Agenda item

Chatham Central & Brompton Ward

Mixed use redevelopment comprising of 319 apartments with shared communal facilities and up to 744 sq.m of flexible commercial floorspace (Class E and F) with associated landscaping and infrastructure provisions.

Discussion:

The Service Manager - Development Management outlined the application in detail for a mixed-use redevelopment comprising of 319 apartments with shared communal facilities and up to 744 sq.m of flexible commercial floorspace (Class E and F) with associated landscaping and infrastructure provisions.

The Service Manager – Development Management brought Member’s attention to the supplementary agenda advice sheet which included additional representations. 

With the agreement of the Committee, Councillor Maple addressed the Committee as Ward Councillor and outlined the following points:

• This was a balanced and well thought out scheme and would benefit the local area.
• There was a housing crisis, not only in Medway but nationally.
• Concerns were raised with the lack of affordable housing, however, Councillor Maple acknowledged the amount of work that had been undertaken to make the scheme work.  The Arches Neighbourhood Planning Group had suggested having a clawback, could that be considered?
• There was also a lack of genuine engagement from the developer with local groups, such as Arches Neighbourhood Planning Group regarding this application.  That could have happened, however, it didn’t.
• Could a working group made up of Ward Councillors, members from Chatham Town Centre Forum and members from the Arches Neighbourhood Planning Group be formed to consider where the S106 contributions were allocated to, within Chatham Town Centre.  

The Committee discussed the planning application noting the points raised by the Ward Councillor and acknowledged that the advantages outweighed the negatives, the overall design was good, and it would be a great addition to Chatham.  Members considered the green spaces that were proposed would benefit the health and wellbeing of the residents.

Members clarified that 319 apartments, which would equate to approximately 500 bed spaces, would go a long way towards Medway’s housing demand.

Concerns were raised regarding the height of the development.  Members acknowledged that the original proposal was for a block of 13 storeys and following design review panels and the work that Officers had done to get the scheme amended but still viable, the height had reduced to a reasonable level.

Members supported the Leader’s suggestion of a working group to be established to consider the allocation of S106 contributions.

The Service Manager - Development Management acknowledged Members’ disappointment that no affordable housing was being provided by the developer for this site.  The applicant had not provided their own viability assessment, therefore, it was a joint instruction that Medway’s own consultant would undertake the viability assessment.  The Service Manager - Development Management confirmed that 10% affordable housing would not be viable.  The only way that could work was to provide 3% affordable housing with no S106 contributions, which would equate to 10 apartments out of 319 and no Registered Provider would commit to that.

Concerns were raised regarding only having 5 parking spaces for a development of 319 flats.  The Service Manager - Development Management advised that the 5 parking spaces, secured through S106, would only be allocated to the largest of apartments.  There was an intention that that multi-storey carpark located next to the development would be re-opened and would provide those 5 spaces as well as providing additional parking for shoppers using Chatham Town Centre.  Prospective residents would also be able to rent a space.

Members requested that the S106 could include a requirement to help young people develop a trade, for example in the construction industry.  The Chief Planning Officer confirmed this was a good idea and could be requested that the contractor have a certain number of apprentices on site during the construction. 

The Chief Planning Officer stated that the suggestion of a working group to look at S106 allocations could be achieved.  He went on to explain that some of the S106 contributions to open spaces would go towards finishing off the Town Hall Gardens

The Chief Planning Officer advised Members that the Arches Neighbourhood Plan carried full weight in the planning process and had huge public support when adopted.  He explained that although the applicants had not fully engaged with the Arches Neighbourhood Group that did not mean that the plan had been ignored.  His Officers had tried to get a scheme which was as close to the Arches Neighbourhood Plan as possible and still viable.  The public wanted to see things happen on the site and he considered this to be a good scheme.  He was disappointed that the applicant had not interacted with local residents and members of the Arches Neighbourhood Planning Group.

The Chairperson clarified that this application had gone through three design review panels which had resulted in a reduction of the height of the development.  Over the past 2 years, Planning Officers with over 100 years of experience, had worked on this application.  It was an improved scheme, however, frustrations were raised regarding the lack of affordable housing but this Planning Committee knew building on brownfield sites was more costly.  

Decision:      

Approved subject to:

A.             The applicant entering into a Section 106 agreement to secure the following:

a)    Financial contributions as follows.

i)               £104,718.13 towards Designated Habitat Mitigation.

ii)              £200,000 towards public realm and/or community facilities within Chatham Town Centre or within the vicinity of the site.

iii)            £305,281.87 towards open space and play space improvements within Chatham Town Centre or within the vicinity of the site including but not limited to Town Hall Gardens, Chatham Waterfront and The Great Lines.

b)    Non-financial obligation as follows.

i)            To secure the provision of 5 car parking spaces within The Market Hall Car Park which are to be provided prior to first occupation.

With the following:

·       Clawback agreement with a revised viability assessment to secure additional contributions that were requested in the event that the viability position improves.

·       Best endeavours to be used to secure apprenticeships and entry level opportunities during the construction.

B.             Conditions 1 to 26 as set out in the report for the reasons stated in the report with an additional requirement for a post S106 Working Group to be convened to consider the location of the S106 spend to include Ward Councillors, representatives of the Chatham Town Centre Forum, representatives of the Members from the Arches Neighbourhood Planning Group and Officer representation.