Private hire parking at Myatts Field Court, Camberwell, London SE5

What was proposed

Retrospective permission was sought to use 20 residential parking spaces for private hire vehicle parking.

“Change of use of part of the site (20 parking spaces) from car parking ancillary to residential use (C3) to car parking for vehicles for private hire (sui generis).”

“It is understood that the landowner has entered into a contract with the applicant to allow part of the land to be used for the parking of private hire vehicles in order to raise funds for the repair of the roof of Myatts Field Court.”

Officer report

Site and surroundings

The site is a narrow strip behind homes, with access from Mcdowall Road, railway sidings nearby and part of a conservation area.

“The site is a privately-owned strip of land 6-12m wide and 135m long to the rear of residential properties on Mcdowall Road and Knatchbull Road. The land is bounded by properties on Mcdowall Road and Knatchbull Road to the northwest and railway sidings to the southeast. It has a gated access point onto Mcdowall Road, between Myatts Field Court and 17b Mcdowall Road.”

“The site is partially within the Camberwell New Road Conservation Area, and is located 40m from the boundary with LB Lambeth.”

Officer report

What people said

One objector raised wall stability, privacy, lighting, parking, climate and safety concerns, while a supporter cited improved security and reduced anti-social behaviour.

“- Land Instability and Structural Safety (NPPF Paragraph 187): Ongoing heavy vehicle movement on the site is actively impacting the stability of the 6-metre retaining boundary wall between my property and the land. This poses a life-critical structural risk to myself, in direct conflict with NPPF guidelines regarding land instability.”

“- Loss of Privacy and Breach of the 21-Metre Rule: The parking is positioned 0 metres from my back garden, and the distance from my bedroom window to the commercial parking is less than 4 metres. This severe breach of local design standards causes an unacceptable loss of privacy to habitable rooms and amenity spaces.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The committee heard from the officer, an objector, the applicant and a ward member; no local supporters wished to speak.

Committee discussion

Members questioned officers, the objector and the applicant before considering permission with conditions and an added retaining-wall informative.

“The committee heard the officer’s introduction to the report. Members of the committee asked questions of the officers.”

“A motion to grant planning application subject to conditions and added informative was moved, seconded and resolved and declared carried.”

Minutes

The decision

Permission was granted with a compliance condition and an informative warning about the retaining wall and asking building control to investigate.

“That planning permission be granted subject to a compliance condition and an informative being included to draw attention to the potentially unsafe nature of the retaining wall. The informative also includes that the Council’s building control…”

“The applicant is advised that concerns have been raised regarding the condition and stability of the retaining wall adjacent to the application site boundary. The grant of planning permission does not imply that the retaining wall is structurally sound or safe, nor does it remove or alter any obligations under the Building Act 1984 or any other relevant legislation.”

Minutes