ADDRESS: Burchell House, Bland House, Baddeley House, Pella House, Malmsey House, Wynyard House, Dolland House, Braham House, Grover House, Simpson House, Vernon House, Brangton Road, (Vauxhall Gardens Housing Estate, London SE11) Application Number: 15/06451/FUL Case Officer: Matt Duigan Ward: Princes Date Received: 10.12.2015 Proposal: Installation of solar photovoltaic panels on the roofs of 12 residential buildings (Burchell House, Bland House, Baddeley House, Pella House, Malmsey House, Wynyard House, Dolland House, Braham House, Grover House, Simpson House, Vernon House, and Brangton Road) Drawing numbers: Location Plan: Phase 2 – Vauxhall Gardens, Baddeley House Roof 1 Rev A, Baddeley House Roof 2 Rev A, Baddeley House Roof 3 Rev A, Baddeley House Roof 4 Rev A, Baddeley House Roof 5 Rev A, Pella House Roof 1 Rev A, Pella House Roof 2 Rev A, Pella House Roof 3 Rev A, Pella House Roof 4 Rev A, Pella House Roof 5 Rev A, Malmsey House Roof 1 Rev A, Malmsey House Roof 2 Rev A, Malmsey House Roof 3 Rev A, Malmsey House Roof 4 Rev A, Malmsey House Roof 5 Rev A, Wynyard House Roof 1 Rev A, Wynyard House Roof 2 Rev A, Wynyard House Roof 3 Rev A, Wynyard House Roof 4 Rev A, Wynyard House Roof 5 Rev A, Brangton Road Roof 1 Rev A, Brangton Road Roof 2 Rev A, Brangton Road Roof 3 Rev A, Brangton Road Roof 4 Rev A, Brangton Road Roof 5 Rev A, Dolland House Roof 1 Rev A, Dolland House Roof 2 Rev A, Dolland House Roof 3 Rev A, Dolland House Roof 4 Rev A, Dolland House Roof 5 Rev A, Burchell House Roof 1 Rev A, Burchell House Roof 2 Rev A, Burchell House Roof 3 Rev A, Burchell House Roof 4 Rev A, Burchell House Roof 5 Rev A, Bland House Roof 1 Rev A, Bland House Roof 2 Rev A, Bland House Roof 3 Rev A, Bland House Roof 4 Rev A, Bland House Roof 5 Rev A, Braham House Roof 1 Rev A, Braham House Roof 2 Rev A, Braham House Roof 3 Rev A, Braham House Roof 4 Rev A, Braham House Roof 5 Rev A, Grover House Roof 1 Rev A, Grover House Roof 2 Rev A, Grover House Roof 3 Rev A, Grover House Roof 4 Rev A, Grover House Roof 5 Rev A, Simpson House Roof 1 Rev A, Simpson House Roof 2 Rev A, Simpson House Roof 3 Rev A, Simpson House Roof 4 Rev A, Simpson House Roof 5 Rev A, Vernon House Roof 1 Rev A, Vernon House Roof 2 Rev A, Vernon House Roof 4 Rev A (existing elevations), Vernon House Roof 4 Rev A (proposed elevations), Vernon House Roof 5 Rev A. Documents: Heritage Statement, Design and Access Statement, JKM265P-60 (solar panel specifications). RECOMMENDATION: Grant conditional permission Applicant: Agent: Mr Stephen Edwards Mr Stephen Edwards Repowering London Repowering London 8th Floor Blue Star House 8th Floor Blue Star House 234-244 Stockwell Road 234-244 Stockwell Road London, SW9 9SP London, SW9 9SP SITE DESIGNATIONS Relevant site designations: Conservation Area Vauxhall Gardens Kennington Flood Zone FZ3 Opportunity Area Vauxhall Opportunity Area Protected Vista Parliament Hill Summit To The Palace Of Westminster - 2A.2 Parliament Hill Oak Tree To Palace Of Westminster - 2B.1 Primrose Hill Summit To The Palace Of Westminster - 4A.2 LAND USE DETAILS Site area 4.6 hectares OFFICERS REPORT >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The application was deferred from the 9 February 2016 Planning Applications Committee so that further consultation could be undertaken with the Vauxhall Five Residents Association. While the notification of the application had been undertaken in accordance with the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement, the Vauxhall Five Residents Association (who represent occupiers of four of the buildings to which solar PV panels would be installed) were not directly notified. It was considered that due to the direct involvement of the buildings in the planning application, it was appropriate to defer determination pending consultation with the affected Resident Association. Officers undertook checks with local Ward Councillors, the Council’s Housing Department, Democratic Services as well as Companies House, however it was not possible to identify the contact details for the Resident Association. Consequently, letters were sent to all 180 dwellings in the five housing blocks which are represented by the Vauxhall Five Residents Association. No comments have been received to date. