, but indicated that their objections related more to the history of the site and the use of the stadium for sports and football, rather than to the current applications, and that their objections included concerns about the amount of parking provision on site, boundary treatment, impact on trees and the flood plain, traffic movements and noise/disturbance. Officers also indicated that they considered that the chances were fairly low that further representations would be received as a result of the press notice. 5. Boundary Treatment – Enforcement Action – Following the decisions regarding this site (detailed below), officers outlined the action taken in respect of the boundary treatment on Bishopsford Road, including that (a) a previous application had required the provision of fencing (and landscaping) along the Bishopsford Road boundary, but that a subsequent application had included provision of a new access road off Bishopsford Road; and (b) instead of the fencing being erected and later a part being removed to allow for the access road, officers had agreed with the applicants that the fencing be not be erected until after construction of the access road, but that in the mean time the boundary area be cleaned up. 3 All minutes are draft until agreed at the next meeting of the committee/panel. To find out the date of the next meeting please check the calendar of events at your local library, online at www.merton.gov.uk/committee or by using the contact numbers at the end of this volume. 9 PLANNING APPLICATIONS COMMITTEE 15 APRIL 2010 Decision: Item 1 - ref. 10/P0389 (Imperial Fields, Tooting & Mitcham FC, Bishopsford Road, Morden) (A) Subject to (B) below, GRANT PERMISSION (i) subject to referral to the Government Office for London; and (ii) subject to the conditions set out in the officer case report and the tabled modifications sheet; (iii) subject to any new material planning consideration being raised as a result of the newspaper consultation, which expires on 29 April 2009 (see also (iv) below); and (iv) subject to a period of abeyance of 14 days (prior to any decision) in order to allow for any further representations that may be received arising from the above- mentioned press notice (see also (B) below); and (B) the Director of Environment & Regeneration be delegated authority to deal with any new representations raised further to (iii) & (iv) above (and to decide whether to grant permission, subject to the caveats outlined above). Decision: Item 2 - ref. 10/P0390 (Imperial Fields, Tooting & Mitcham FC, Bishopsford Road, Morden) Same as for Application 10/P0389 above. Item 3: Old Mission Hall, 62 Cannon Hill Lane, SW20 (ref. 09/P1957) Removal of Staircase to the loft – Officers confirmed that the current application removed the staircase to the unauthorised flat 5 in the loft, and that any future use of the loft space as a flat would be liable to enforcement action. Decision: Item 3 (Old Mission Hall, 62 Cannon Hill Lane, SW20) (A) Subject to (B) below, GRANT PERMISSION subject to the completion of a Section 106 Agreement and subject to the conditions set out in the officer case report and the tabled modifications sheet.