Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Brendan Barns, Deputy Keith Bottomley, Deputy John Fletcher, Deputy Marianne Fredericks, Martha Grekos, Jaspreet Hodgson, Alderman and Sheriff Alastair King, Deputy Natasha Lloyd-Owen, Alderwoman Susan Pearson, Judith Pleasance, Ian Seaton, Deputy James Thomson, William Upton KC and Alderman Sir David Wootton.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the Planning Applications Sub-Committee meeting held on 13 December 2022.

The Committee considered the public minutes of the Planning Applications Sub-Committee meeting held on 13 December 2022 and approved them as a correct record.

Report of the Planning & Development Director.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Planning and Development Director concerning 8 - 12 New Bridge Street London EC4V 6AL – specifically partial demolition of Fleet House and full demolition of St Bride's Tavern Public house (retention of basement levels) and the erection of a part replacement building with roof extension to provide an 8 storey building for office use (Class E) at levels 1-8, with office lobby (Class E) and commercial space (Class E) at ground floor and mezzanine level, and public house (sui generis) at ground floor level and part basement level; new pedestrian and servicing route from St Brides Lane to Bridewell Place.

The Town Clerk referred to those papers set out within the main agenda pack as well as the Officer presentation slides and an addendum that had been separately circulated and published. Officers advised that the addendum included two additional representations, a stopping up plan, amendments to the report and conditions and a corrected factsheet.

Officers presented the application, highlighting that the application site was bounded by New Bridge Street to the east, Bride Lane to the north and Bridewell Place to the south. It was reported that the site was within the Fleet Street Conservation Area, adjacent to the Whitefriars Conservation Area and that the Fleet House was built in the late 1950s.

Officers shared visuals of the planning permission that was granted for the redevelopment of the site in 2015 and had been implemented. This planning permission was for the total demolition of the building and the redevelopment of the site. This building would accommodate two flexible retail units; one that could be used as a public house and office space.

In relation to the scheme before members, images of the retention strategy were shown to the Sub-Committee. These showed the large

Report of the Planning & Development Director.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director detailing development and advertisement applications determined by the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director or those so authorised under their delegated powers since the report to the last meeting.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Planning & Development Director.

The Committee received a report of the Chief Planning Officer and Development Director detailing development applications received by the Department of the Built Environment since the report to the last meeting.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Committee Visit to Wren Church with newly installed Air Source Heat Pumps

A Member commented that the Sub-Committee had recently been offered the opportunity to visit a church where air source heat pumps had been installed to replace the heating system for economical reasons rather than for environmental reasons. The building had single glazing which could not be changed as they were stained glass windows and the walls could not be insulated. Only the roof could be insulated. The building had to be heated all the time as it was used seven days a week. The prices of electricity and gas had been considered before installing an air source heat pump system. He asked how this could be encouraged across the City of London.

An Officer advised that this could be included in the Climate Action work stream as a positive example along with another church where photovoltaic panels and a green roof had been installed on the roof. The city had many sensitive assets for which it was more difficult to include measures that could be used in an office building.

Thavies Inn

A Member asked a question about the inclusion in the delegated decisions report of the demolition of Thavies Inn House as this had been approved by the Sub-Committee. Officers advised that it was presumed that it had been issued as the Section 106 had been signed. The Member asked that in the future where this was the case, it was explained in the report.

Awayday

The Chairman thanked officers for their work and requested that Members and Officers complete the feedback questionnaire that had been sent to them.