Purpose-built warehouse at Warehouse, Friern Barnet, London N10

What was proposed

The application proposed demolishing the existing warehouse and storage facility and building a smaller warehouse with offices, parking, cycle storage and refuse facilities.

“Proposal: Demolition of existing warehouse and storage facility and construction of new purpose-built warehouse with office accommodation, with associated refuse storage, cycle parking and off-street parking.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site is an existing warehouse in a mainly residential area, near other commercial premises, with four proposed parking spaces and access to the North Circular.

“The surrounding area comprises predominantly residential uses, with a mix of terraced dwellinghouses and purpose-built blocks of flats, though there remains a number of other warehouses, car garage and MOT centres in relatively close proximity, including a car garage directly opposite the site, an industrial site further up Hampden Road that has recently been converted into a nursery, and a large car garage at the rear on Cromwell Road.”

“The site is not located within a Town Centre, or Locally Significant Industrial Site, though is within close proximity to a slip road onto the North Circular A406, so is relatively well located for a storage and distribution warehouse in that regard.”

Officer report

What people said

Residents raised concerns about the building’s height, appearance, privacy, noise, construction disruption, parking, traffic, ecology and its scale in a residential area.

“- Proposed building height will block skyline, sunlight, and tree views. - Creates a sense of enclosure for nearby gardens and properties. - Incongruous design and materials (e.g. metal cladding) not in keeping with surrounding residential character. - Visual amenity and property values may be negatively affected. - Overlooking from proposed windows into neighbouring gardens and homes. - Preference for skylights instead of side-facing windows to preserve privacy.”

“- On paper the development looks ok. I have two related concerns : - Impact on Environment: This is a residential area. Currently we have noisy metal doors at the site being opened and lorries reversing onto the site with an automated voice telling us "This vehicle is reversing" sometimes before 6 am. Can I have the assurance that Hours of Opening for the new office and warehouse means the time at which any noise is permitted to start.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The planning officer presented the report, while a speaker addressed the committee against the application and the applicant’s agent spoke for it.

The committee vote

The Chair put the officer recommendation to a vote, with five members supporting approval and none against or abstaining.

“The Chair moved to vote on the Officer’s recommendation to approve the application.”

Minutes

What the committee decided

The committee resolved to approve the application subject to conditions and delegated authority for minor changes to the conditions.

“RESOLVED the application be APPROVED subject to conditions AND the Committee grants delegated authority to the Service Director – Planning and Building Control to make any minor alterations, additions or deletions to the recommended conditions/obligations or reasons for refusal as set out in this report and addendum provided this authority shall be exercised after consultation with the Chair (or in their absence the Vice-Chair) of the Committee (who may request that such…”

Minutes