Friday 13 October 2017

Planning Committee raises issues on Colin Road, Dennis Jackson Centre and Queensbury redevelopment proposals

The Planning Committee heard three pre-application presentations at their meeting on October 9th and the Minutes of the meeting have been published.  All three have featured onWembley Matters. LINK



Minutes:
The Committee received a briefing on a pre-application scheme for a mixed use development consisting of 224 residential units, a supermarket, nursery, gym, café, workshops and amenity space.

Peter Mahoney and Nick Francis (R55) presented the scheme and answered members questions. Members then went into a session during which they examined the proposal and raised the following issues for further consideration prior to submission of a planning application.
The main issues raised at the meeting were:

Issue 1 – Locally Significant Industrial Site
·         Concern about loss of existing shopping parade and jobs.

Issue 2 – Affordable Housing and Workspace
·         Advocate 25% family housing.
·         Ensure no ‘poor doors’ for affordable housing provision.
·         Questioned reduction from initial proposal in terms of level of affordable housing provision from 65% to 50%.
·         Queried tenure split not following policy.
Issue 3 – A1 retail use in out of town location
·         Concerns about large servicing vehicles and impact on residential amenity.

Issue 4 – Scale, massing, height and impact on daylight/sunlight
·         Concern raised about the amount of development on the site.
·         Potential for public space to attract ant-social behaviour.
·         Difficult to provide detailed comments without full information (i.e. daylight sunlight report) for analysis.

Issue 5 – Public Realm
·         No further comments.

Other Comments
·         Question whether adequate servicing and parking provided.
·         Assurance pre-application consultation carried out.
·         There should be an extra pedestrian crossing and traffic calming (particularly in view of proposed nursery).
·         Should be crossings at both ends of development.
·         Not clear on need for pedestrian route through development as other quicker alternative routes.
·         Question how parking for LIDL shop would be managed.      

3.
Minutes:
The Committee received a briefing on a pre-application scheme which proposed thedemolition of existing community centre and erection of three buildings ranging in height from 3- to 6-storeys containing 150 residential units (including private, temporary and NAIL tenure housing), including a replacement community centre.

Stephen Martin and Charlotte Pollard (PRP Architects) presented the scheme and answered members questions. Members then went into a session during which they examined the proposal and raised the following issues for further consideration prior to submission of a planning application.
The main issues raised at the meeting were:

Issue 1 – Principle of development
·         Full detail of community centre would be required.
·         Queried rationale behind loss of open space.

Issue 2 – Housing, tenure mix, including Affordable Housing
·         Council own development should be 100% affordable housing.

Issue 3 – Design, height and massing of development within its local context.
Queried rationale behind building heights.

Issue 4 – Impact on amenity of neighbouring properties
·         Need clarification on daylight/sunlight.

Issue 5 – Quality of residential accommodation
·         Concern over stacking of units.
·         Concern as to whether sufficient amenity space is being provided.
·         A compromise on quality for temporary accommodation should not be accepted (temporary can be for a fairly long period). E.g. Lack of windows to kitchens not considered acceptable.
·         Queried whether space would be provided in the NAIL accommodation for visitors to stay.
·         Provision should be made in NAIL accommodation to store mobility vehicles.

Issue 6 – Transport
·         Need to consider ‘no right turn’ to London Rd from Wembley High Rd.
·         Over provision of cycle parking?
·         Concern over additional activity on London Road, particularly on event days.

Other Comments
·         Detailed construction plan required to include routes for vehicles, hours operation etc to ensure impact on residents minimised. 
·         Queried level of community engagement.


(4.
(Queensbury pub)
Minutes:
The Committee received a briefing on a pre-application for a scheme for the replacement of existing building (containing a public house and former members club) with a mixed use development comprising a public house and function room (A4) and 48 residential flats (C3)..

Luke Raistrick, Nick Mokasis and John Losi (Martin Robeson Planning Practice) presented the scheme and answered members questions. Members then went into a session during which they examined the proposal and raised the following issues for further consideration prior to submission of a planning application.
The main issues raised at the meeting were:

Issue 1 – Principle
·         Need to ensure that the community space is not just finished to ‘shell and core’ standard.

Issue 2 – Design, Heritage and Impact on Conservation Area
·         Concern regarding massing and density.
·         Concern regarding modern design.
·         Concern over loss of existing building- consider façade retention?
·         Queried how it can be demonstrated that the building will be of high quality.
·         Queried depth of frontage.
·         Restrictions should be placed on use of balconies to avoid clutter.

Issue 3 – Scale, massing, height and impact on daylight/sunlight
·         Would require confirmation that complies with Council’s standards.

Issue 4 – Public Realm
·         No further comments. 

Issue 5 – Affordable Housing
·         Require up to date financial modelling. 

Issue 6 – Standard of Accommodation
·         Noise mitigation needed in view of proximity to railway line.

Other Comments
·         Queried response to consultation.
·         Comments have not suggested that the proposed building is exceptional.
·         Queried licencing for existing pub and if there is a special arrangement.
·         Noted the servicing bay – need to consider bus stop opposite. 
·         Blenheim Gardens Residents should be added to the consultation list

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ideally this should be an area of open space, green space and an area where we should encourage a building for older people, who would love to hear the sound of childrens voices, enjoying the green space from Ark Elvin and Elsley Prmiary School, a nice chilled out environment a nice open space for maybe 50 properties for older people, not some big development not over sized just some nice bungalows or older people accommodation within a nice environment next to allotments, near schools which will support them. Where they feel safe and free. Off the beaten track and a good walk to trot up the high road to meet buses and trains when they have the mind to do it, oh if they fit and able. It's perfect for people that want a quiet life. Forget about Affordable housing. Just provide the housing that people want. Single properties for the elderly, in a nice environment, perfect. Some green space, allotments, and the sound of children having fun. What's wrong with that. We don't need tower blocks of more than 4 storeys, we dont need car park or turning round spaces, we just need decent accommodation, within the provision of the councils mandate who declared that we need social housing for the needy and desperate of this borough. Just sort it our Brent Council, We do not need tower Blocks or above 2 storeys in a residential neighbourhood. Who is giving you advice is all wrong.

Martin Francis said...

Above is a comment on the London Road Wembley Youth Centre development.

Unknown said...

100% agree with Anonymous at 2.02, this location is ideal for older residents. Give the Residents what is needed, the idea that there should be 3 and 6 storeys in the location is ridiculous. We need to preserve what little green space we have left, and the wildlife corridor of Wembley Brook.

Anonymous said...

I do so agree with the writer of this comment. The envisaged proposal is just so off kilter it would only be proposed in Brent.

Anonymous said...

I 100% agree with the proposal of Anonymous 2:02 and seconded by Jaine Lunn. This little green lung must be retained. It is the only bit now left.

Philip Grant said...

Its good to see Planning Committee members raising important questions at pre-application stage.

But will they still "rubber stamp" the actual applications, if the points they have made are ignored by the developers?

Philip.

Anonymous said...

If they do there may well be consequences they will not like.