36 homes at 289-295 High Road, Wood Green, London N22

What was proposed

The application proposed demolishing storage and distribution buildings and building 36 homes in blocks and mews buildings with parking, cycle stores and landscaping.

“Proposal: Demolition of the existing storage and distribution buildings and redevelopment of the site for 36 homes within 2 x part three, four and five storey blocks and part two, part three storey mews buildings, in conjunction with refuse and cycle stores, cycle and car parking and landscaping.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site was a timber merchant on the High Road with excellent public transport access, near a conservation area, listed buildings and homes on Trinity Road.

“The site is occupied by ‘Wood Green Timber Merchants’ and is located on the western side of the High Road and the southern side of Neville Place. The site contains a single storey, commercial building and associated storage areas for the sale and distribution of timber, extending back into the site with a large flank wall along Neville Place.”

“The southern part of the site, up to the highway of Neville Place, is located within Trinity Gardens Conservation Area. The site adjoins the locally listed former public house (Fishmongers Arms) and the Grade II Statutorily Listed fountain / trough, which is located in front of that site.”

Officer report

Planning history

The site had no relevant planning history, while a neighbouring former public house had permission for four flats in 2020.

“There is no relevant planning history associated with the Wood Green Timber Yard site. The most relevant planning history relates to the neighbouring site of the Former Fishmongers Arms, as detailed below:”

“Fishmonger Arms - HGY/2019/3071 - Change of use of the property from mixed office use (sui-generis) to residential (C3) and the creation of four self- contained flats, in conjunction with creation of lightwells; replacement of existing windows and doors; landscaping; boundary treatment; removal of vehicle crossover and provision of refuse and cycle storage facility. The flats comprise one studio, one 1b/2p; one 2b/4p and one 2b/3p - Granted 18 March 2020.”

Officer report

Who spoke

Two speakers objected, raising concerns about engagement, scale, affordable housing, heritage and privacy, while the applicant described the scheme’s benefits and design changes.

Committee questions

Members discussed affordable housing reviews, future accessible parking, sewers, amenity space, parking management and consultation activity.

“The early and late-stage reviews are to capture any uplift in affordable housing. At the moment the scheme was unviable, but there could be some additional viability in the years to come, however, to avoid the need for those reviews to take place, the applicant was posing that they would offer £250,000 to provide certainty on costs.”

“Officers looked to futureproof blue badge car parking spaces. The applicant would provide 10% by proposing to provide 3 bays in total, with one to be provided at the outset, and the others to be implemented in the future on a needs basis.”

Minutes

The vote

The chair moved approval of the recommendation, which passed unanimously.

“The Chair asked Catherine Smyth, Head of Development Management and Planning Enforcement, to sum up the recommendation as set out in the report. The Chair moved that the recommendation be approved following a unanimous vote.”

Minutes

The decision

The committee authorised planning permission subject to conditions, informatives and a legal agreement, with permission following completion of that agreement.

“That the Committee authorise the Head of Development Management and Planning Enforcement or the Director of Planning and Building Standards to GRANT planning permission subject to the conditions and informatives set out below and the completion of a legal agreement satisfactory to the Head of Development Management and Planning Enforcement or the Director of Planning and Building Standards that secures the obligations set out in the Heads of Terms below.”

“That, following completion of the agreement(s) referred to in resolution (2.1) within the time period provided for in resolution (2.3) above, planning permission be granted in accordance with the planning application, subject to the attachment of the conditions.”

Minutes