Agenda item

120 Fenchurch Street Rooftop Garden - Weekend opening

Report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director.

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director recommending that Members determine the Roof Garden should open at weekends during both the Summer and Winter seasons (10am-5pm) and consider whether it would be acceptable for the closing time to be reduced from 9pm to 8pm on Monday-Friday during the summer period.

 

The Chief Planning Officer and Development Director reported that the Rooftop Garden offering had been enormously successful to date. A trial of weekend opening of the space had seen visitor numbers increase during the trial period and had proved that weekend opening was worthwhile and could be provided at reasonable cost. The approval of the continuation of weekend opening (from 10am – 5pm) would make the Rooftop Garden a seven day a week attraction.

 

In terms of weekday openings, Members were informed that figures provided by the applicant demonstrated that visitor numbers dropped between 8pm-9pm Monday – Friday and accounted for only 2% of visitor numbers throughout the day. The applicant was therefore suggesting that they would be content to reduce weekday openings to a terminal hour of 8pm.

 

The Chief Planning Officer and Development Director highlighted that the recommendation, as set out, would require an amendment to the existing Section 106 agreement if approved.

 

A Member commented that he had reviewed TripAdvisor accounts of the space which were testimony to the huge success of the offering to date. He added, however, that he felt that the costs provided by applicant for managing and maintaining the garden were overstated because they included significant fixed costs which would be incurred irrespective of whether the garden was open at the weekend or not.

 

Another Member highlighted that it was worth noting that visitor numbers increased as the weekend opening trial progressed and more and more people became aware of the offering. She stated that she was therefore in support of opening the space from 10am-5pm at weekends during both the Summer and Winter seasons. The Member then went on to refer to the average times of sunset during the Summer months and suggested that closure of the Rooftop Garden at 8pm Monday-Friday would impact on the ability of the public to view this. She therefore stated that she did not support a reduction in opening hours for weekdays.

 

Another Member added that he also felt that it was too soon to revisit the terminal hour for weekday openings but did support the continuation of weekend openings given the success demonstrated by the recent trial.

 

The Chair and several other Members of the Committee spoke in similar terms – supporting the weekend opening of the Rooftop Garden from 10am-5pm but resisting the request to reduce the terminal hour from 9pm to 8pm on Monday-Friday during the summer period.

 

RESOLVED – That the Committee agree that the Roof Garden should open at weekends during both the Summer and Winter seasons (10am-5pm) and that closing time remain at 9pm on Monday-Friday during the summer period.

Supporting documents: