Agenda item

Description of application - Outline application with all matters reserved except highways access for comprehensive phased regeneration of Crystal Palace Park. This will include: conservation and repair of heritage assets; removal of existing hard surfaces; alterations to ground levels and tree removal; landscaping including planting of new trees; demolition of existing buildings and structures; creation of new pedestrian paths/vehicular access roads / car, coach and cycle parking; changes of use including part of the caravan site to part public open space and part residential; erection of new buildings and structures comprising: up to 2300sqm for a cultural venue (Use Class D2), up to 530sqm of park maintenance facilities (Sui Generis) including the dismantling and reconstruction of existing maintenance depot; up to 150sqm information centre (Use Class D1); up to 670sqm for a community centre (Use Class D1); up to 3779sqm of educational institution at the Capel Manor College Farm Site (Use Class D1) of which 3399sqm comprises educational buildings and 380sqm comprises ancillary shelters/ outbuildings; and up to 16,352 sqm of residential (Use Class C3) accommodation to provide up to 210 residential dwellings, together with associated and ancillary works including utilities and surface water drainage, plant and equipment. Full planning permission is sought for alteration to highways access at Anerley Hill Gate entrance, Penge Gate car park, Old Cople Lane (Rockhills Gate), Sydenham Gate car park and the creation of three additional accesses for the residential development at Rockhills and Sydenham Villas.

The Committee was addressed by the Head of Regeneration who advised that the phased approach to the development had been designed to mitigate the financial risk posed to the Local Authority in forward funding the heritage works by up to £2.5M to be reimbursed from the land sale proceeds.  This approach would also ensure that works would be completed on the most at-risk heritage structures before work on the residential development commenced.  Historic England had secured the necessary specialist support to undertake the heritage works and additional funding for these works would be sought from other sources including grant applications which would emphasise the amenity value of Crystal Palace Park to both Bromley and its neighbouring boroughs.  Set timescales for the completion of the various phases of the work had not been agreed although the overall scheme had an end date of ten years which gave a degree of certainty. 

The Planning Officer then gave a brief presentation, providing an overview of the application and proposed addendum in the report.

Oral representations in support of the application were received from the Head of Regeneration who gave the following responses to Members’ questions:-

• The proposed Heads of Terms for the shadow S106 legal agreement specified the provision of 24 on-site units of affordable housing within the residential scheme.  The Local Authority was required by statute to maximise the income from the land sale, and should there be a financial surplus, consideration could be given to delivering additional affordable housing units on-site or, via a payment in lieu, in other parts of the Borough. Any surplus funds could also be put towards the Crystal Palace Park regeneration works.

• The Council’s Executive would be asked to confirm the arrangements for ringfencing the proceeds of the sale for heritage works.  Should sufficient progress not be made within a given period, a commitment would be made to pay funds to the Crystal Palace Park Trust for heritage works from the Local Authority’s general fund.  This payment would be set at the treasury management rate earned from any money from the land sale that was not discharged.

• As this was a major planning application, the residential scheme would require approval from the Greater London Authority.

A Member underlined the need for regular progress updates on delivering the scheme to be reported to the Renewal, Recreation and Housing PDS Committee and this was supported by the Committee.  A high-level draft project timescale/plan had been developed and would be circulated to Members following the meeting.

Members having considered the report, objections and representations, RESOLVED that PERMISSION BE GRANTED SUBJECT TO:

• Confirmation by the Council’s Executive that the Council shall either itself comply with the terms of a shadow Section 106 to be finalised pursuant to the application, or that the Council will ensure that any purchaser or lessee of any part of the park will enter into a Section 106 agreement with the Council, incorporating the obligations from the shadow Section 106 agreement that are relevant to the part of the site;

• Any direction by the Mayor of London and the Secretary of State; and,

• The conditions attached at Appendix A or as varied by the Assistant Director (Planning and Building Control).