24-home residential building at Church Hall, Southgate, London N11

“The site is located on Grove Road near Arnos Grove underground station and New Southgate station. The site is located in a predominantly residential area and is surrounded by a number of large post war era brick built flat blocks, including one such building to the immediate north of the site. The site is located within a place shaping priority area as covered by Core Policy 45 New Southgate.”

“The building itself is single storey in parts and two storeys in other parts with a box dormer as well as a large pitched roof. The building itself has little merit in design terms.”

“The proposal fails to provide any affordable housing for a development of this scale, which would fail to maximise the contribution of the site to the supply of affordable housing in the London Borough of Enfield.”

“The application was supported by an Affordable Housing Statement that identified expressions of interest from two Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) who would deliver the affordable housing. However, the UU included a fallback position where if after a 6 month period there remains an absence of interest from RSLs, then an equivalent off- site contribution could be made towards off-site affordable housing as an in-lieu contribution.”

“Affordable Housing Approach Proposed 10 affordable units (70% rent / 30% intermediate) with fallback to commuted sum if RSL not found within 6 months. Agreed commuted sum of £150,000 upfront, plus Late Stage Review mechanism to capture up to £103,000 additional contribution if GDV improves. Previous fallback lacked transparency; new offer is fixed, transparent, and policy-compliant under London Plan Policy H4.”

“Officers, having independently assessed the viability assessment, are satisfied that the proposed affordable housing offer, in the form of an off-site financial contribution, represents the maximum level of affordability that the scheme could support.”

“Members discussed the application. In relation to concerns and questions raised about heat pumps and safety provisions on the balconies in family homes, officers advised that there was no issue with heat pumps, and stringent safety conditions would be put in place regarding the balconies.”

“In relation to questions about the previous application on the site, officers clarified that, whilst that had never been formally granted due to an inability to agree with that developer on conditions relating to S106 contributions, as the application was very similar to the previous one and there had been no changes to any relevant policy considerations, it was likely that if the Committee was minded to reject the application the developers would win any appeal against this…”

“That subject to the finalisation of a S106 Agreement to secure the matters covered in this report and to be appended to the decision notice, the Head of Planning and Building Control be authorised to GRANT planning permission subject to conditions. That the Head of Planning and Building Control be granted delegated authority to agree the final wording of both the S106 Agreement and conditions to cover the matters in the Recommendation section of this report.”