Office-led commercial building at 176 - 178 York Way, London N1

What was proposed

The application changed an approved laboratory-led scheme into an office-led development, adding a floor and 2,502 square metres of business floorspace without increasing height.

“SUMMARY 4.1 This application seeks amendments to the approved lab-enabled office development granted under planning permission ref: P2024/0844/FUL for the redevelopment of the site at 176-178 York Way.”

“The change in requirements from laboratory floorspace to office floorspace allows for lower floor to ceiling heights which enables an additional floor of business se to be added to the scheme without increasing the height of the approved building.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Five objections concerned scale, height, amenity, traffic, construction, consultation and the reduction of laboratory space, while consultees generally raised no objections subject to conditions.

“(see para 10.399) - Request for greater information in Council’s consultation letters (see para 10.399) - Request for conditions covering massing, daylight and sunlight, construction management enforceable working hours, plant noise, and servicing (see para 10.405) - S73 variation is not appropriate application to materially enlarge a scheme. The impacts of the proposals should be reassessed through a standalone application.”

“External Consultees 8.3 Historic England: No objections. English Heritage (Greater London Archaeology Advisory Service): No objections. Metropolitan Police (Crime Prevention): No response received. Thames Water: No objections subject to conditions and informatives relating to waste, water and piling.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A planning officer explained updates, the proposal’s changes, its benefits, and the conditions requested by Transport for London and Thames Water.

What members discussed

Members heard that the scheme retained two laboratory floors, increased office space, kept the same height, improved public realm and energy performance, and avoided harmful amenity effects.

“The proposed amendments facilitate a change from the approved scheme for a laboratory led development with office write up space, to an office led development, retaining two floors of laboratory floorspace.”

“With regards to design , the Planning Officer noted that the design, height and massing closely matches approved scheme , total height remains the same , that the flues on roof top have been omitted and there have minor amendments to massing on eastern facades.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

Planning permission was granted subject to the listed and additional conditions, informatives and completion of a Section 106 planning obligation.

“That following consideration of the case officer’s report (the assessment and recommendations therein), the presentation to Committee, submitted representations and objections, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions and informatives set out in Appendix 1 of the officer report and the additional conditions outlined above; and subject to the prior completion of a Deed of Planning Obligation made under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990…”

Minutes