First-floor supermarket extension at Topaz House, 2B Hedge Lane, London N13

What was proposed

The application proposed a first-floor extension over rear loading and storage areas, with staff facilities, storage, packaging space and a goods lift.

“The facilities will include changing rooms and WCs (each with 3 cubicles), a training room, staff room and engineer’s room. The rest of the new floor will accommodate additional chilled and frozen storage and packaging area for chilled items. Due to increase in loading and unloading and storage needs, a goods lift is proposed adjacent to the existing staircase to mezzanine. The open loading area is retained on the ground floor.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site is a supermarket in Palmers Green District Centre, surrounded by residential properties and with homes on Osborne Road about 30 metres away.

“The application site is within the Palmers Green District Centre, located on the southern side of Hedge Lane 35 metres east of Green Lanes and comprises a part single, part two storey supermarket building and small building for refrigeration in the south-west corner of the site.”

“The entirety of the supermarket site is in the Palmers Green District Centre, a short distance from commercial Green Lanes. Otherwise, the application site is surrounded by terraced residential properties to its eastern and southern boundaries, and across Hedge Lane to the north.”

Officer report

Earlier permissions and enforcement

Earlier permissions covered a rear loading structure, boundary fence and car parking, while enforcement cases concerned alleged building works, air-conditioning units and a rear structure.

“This application is for a first floor extension over the existing rear structures on the site, including above the loading facility granted permission in 2022. The application states that the upward extension is needed so as not to impact other operations of the supermarket.”

“Site Planning History Application Reference Description Status ENF/25/0162 Alleged building works started whilst application in progress 25/00690/FUL. Closed ENF/23/0291 Alleged air con units on roof Closed ENF/22/0616 Alleged large structure built at rear of supermarket – application submitted for consideration Closed 22/03679/FUL Single storey steel structure for loading bay area and replacement boundary fence panels.”

Officer report

Why officers recommended approval

Officers considered the commercial expansion, design and residential impacts acceptable, with conditions to control the boundary fence, noise, lighting, construction and waste.

“The existing and proposed materials and finishes are corrugated steel sheeting. The cladding materials will match the cladding to the loading bay (light grey) and roof covering will match that of the existing building and the loading bay. On balance, the design of the extension does not cause harm to the commercial character of the site or the district centre.”

“It is clear from the planning history that the transition from the Palmers Green District Centre and its boundary with surrounding residential areas is a key consideration. Neighbour objections have been received. There is a limit to the extent that the application site can be utilised and the proposal is seeking to maximise this through the extension with a first floor but the capacity of the site needs to be recognised.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A local resident and two ward councillors spoke against the recommendation, followed by the planning agent speaking for the applicant.

Members’ questions and debate

Members questioned the extension’s height, neighbouring properties, the fence, earlier development, lighting, air-conditioning, waste storage and site management.

“In response to Members’ questions relating to height, officers advised that the extension sloped upwards from the boundary with residential properties, from just under 5m at its lowest point up to 6m at its tallest, but this was lower than the existing structure at 6.75m. The plan submitted didn’t show the heights of adjacent properties.”

“In response to Members’ queries relating to the fence, officers responded that there was a condition that the development would not be occupied until details of the southern boundary treatment had been submitted and approved, these details shall include ground levels, fence height, materials and method of installation. The fence that had been installed was not consistent with what was approved in the 2022 permission.”

Minutes

The committee vote

Members voted unanimously in favour, with no votes against and no abstentions.

“The proposal having been put to the vote; Members voted:”

Minutes

The decision

The committee agreed that the Head of Development Management could grant planning permission subject to conditions for the reasons in the report.

“That the Head of Development Management be authorised to GRANT planning permission subject to conditions for the reasons set out in this report.”

Minutes