Higher education and community space at 27-29 Thomas More Square, London E1W

The site and surroundings

Moretown is a mixed estate of offices, retail and other uses within the Central Activities Zone and a Secondary Preferred Office Location.

“SITE AND SURROUNDINGS 1.1 The application site is located at 27-29 Thomas More Square and comprises an estate known as ‘Moretown.’ Moretown features a cluster of office, retail, public house, gym and ancillary accommodation buildings. There are six multi-storey office buildings, some of which feature an active use at ground floor. The seventh building is one storey and is currently in retail use.”

“There are also two bus stops near the site along Vaughan Way, which are served by Route 100, connecting the site to Shadwell and St Pauls. The site is also well located within the existing cycling network, situated on a Local Cycleway Network along Vaughan Way adjacent to the east. This route connects to the Cycle Superhighway along Cable Street to the north, and the National Cycle Network along St Katharine’s Way to the south west.”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered vacant offices, strategic education use, retained office space and public benefits outweighed conflict with employment-space policy.

“The expectation is that development proposals are employment-led in line with the policies and principles set out in Policy S.EMP1. The Local Plan defines employment floorspace uses as offices, industrial and storage and distribution facilities.”

“Taken in the round, these benefits and the compliance with Policy SD4 which supports higher and further education uses as a strategic function of the CAZ; are considered to outweigh the conflict with policy in terms of delivering employment led use in Secondary POL’s and deliver an alternative use on the site.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Council consultees raised no objections subject to conditions, while highways welcomed reduced parking and improved cycle facilities.

“Environmental Health – Air Quality 7.1 No objection subject to a condition for an Air Quality Neutral assessment prior to the commencement of the development. Environmental Health – Noise 7.2 No objections subject to noise compliance conditions. Highways 7.3 No objections to the principle of the change of use. The reduction in car parking numbers to accommodate a good standard of cycle parking in line with the London Plan and the London Cycle Design Standards is welcomed.”

“External Consultees GLA Stage 1 Response • Land Use Principles: The loss of office floorspace in a preferred office location is contrary to strategic land use policy on a site located within CAZ. Prior to making a resolution, the Council should satisfy itself that the proposal is a proportionate response to the current market challenges and that all other options have been explored.”

Officer report

What officers told members

The case officer explained that community use would be permanent, with negotiated Council involvement and commitments to local schools, groups and organisations.

Members’ discussion

Members discussed permanence, Council management, disabled parking and the negotiated Section 106 arrangements.

“Committee Discussion Members sought clarification on: • The permanence of the community use: Officers confirmed that the temporary reference had been removed and the permission would be full and permanent, subject to future planning applications if changes were proposed.”

“Legal advice was provided to clarify that while planning cannot enforce management arrangements, the negotiated Section 106 terms reflect the Committee’s concerns and offer a balanced solution.”

Minutes

The vote and decision

Members voted unanimously to grant permission subject to conditions and the updated Section 106 agreement.

“That planning permission be granted, subject to conditions and the updated Section 106 agreement as set out in the officer’s report.”

Minutes