Agenda item

Description of application – Application for planning permission and listed building consent to enable minor demolitions, conversion, restoration and extension of the Old Town Hall (OTH) Building (extensions no greater than 3 storeys in cumulative height) to provide office space (Class B1), ancillary hotel bedrooms (x 24) (Class C1), and a food and drinking establishment within the Old Courthouse (Class A4); and

Five storey residential scheme consisting of 53 apartments (18 x 1 bed, 34 x 2 bed and 1 x 3 bed) (Class C3) with basement parking for 26 cars upon the former South Street Car Park Site (SSCP), along with provision of 160 cycle spaces across both sites. (72 spaces - Old Town Hall, and 88 spaces - South Street Car Park), landscaping, public realm improvements and ancillary development.

Oral representations from the applicant’s agent in support of the application included the following points:-

·  The proposals presented a unique solution for the delivery of strategically significant mixed-use development and would provide overwhelming economic, heritage and regeneration benefits to the Old Town Hall and South Street Car Park sites and for Bromley Town Centre generally.

·  The proposals were compliant with national, regional and local planning policy.  Other significant material considerations included:-

o  the existence of the recent planning permission for the site.  The residential proposals for the SSCP site remained fundamentally unchanged from the approved scheme;

o  the proposed mixed-use was consistent with the aims and objectives of the site-specific policy allocation under Opportunity Site C within the Adopted Area Action Plan;

o  the scheme would secure the long-term future and re-use of the Old Town Hall site, thus protecting the existing Grade II Listed Building, which was presently identified as a ‘building at risk’ by Historic England;

o  the proposed primary office use of the Old Town Hall site represented a “good fit” in respect of compatible uses resulting in minimal physical intervention and impact upon the fabric of the listed building to facilitate its re-use.

o  the proposed mixed-use would add to the diversity of use within the town centre, contributing to its vitality and viability. The office use in particular, would provide significant economic impetus within the town centre by providing a focused and innovative co-working employment hub;

o  the proposals for both the Old Town Hall and South Street Car Park sites would be acceptable in terms of its planning, operational and environmental impacts.

In summary, the application met the requirements of planning policy in all respects and was worthy of approval.

In response to questions  from Members, the applicant’s agent made the following statements:-

·  20% of the electric car charging provision would be active, leaving the remaining 80% to allow for adaptation in the future.

·  A balance was needed between the security needs of residents and public access to the two listed Council Chambers and the main entrance lobbies.  The Court House would be accessible to members of the public and the Chambers would be designated as a co-working space. The applicant was prepared to make the 1939 Council Chamber on Widmore Road available for public access. 

·  In relation to the Section 106 payment, a rigorous independent review had been undertaken by the Council.  The contribution was originally intended for education and health but was redirected to affordable housing.

·  The fees set out in the viability assessment were standard industry norms.  The financial gain from the residential scheme would pay for the Old Town Hall works.

·  public access would be made available to the Council Chamber and main entrances lobbies in the Old Town Hall as part of the annual Open House Scheme which is part of the London Festival of Architecture.

·  the current impact of the COVID-19 pandemic had not weakened the applicant’s resolve to complete the scheme, although it was impossible to say what would happen to the market. 

Councillor Joel reminded Members that should permission be granted, a Construction and Environmental Management Plan for the Old Town Hall and South Street Car Park phases would be required under pre-commencement condition 5 as stated on page 125 of the report. 

Oral representations from visiting Ward Member Councillor Michael Rutherford  in support of the application were received at the meeting and included the following points:-

·  All Bromley Town Ward Members were in favour of the application.

·  The scheme was supported by community groups and local residents.

·  The current proposals were an improvement on the previously permitted application.

The Development Management Area Team Leader reported the principle of a viability review mechanism had been agreed and further details would be secured in the legal agreement.  In relation to the hours of operation for the A4 use, the last entry on a Friday and Saturday would be extended from 11.00pm to 11.30pm (one hour before closure).  Closing time remained the same.

The Chairman supported this very positive scheme which had been sensitively thought through and would result in the removal of the Grade II listing building from the At Risk Register.  

The Chairman moved that the application be permitted. Councillor Mellor seconded the motion.

Councillor Fawthrop moved that a further condition be added to those already in the report requiring the applicant to provide active vehicle car charging points in line with the Draft London Plan.

Having considered the report, objections and representations, Members unanimously RESOLVED that PERMISSION BE GRANTED SUBJECT TO A SECTION 106 LEGAL AGREEMENT as recommended and subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report of the Assistant Director, Planning and Building Control.

Members also resolved to grant consent on the basis that the provision of electric vehicle charging points met with the Draft London Plan standards.