Clapton CAAC May 2020

Planning Applications for Clapton CAAC meeting for May 2020

2020/1006 Round Chapel Round Chapel Arts Centre 1D Glenarm Road E5 0LY Listed Building Consent for external alterations to improve vehicle and pedestrian access, roof maintenance safety, means of escape, refuse disposal arrangements, repairs to walls and steps, alterations to rainwater system, internal repairs to damaged glazing and stone floor, new guarding to stairs in roof space and safety restraint system for roof maintenance. (Abbas Sabir 020 8356 5401)

The Clapton CAAC has no objection to the proposal.

2020/1066 85 Lower Clapton Road E5 0NP Erection of two-storey rear extension over ground and first floor levels to facilitate the change of use of part of the ground and the first and second floor levels from solicitor's office (use class A2) to two x two-bedroom units (use class C3). (Alix Hauser 020 8356 6377)

The loss of employment space is resisted. Notwithstanding the dimensions on the proposed ground floor plan being unintelligible, the reduction in commercial space on the ground floor results in a small self contained unit which hampers the commercial viability of the unit. The proposed UPVC windows should be timber. The resultant residential units lack sufficient private outdoor amenity.

2020/1149 2 Mildenhall Road Former St John's Ambulance Site E5 0RU Commercial Prior Notification application for the Change of use from B1a to eleven (11) C3 Residential units via Class O (Offices to dwellinghouses) (Kim Aukett 020 8356 4740)

This application should be resisted will all the powers available in these challenging circumstances. The application is an abuse of permitted development rights and results in units of grossly inadequate size and amenity and no common parts. No section is provided but it is clear from plans of the extant full planning permission that the hipped hoof does not allow for adequate residential amenity on both floors.

2020/1098 Flat C 56 Ickburgh Road E5 8AD Replacement of windows at front basement level. (Danny Huber 020 8356 1453)

The Clapton CAAC has no objection to the proposal.

2020/1279 and 2020/1296 Land to the rear of 1 - 6 Belz Terrace E5 9AL Proposed children's centre formed of two levels of below ground accomodation accessed via an open-sided external stair and lift with canopy at ground level. [Note for consultation: Listed Building Consent 2020/1296 also received] (Gerard Livett 020 8356 8398)

We have no objection to the effect of the completed development in conservation terms, however the applicant understates the significance of the heritage asset in aesthetic and historical terms, and fails to recognise any erosion of that value is as a result of very many developmental changes to the site over recent years which has undoubtedly harmed the heritage assets. Arguably the cumulative effect of this subterranean development alongside the other recent developments will result in overdevelopment. Albeit much of it is invisible from the public realm, it nonetheless puts further pressure on the amenity of the surrounding area through intensified use. The poor quality of the underground rooms may benefit from conditions restricting occupation and use to avoid unsatisfactory conditions for children. The scale of excavation demands a method statement and risk assessment and construction management plan whose details must be carefully considered before any development commences. The site has been subject to extensive and near continuous development in recent years to the detriment of the conservation area and heritage asset; and the wider enjoyment of the conservation area should be protected.

2020/1174 151 Upper Clapton Road E5 9DB Demolition of 151 Upper Clapton Road and erection of 9 no. apartments on 151 Upper Clapton Road and 1 Clapton Common; parking for 3 cars and refuse store in front garden (Claire Moore)

The development site was cleared in recent years and has resulted in a gap that this application proposes to fill. The approach to mass and appearance seems irrational and fails to bridge the gap between the finely detailed and interestingly articulated building on the corner of Chardmore Road and the other neighbour on Upper Clapton Road. The widow, ridge and eaves levels are all somewhat random and self serving, and the semi-pastiche style is a poot fit which detracts from the appearance of the setting of the conservation area and fails to have any regard to its neighbours generally.

2020/1211 and 2020/1215 351 Mare Street E8 1JB Change of use from retail (A1 class) use to Office (B1 class) use at first and second floors; alterations to shopfront on Mare Street; external alterations to Amhusrt Rd elevation to include removal of existing shopfront and infilling of existing doorways, installation of new entryway to offices and fire exit; alterations to Brett Road elevation to include installation of new doors; repair/replacement of existing windows; associated works, (Thomas Bertwistle 020 8356 2532)

Most notably lacking from this application is the failed opportunity to further activate and enhance the appearance of the Amhurst Road elevation and the internal layout appears to dash any hope of that happening in the future. Furthermore the removal of the two recessed doors at 355-357 Mare St and resulting 'simplification' of the shopfront harm the overall appearance of the Mare Street elevation and destroys the welcome symmetry, connection and cohesion with the building above so should be resisted.

2020/1022 13 Kenmure Road E8 1JU Variation of condition 2 (approved plans) of planning application ref 2019/0278 for "Erection of two rear dormer extensions, installation of front rooflights, single storey rear extension at ground floor level, excavation of enlarged basement with front and rear light well with stairs leading up to rear garden, and other associated external alterations to facilitate the conversion of the existing residence into 3 self-contained dwellings (use class C3) comprising 1x 1 bed 1 x 2 bed and 1 x 3 bed units.". Effect of variation is to alter the design of the dormers to create one large dormer window. (Louise Prew 020 8356 8613)

This is a regressive amendment to the consented design and results in a dormer which now verges on over-dominant.

2020/1390 Hackney Central Railway Station Amhurst Road E8 1LL Lawful development certificate application for the construction of 1x new stairway from both Platform 1 and Platform 2 connecting into the existing pedestrian bridge. (Claire Moore)

Whilst we have no objection, we note the application does not propose removing the existing staircase whose landing currently severely narrows the northern platform - to the general detriment of station safety and capacity. Nor does the application attempt in any way to facilitate the future development of a second entrance/exit at 231-235 Graham Road.

2020/1197 19 Sutton Square E9 6EQ Installation of new sliding doors to the rear, rooflight to single storey kitchen at the front, existing windows and door to be replaced with like-for-like double glazed units, and new extractor fan at rear elevation. (Abbas Sabir 020 8356 5401)

The Clapton CAAC has no objection to the proposal.

2020/1271 21 Cazenove Road N16 6PA Erection of part single-, part four-storey rear extension to provide additional educational facilities; demolition of existing single storey science lab. (Gerard Livett 020 8356 8398)

The Clapton CAAC has no objection to the proposal, but notes and supports the observations of the Hackney Society Planning Group.

2020/1121 38B Alkham Road N16 6PD Insertion of rooflights to front and rear roof slope. (Thomas Bertwistle 020 8356 2532)

The Clapton CAAC has no objection to the proposal which does not unduly affect the setting of the adjacent conservation area.

2020/1406 Brooke Road DNS Brooke Road Stoke Newington N16 7LR Prior approval for siting and appearance: Proposed Telecommunications upgrade to provide a proposed 20.0m AGL Phase 7 monopole complete with wrapround cabinet at base and associated ancillary works. (Gerard Livett 020 8356 8398)

There is already considerable clutter on this pavement and whilst some of the existing cabinets will be removed, the ones that remain will be some distance away and will 'spread' the clutter out further. The new cabinets will be placed on a much narrower part of the footpath to the detriment of pedestrians. These would be better sited where the defunct cabinets are. The monopole is nearly twice the size of the current monopole (and is misrepresented in the narrative planning statement) and substantially broader with a much more obtrusive antennae array - to the detriment of the appearance of the conservation area and Common. At a minimum further visual assessment is needed and a mitigation strategy proposed.