Decision details

Councillor Nethsingha was not present when this application was originally considered and did not take part in the consideration of this application.

The Committee received an application for full planning permission. The application sought permission for the demolition of Murdoch House and the remains of the former Silo and the construction of two new mixed use buildings comprising 767sqm office floorspace (Class B1), 419sqm retail/cafe/restaurant floorspace (Class A1/A3) and 65 residential units for Block I1 and 473sqm retail/cafe/restaurant floorspace (Class A1/A3) and 24 residential units for Block K1, including ancillary accommodation/facilities with a single basement and 71 car parking spaces, with associated plant, 218 internal and external cycle parking spaces, and hard and soft landscaping.

This application was reported to the 2 November 2016 Planning Committee with an officer recommendation of approval. During the consideration of the application, Members of the Committee raised a number of concerns about the proposal. The Committee voted not to accept the officer recommendation of approval and a decision on whether to approve or refuse the application was subsequently deferred because the Adjourned Decision Protocol (ADP) was triggered. The Committee agreed a motion that they were minded to refuse the application for a number of reasons.

The Committee considered the additional information and advice provided by officers and a full response, amended plans and further supporting information provided by the applicant. The Committee also considered advice from the legal department regarding the need to provide a robust defence of a decision to refuse this application should the matter go to an appeal hearing.

The Committee:

Resolved (by 3 votes to 3 and the Chair’s casting vote) to grant the application the application for planning permission in accordance with the officer recommendation, for the reasons set out in the officer report, and subject to the conditions recommended by the officers, the conditions set out in the Committee Report and amendment to conditions 14, 16, 41 and 42 to read ‘Prior to the commencement of development, with the exception of below ground works…’ and subject to completion of the necessary s106 agreement (including additional clause relating to on site community facility).