36-home apartment building at Hobkirk House, New Malden

What was proposed

The application sought outline permission to demolish a vacant former care home and build 36 homes in a part four-storey and part five-storey building.

“Description of Proposal Outline planning permission for demolition of vacant former care home and erection of a part four storey and part five storey building with a mix of 36 dwellings with associated bin and cycle provision. Re-siting of access and parking bays (Landscaping matters reserved).”

“This is an outline application for the demolition of vacant former care home and erection of a part four storey and part five storey building with a mix of 36 dwellings with associated bin and cycle provision. Re-siting of access and parking bays (details of Landscaping would be reserved for future consideration as a reserved matter).”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site contained a former care home and the Noble Centre, with a park, school and two-storey homes nearby, and moderate public transport access.

“The application site relates to Hobkirk House, a part two, part three-storey building, located at the northern end of a combined flatted development, including Hobkirk House and the Noble Centre. Hobkirk House is a former care home (Use Class C2). The site is served by 2 vehicular accessways from Blagdon Road, the main access serves Hobkirk House and the Noble Centre and the secondary access abuts the site boundary with Blagdon Park.”

“The site has a Public Transport Accessibility Level (PTAL) of 3 on a scale of 0-6b with 6b being the most accessible, meaning it has a moderate level of public transport accessibility. There are multiple bus stops within 400m walking distance of the site, while New Malden train station, which provides services to London Waterloo on the South Western rail network, is located within 700m walking distance of the site.”

Officer report

Earlier applications and changes

Earlier schemes were refused and appealed, while this proposal removed the basement car park, added two disabled bays and updated its viability assessment.

“25/03086/OUT Outline planning permission for demolition of vacant residential care home and erection of 80 bed residential care home with associated bins and cycle provision. Resitting of accesses (Landscaping Matter Reserve) Under consideration 25/00267/KPSID Change of use to school playing field (Use Class F1), to form part of Burlington Junior School, landscaping, new boundary treatment and other associated works.”

“Basement and associated car parking has been removed ● Provision 2 disabled parking bays at frontage ● Cycle provision located at ground floor ● Updated viability assessment…”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval subject to conditions and a legal agreement, finding that the housing benefits outweighed the identified adverse impacts.

“Agree to approve the application subject to conditions and completion of a legal agreement, and to delegate authority to the Director of Planning and Regeneration to:”

“Finalise the recommended conditions as set out in this report including such amendments, additions and/or deletions as the Director of Planning and Regeneration (in consultation with the Chair of the Planning Committee) considers reasonably necessary; and…”

Officer report

The main planning issues

The assessment covered housing, accommodation quality, design, neighbours, noise, transport, biodiversity, sustainability, drainage, fire safety and public wellbeing.

“The key planning considerations in this case are as follows:”

“Principle of Development ● Affordable Housing ● Housing Mix and Quality ● Standard of Accommodation ● Character and Design ● Impact on Residential Amenity ● Noise ● Air Quality ● Highways and Transportation ● Biodiversity and Landscaping ● Climate Change and Sustainability ● Flood Risk and Drainage ● Fire Safety ● Public Health, Wellbeing and Safety…”

Officer report

Who spoke

A registered objector and the applicant’s agent spoke at the meeting.

The committee vote

The committee voted unanimously to permit the application, subject to conditions and completion of the legal agreement.

“1) The conditions set out in the report, as amended by the Late Material, including such amendments, additions, and/or deletions as the Director of Planning and Regeneration, in consultation with Chair of the Planning Committee considered reasonably necessary and as amended by the Committee as follows:”

“2) Negotiation, agreement and finalisation of the legal agreement as set out in the report and Late Material pursuant to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and other relevant legislation, including adding to, amending and/or deleting the obligations detailed in the heads of terms as the Director of Planning and Regeneration (in consultation with the Chair of the Planning Committee) considers reasonably necessary.”

Minutes