A developer has received its enchantment in opposition to an order to demolish a luxurious build-to-rent improvement however should take away orange cladding from the buildings.
Greenwich Council issued an enforcement notice against Comer Homes in September 2023, arguing that the second part of its Mast Quay improvement in Woolwich deviated too removed from its planning permission.
The native authority mentioned the scheme, which received permission in 2012 and was accomplished in 2022, seemed totally different to the permitted plans, had much less communal amenity house than it ought to and had decreased wheelchair accessibility.
The scheme encompasses two towers, one that’s stepped as much as 23 storeys and one that’s 15 storeys excessive.
Following an inquiry held final summer time, planning inspector John Braithwaite dominated on Thursday (ninth January) that the advantages of getting the properties outweigh the planning breaches.
He famous that whereas the event had a “barely bigger footprint” it was granted approval for, this was “not materials” visually and “most significantly” is similar peak because it received planning for.
“The advantages of the event embody the supply of 204 residential items together with 28 reasonably priced housing items, in a borough the place there’s a woeful undersupply of housing, and the cost of an reasonably priced housing contribution of £4.4m to [the Royal Borough of Greenwich]. These advantages, in themselves and as a matter of planning judgement, are compelling,” he mentioned.
However the inspector didn’t quash the council’s order to demolish the buildings and it’ll come again into power if Comer Properties doesn’t adjust to 50 new situations hooked up to its planning permission.
These embody altering the color of the orange cladding Braithwaite agreed was “visually intrusive”.
Different situations embody offering the council with plans for hearth security works inside three months and arising with an in depth accessibility plan in the identical timeframe.
One other deviation from its planning permission was {that a} residents’ gymnasium was inaccessible because it was inside an space earmarked as business floorspace.
Braithwaite mentioned that if Comer Properties can’t efficiently let the house to a business gymnasium operator inside two years, it should stay as a residents’ gymnasium and never be changed into different business house.
A Comer Properties spokesperson mentioned: “We’re proud of the choice made by the impartial inquiry and happy {that a} passable final result has been reached for the nice of the residents.
“We look ahead to now working intently with Greenwich Council to maneuver ahead and produce this example to a constructive finish.”
