Mount Pleasant Sorting Office LBI References: P2013/1423/FUL P2013/1425/CAC LBC Reference: 2013/3807/P GLA Reference: D&P/3032a&b/02
Update - Topics Scheme proposal Summary of key resident objections Mayoral call-in Planning Committee (LBI) decision Changes since the Mayoral call-in Current position of the Councils Mayor s Timeframes
Scheme Proposals To construct six new buildings ranging from 3 to 12 storeys in height to provide 38,015sqm (GIA) of residential floorspace (336 dwellings) (Class C3), 4,260sqm (GIA) of office floorspace (Class B1), 1.428sqm (GIA) of flexible retail and community floorspace, (Classes A1, A2, A3, D1 and D2) with associated energy centre, waste and storage areas, vehicle (65 spaces) and cycle parking (523 spaces), hard and soft landscaping to provide public (approx 5,124sqm) and private areas open space, alterations to the public highway and construction of a new dedicated vehicle ramp to basement level to service Royal Mail operations, construction of an acoustic roof deck over the existing service yard (encloses 14,150sqm at basement and ground floor levels). To construct four new buildings ranging from 5 to 15 storeys in height to provide 38,724sqm (GIA) of residential floorspace (345 dwellings) (Class C3), 823sqm (GIA) of flexible retail and community floorspace (Use Classes A1, A2, A3, D1 or D2), with associated energy centre, waste and storage areas, basement level residential car parking (54 spaces), the re-provision of Royal Mail staff car parking (approx 196 spaces) cycle parking, residential cycle parking (431 residential spaces) hard and soft landscaping to provide public and private areas of open space, alterations to the public highway.
The Site Layout
Ariel view of proposal
Block F - view from within The Garden
Farringdon Road Block G
View of Block J from Calthorpe Street
Block H View down Calthorpe Street
Key Resident Objections / Support Support for a supermarket Concerns regarding provision for health, education, amount of green space Object to heights of buildings across the site, in particular Blocks G, H, E (12 storeys) causing a canyon effect to Calthorpe Street Inward design and fortress-like Prefer taller buildings to be centrally located Affordable Housing should be increased to 50% Heights of buildings should not exceed 8 storeys (some said 9 storeys) Concerns regarding anti-social behaviour Loss of sunlight, daylight and overlooking Density too great Objections to construction phase impacts Impacts on local on-street parking availability, object to on-site car parking provision (some provide support) Concerns regarding the design and safety of new location for RMG entrance and vehicle / cyclist / pedestrian conflicts
Mayoral Call-in 21 January 2014 Reasons: That the development would have a significant impact on the implementation of the London Plan; That the proposals would have cross borough impacts; and There are sound planning reasons for his interpretation.
Planning Committee Decision 10 March 2014 Failure to provide the maximum reasonable level of affordable housing Harm caused to the setting of listed terraces in Calthorpe Street & Wren Street and Bloomsbury CA by height of Blocks E and F Unacceptable provision of on-site car parking Unresolved design issues for the RMG vehicle entrance point to Farringdon Road and resulting vehicle /vehicle / pedestrian / cyclist conflicts and conflict with pedestrian refuge Failure to achieve the LBI Sustainable Urban Drainage attenuation levels Provision of comfort cooling to private residential units when no overheating risk has been identified, contrary to LBI and London Plan policies Failure to agree affordable workspace provision within the scheme Harm to residential amenity due to sunlight and daylight losses as a result of the development, in particular those on Farringdon Road Failure to agree that the scheme should come forward as a comprehensive whole with linkages between the phases
Changes since the Mayor called it in Very Few GLA commissioned an independent assessment of sunlight and daylight impacts by GVA Grimley GLA also appointed GVA Grimley to advise them in relation to financial viability matters Affordable Housing Offer has been updated Negotiations regarding: Financial viability and affordable housing provision Financial viability review mechanisms and linkages across the two sites to ensure comprehensive delivery of the scheme Energy matters, wheelchair car parking Alternative road layout design for Phoenix Place submitted (in response to Mount Pleasant Forum meeting with GLA Officers) Continued submission of revised vehicle tracking / movement diagrams from the Royal Mail entrance onto Farringdon Road
Mayor s Timeframes Hearing: 3 October 2014 (The Chamber, City Hall) 14 Days notice to all those who responded at any point during the consideration of the applicants. Those respondees have the ability to address the Hearing themselves. 7 Days notice to all those originally consulted on the application of the hearing date, time and location. 7 Days clear publication of the GLA Officer report ahead of the Hearing date 15 minutes to be given to objectors and 15 minutes to supporters. Those who wish to address the GLA must submit to the GLA a detailed statement of the issues thy wish to raise 7 days in advance of the meeting. The GLA may expect a group wishing to address the Hearing to agree who will speak.
Questions