Author: alex

Simply Planning are delighted to have secured Planning Permission for the erection of a part six storey / part five storey building on behalf of our clients, Clifford Estates. The proposed development is located within Leicester City Centre and will provide 92 build to rent units in a mixture of studio, 1 bedroom & 2 bedroom flats.

The development site had a number of planning complications, which included the adjoining Locally Listed Lee Circle Car Park and ensuring the proposals would not prejudice adjacent future development sites.

The development, designed by RG+P architects, forms part of the on-going regeneration in the Lee Circle area and will be a standout building within the streetscene, once complete.

On behalf of our client, Duke Street Investments Ltd, Simply Planning has been successful in removing the requirement to provide affordable housing as part of a 21 dwelling flatted development in Rogerstone, Newport.

Planning Permission for the development was originally granted in July 2021, but due to escalating development costs it became apparent that the approved development, inclusive of 6 affordable dwellings, would no longer be viable.

A new planning application was submitted following the completion of the formal pre-application consultation process with a Viability Appraisal prepared by HRT forming part of the submission. This demonstrated that the scheme could be viably delivered with the removal of the on-site affordable housing obligation.

The application was reported to planning committee in February 2022, where members agreed with the officer recommendation for the approval of the planning application and for the affordable housing to be removed from the development, to ensure the much needed housing could be delivered at this sustainable brownfield site.

Simply Planning is delighted that following an eight day Public Inquiry the Planning Inspectorate has granted planning permission for mixed use development comprising 216 homes and 1,663.3m² of commercial space on an brownfield site on the edge of Southgate District Centre in LB Enfield.

A full copy of the Appeal Decision can be viewed at the following link – Full Decision – https://simply-planning.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Appeal-decision-3270885.pdf

Simply Planning was first approached by Viewpoint Estates to advise on the site in 2016.  We recommended architects and assembled a full consultant team including amongst others BPTW architects, Iceni Transport, Cogent Heritage, Envision, Savills, Point2, ME Landscape and Walsh.

This consent is the culmination of over three years of detailed design development working in consultation with officers of the London Borough of Enfield and the Greater London Authority and third party stakeholders including Historic England, Transport for London, local residents, the Metropolitan Police and The Enfield Design Panel.

The application was recommended for approval at planning committee in June 2020 but unanimously refused by committee members following objections from local residents to the height of the scheme.  The reasons for refusal were given as heritage impact, design in relation to height, bulk and massing, impact on residents’ amenity, affordable housing and mix.  The final reason for refusal was dropped at the appeal.

In granting the appeal the Inspector found that there would be no harm to the Grade 2* listed Station, its setting or the Southgate Conservation area.  He found that the design was a well-conceived response to the site layout and context and that the excellence of design would uplift the character and appearance of the area.

It was also concluded that there would be no impact on residents’ living conditions.  Regarding complaints about the level of public consultation the Inspector determined that genuine attempts had been made to consult and that consultation is not the same a “giving over control” to the community.  It remains a policy requirement that schemes make the best use of the site.

The scheme was found to accord with the Development Plan when read as a whole, even though the site was not allocated for a tall building, as policies enable the development of brownfield land particularly on sites within and on the edge of town centres and those that are well served by public transport.  Where there were inconsistencies with London Plan Policy D9 (tall buildings) there were material considerations in favour of the scheme including private and affordable housing delivery.

Outer London Boroughs will need to face up the reality of some very challenging housing delivery targets set by the London Plan and the required changing context and skyline which will be required if significant Green Belt land is not to be released.  Simply Planning is well placed to advise on achieving increased residential densities and tall buildings in London.

For more information please contact holly@simply-planning.com