"New" Merrett Nightclub Plans for Old Bike Shop

[Anna Key]

Here's the decision reached by planning committee on 10th February 2004, transcribed from the formal notification to objectors (ref 01/01391):

Proposed development at: Shop, 435-437 Coldharbour Lane, London SW9 8LP

For: Change of use from shop (A1) to a bar/internet cafe (A3) on the ground floor, ancillary store, office and customer toilets on the first floor and ancillary office space on the second floor, and installation of two air conditioning units on the roof of the three story building.

Applicant: L Merrett

The decision on the planning application is as follows:

Refuse Permission

The following conditions for permission or reasons for refusal apply:

The proposed change of use, on an individual basis and cumulatively with other Class A3 uses inthe vicinity, would be detrimental to the amenities of nearby rsidential properties by reason of noise and general disturbance. As such, the proposal is contrary to Policies S14 and ENV19 of the adopted Unitary Development Plan (1998) and Policies 7, 29, and 53 of the Deposit Replacement Unitary Development Plan (2002-2017).

 

[wiskey]

 

[Anna Key]

Here're C&P extracts from the minutes of the 10/02/04 planning committee meeting:

Shop 435-437 Coldharbour Lane London (page 55)
03/01663/FUL/DC_TKI/17352

RESOLVED: That the application be deferred as the application had been withdrawn by the applicant.

and

Shop 435-437 Coldharbour Lane London SW9 8LN (page 37)
01/01391/FUL/DC_JFX/17352

Officers pointed out that the Committee meeting of 9th September 2003 had resolved to refuse planning permission for the proposed change of use of these premises from a retail shop (A1) to a bar/internet café (A3) on the grounds of the cumulative impact on local residential amenity and also the effect on the retail character and function of the immediate area. However, the Chair did agree that officers would carry out a comprehensive retail survey of this section of Coldharbour Lane and would then report back to PAC if it was felt that a reason for refusal based on the loss of a retail unit could not be sustained.

RESOLVED: That planning permission be refused for the following reason:

The proposed change of use, on an individual basis and cumulatively with other Class A3 uses in the vicinity, would be detrimental to the amenities of nearby residential properties by reason of noise and general disturbance. As such, the proposal was contrary to Policies S14 and ENV19 of the adopted Lambeth Unitary Development Plan (1998) and Policies 7, 29 and 53 of the Deposit Replacement Unitary Development Plan (2002-2017).

Councillors voted 6:0 to refuse the application.

 

[lang rabbie]

Tightening up on objectors rights to speak???

There is a paper going to the Planning Committee on 9 March under the innocuous sounding title of Planning Application Committee - Procedures

A copy of the proposed new guidance is also on the Lambeth website.

This seems to have been drafted by lawyers running scared of developers's challenges. It appears to put talking to an elected member of the planning committee on a site visit on a par with jury-nobbling!

The main change (if the committee approves the procedures), is that to get heard, objectors will need to be well organised by so .

REQUESTS TO SPEAK
Applicants and those who have written in connection with the application will be notified in writing prior to the meeting advising them that the application is to be considered by the Committee. They will be notified of the date and who to contact if they wish to request to speak at the meeting or require more information.
Anyone can request to speak but must notify Democratic Services in advance.
Although ward councillors are not required to inform Democratic Services in advance it would be helpful if they could. Important All those wishing to address the Committee should contact Democratic Services to register their request. The deadline for this is 1.00 p.m. on the Friday prior to the Committee.

CIRCULATING WRITTEN MATERIALTO THE COMMITTEE
Any additional written material, letters, petitions etc for circulation to members of the Committee should be submitted to Democratic Services by email, fax or original copy one and half clear working days before the meeting i.e. 1.00 p.m. Friday if the meeting is on a Tuesday.

They do at least concede that

Where a site visit has taken place on the Saturday prior to the Committee meeting any further written material and requests to speak will be accepted up to ! p.m. sic on the Monday prior to the meeting.

 

[Fuzzy]

one and a half days before is very reasonable. i've worked at certain council''s where you ahve to register your intention to speak 10 workign days before the committee. its Doncaster MBC if you were wondering.

 

[lang rabbie]

I don't disagree that Lambeth has always allowed much greater public participation than other authorities.

However, I think that there is still an issue of whether the other processes have been improved sufficiently. IMO, it is because Lambeth planning had such a poor history on:

i) ensuring proper consultation notices are displayed
ii) ensuring that relevant neighbours are given notices
iii) properly representing objectors concerns in officers reports
iv) notifying objectors of the meeting at which case will be heard
v) ensuring that objectors get advance sight of officers report to know whether approval or rejection is recommended.

that successive chairs of the Planning Committe have been willing to allow late objections, and permitted both objections (and planners updated proposals for conditions) to be tabled at the committee on the night.

I've also heard some really alarming reports from elsewhere in the country where local councillors who have been vocal opponents of schemes in their ward, who don't sit on the planning committee, and are not party whips have been forbidden from addressing the planning committee - god knows what secret powers of influence/evil eye they might have used.

 

[hatboy]

When I've wanted to say something (like the Green Man thing) I've wrtten first, then been informed efficiently by post when to attend and everything.

No complants on that score. Although the whole thing is a boring pain in the arse really.

 

[Brixton Hatter]

Under the exisiting guidance you already have to inform the officers in advance of wanting to speak. But IIRC, I think you could do this right up until 6.40pm on the day, rather than by the Friday before.

A pain - yes, but I am impressed with the fact that I have always received all the relevant documents and notifcation whenever I've written on a particular issue. A rare bit of efficiency in LBL

 

[Fuzzy]

planning committee reports have to be made available up to 5 working days before the committee. not all authorities will post them out for nothing which is why they try and make them available on their web sites. it is up to you to find out when the application is going to committee. if you have written in and objected most council's will let you know when the applicaiton is going to committee and send you the report and see whether you want to speak.