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Reason for referral to PAC: The application is reported to the Planning Applications Committee in accordance with section (1) of the Committee’s terms of reference as it relates to a development carried out on a site having an area of 1 hectare or more. 1 SITE AND SURROUNDINGS 1.1 The application site is approximately 4.6 hectares in area and accommodates 12 existing residential flatted blocks, namely Burchell House, Bland House, Baddeley House, Pella House, Malmsey House, Wynyard House, Dolland House, Braham House, Grover House, Simpson House, Vernon House, and Brangton Road. 1.2 The residential flatted blocks comprise part of the Vauxhall Gardens Estate, and can be grouped into two categories, namely those with flat roofs and parapets and those with pitched roofs. The blocks with flat roofs are described in detail below: 1.2.1 Baddeley House is located on the southern side of Jonathan Street (between Wickham Street and Vauxhall Street). The building is 5 storeys in height and has a flat roof. The flat roof is set behind parapets. The parapet is 1.3m high. 1.2.2 Burchell House is located opposite Baddeley House on the northern side of Jonathan Street. The building is 5 storeys in height and has a flat roof. The flat roof is set behind parapets. The parapet is 1.3m high. 1.2.3 Bland House adjoins Burchell House to the east, it is also a 5 storey flat roofed building surrounded by a raised parapet. The parapet is 1.2m high. 1.2.4 Baddeley House, Burchell House and Bland House are all within the Vauxhall Gardens Conservation Area and are shown in Figure 1. None of these blocks are listed buildings. Figure 1. Burchell House Bland House Baddeley House 1.3 The remaining blocks are not within the Conservation Area and are not listed buildings. These blocks feature pitched roofs and are described in more detail below (see also Figure 2): 1.3.1 Pella House is a 5 storey ‘L’ shaped building with frontages to both Vauxhall Street and Orsett Street. The southern boundary of the Kennington Conservation Area runs along Orsett Street (approximately 5m north of Pella House). 1.3.2 Wynyard House is a 5 storey building which extends along Newburn Street, Loughborough Street and Wynyard Terrace. It is worth noting that The Kennington Conservation Area is located approximately 10m to the north of the northwestern wing of Wynyard House. 1.3.3 Malmsey House is located directly south of Pella House and again is a 5 storey building, with frontages to both Vauxhall Street and Newburn Street. 1.3.4 Dolland House has a short frontage to Vauxhall Street and longer frontages along Newburn Street and Loughborough Street. The building is 5 storeys in height. 1.3.5 Brangton Road is 4 storeys in height, and is located along the southern side of Brangton Road. Figure 2. Pella House Malmsey House Wynyard House Brangton Road Dolland House 1.3.6 Braham House, Grover House, Simpson House and Vernon House are all 5 storey brick built residential flatted blocks with pitched roofs. This group of buildings form a square bounded by Kennington Lane to the South, St Oswalds Place to the west, Tyers Terrace to the north and Vauxhall Street to the east. This is shown in Figure 3. Figure 3. Braham House Grover House Vernon House Simpson House 2 PROPOSAL 2.1 This application seeks approval to install solar photo voltaic panels (solar PV panels) on the roof of 12 of the housing blocks within the Vauxhall Gardens Estate. The aim being to provide renewable electricity for the communal areas of the buildings. Any excess energy generated would be sold back to the National Grid. 2.2 Flat Roofed Blocks Baddeley House, Burchell House and Bland House have flat roofed areas, which are surrounded by parapets. It is proposed to install solar photovoltaic (solar PV) panels on the flat roofs of these buildings. The solar PV panels would be mounted on angled frames and would rise to approximately 60cm above the flat roof (below the top of the lowest brick parapets which surround the edge of each of these blocks). 2.2.2 Figure 4 below shows the proposal for Burchell House, and illustrates the approach that would be taken on the flat roofed buildings. In essence, the solar PV panels would be set behind parapets and would not be visible from the street or surrounding buildings. Figure 4. 2.2.3 The solar PV panels are coated in an anti-reflective material to enhance solar energy capture, and appear duller than conventional glass due to lack of reflection and glare. 2.3 Pitched Roof Blocks 2.3.1 Solar PV panels are proposed in the inner (non-street facing) roof slopes of Braham House (southern side), Grover House (western side) and Simpson House (eastern side). Vernon House is located in the central area between these blocks and is not easily visible from the street. Panels are proposed on both of the roof slopes of Vernon House. Figure 5 below shows the proposal for solar PV panels to be installed on the inner roof slope of Braham House, and generally illustrates the type of approach taken on the pitched roofed buildings.