Report attached.

The report before members detailed an application that sought full planning permission for the demolition and removal of all existing hardstanding and ancillary structures associated with the existing car park, and the redevelopment of the site to provide 34 residential dwellings. The proposal comprises a mix of 10 one-bedroom apartments, 12 two-bedroom apartments, and 12 three-bedroom semi-detached houses.

The development also includes the formation of a new vehicular access from Dorrington Gardens, associated car parking, hard and soft landscaping, and the installation of ancillary infrastructure, including a new electricity substation.

The development adopts a mixed typology, with two pairs of semi-detached houses (HT2) on either side of the main site access road fronting Dorrington Gardens, two apartment blocks (Blocks A and B) fronting the internal road of the site, and a row of 8 semi-detached houses (HT1) to the south of the site fronting the internal road to the site.

The scheme has been subject to a detailed design evolution, incorporating feedback from pre-application consultation, the Havering Quality Review Panel, and the Council’s urban design and highways officers. The development is predominantly two to three storeys in height and has been designed to respond to local character, manage level changes across the site, and provide appropriate separation distances to neighbouring residential boundaries.

The report stated that from the consultation responses, 138 letters were sent to the adjoining occupiers. 42 objections have been received and 1 letter of support.

The Committee noted that the key issues from the consultations were concerns regarding overlooking, light loss and noise, loss of public parking, and infrastructure capacity given the addition of the housing, the design and massing of the housing, some amenity impact regarding the planning planting and trees, highways and parking pressure impact, ecology, the visible impact of the flats and construction disruption during the project.

The officer recommended that permission be granted, subject to several conditions and a Section 106 agreement.

In accordance with the public speaking arrangements, the Committee was addressed by an objector Mr David Durrant who had 5 minutes to make his representation to the Committee with his concerns. He urged Members to consider the following options: to refuse the application; defer until more clarity is provided about the impact of leasing the Town Centre car park to Sainsbury’s; or to vote to retain the front part of Dorrington Garden’s Car Park.

Mr Steve Walters, agent to the applicant, responded to the issues raised by the objector for 5 minutes. He stated that the site had previously been declared surplus by the Council’s Cabinet, with the proposed housing benefiting the Council long-term. He noted that all amenity, design and internal space standards will be met. He stated that the proposed development is anticipated to achieve a 67 per cent reduction in carbon emissions over the 2020/21 baseline. He supported and defended the application on this basis.

Following the debate, the Committee resolved to grant planning permission subject to the report conditions.

The vote for approval, was carried by the Chair’s casting vote, resulting in 4 votes for, to 3 against with no abstentions.