Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Mary Durcan, Anthony Fitzpatrick, Jaspreet Hodgson, Alderman Robert Hughes-Penney, Deputy Shravan Joshi, Alderwoman Elizabeth King, Deputy Natasha Lloyd-Owen, Deputy Alastair Moss,  Judith Pleasance, Deputy Henry Pollard, Alderman Simon Pryke, Ian Seaton and Hugh Selka.

Deputy Edward Lord stated they were a Governor of the City of London School for Girls and they would therefore not be participating in the consideration of Agenda Item 5. The Legal Officer stated that the last time the Board of Governors had considered a report relating to this matter was 2021 when they were not a Governor but it was at their discretion whether they wanted to take part. Deputy Edward Lord stated although they were not a Governor at that time they would not participate.

To agree the public minutes of the Planning Applications Sub-Committee meeting held on 2 July 2024.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes of the meeting held on 11 July 2024 be agreed as a correct record subject to the following amendment:

That the reference to File Transfer protocol service in Agenda Item 5 be replaced by FTTP Fibre to the Premise Services.

Report of the Director of Planning & Development.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Planning and Development Director concerning the partial demolition, extension and change of use of existing office building to Class E co-living accommodation in the form of 174 private units with associated internal and external amenity spaces (sui generis) including cycle storage, landscaping, servicing and all other associated works.

The Town Clerk referred to those papers set out within the main agenda pack as well as the Officer presentation slides and two addenda which had been separately circulated and published. Officers presented the application stating that 45 Beech Street was also known as Murray House. It was a corner property that fronted the Beech Street tunnel to the south, beneath the Barbican Podium and residential Bridgewater House on Bridgewater Street to the north and the Barbican Estate which was also residential was to the rear. The three buildings enclosed a courtyard area and ramped access which led from Bridgewater Street into the basement of the site. The site was not a listed building, and was not in a conservation area, however it was immediately adjacent to The Barbican Estate (Grade II* listed), Barbican Registered Historic Park and Garden (Grade II* listed), and the Barbican and Golden Lane Conservation Area.

Members were shown the existing views from the Barbican Podium looking west, Beech Street looking west from the junction of Beech Street and Bridgewater Street with the tunnel and supporting structures in front of the building entrance, with the building entrance located in the middle of the southern façade and accessed by a number of steps. Members were informed that step-free access was provided via a ramp and a separate door to the west. They were also informed that neither the southern nor eastern ground floor bays offered active engagement of visual interest with the

Report of the Planning & Development Director.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Planning and Development Director concerning the retrospective application for removal of three fume cupboard discharge flues and installation of three new extract flues to existing roof plant enclosure.

The Deputy Chairman, in the Chair, reminded Members that the fact that this was a retrospective application should not be part of the considerations and that the application should be taken on its own merits.

The Town Clerk referred to those papers set out within the main agenda pack as well as the Officer presentation slides and addendum which had been separately circulated and published.

Officers presented the application highlighting the site in context with the listed Barbican Estate, which was Grade 2 listed, and the site within the Barbican Estate and Golden Lane Conservation Area. Members were also shown the site in the context of where the school sat within the estate and also its proximity to Saint Giles Cripplegate Church, which was a Grade 1 listed building.

Members were shown the site plan for the school and were informed that the proposal lay on the elevation of a plant enclosure on the western side of the main school building. They were shown images of the rooftop plant enclosure on the western side of the main school building, with the images being taken prior to the works which were then carried out to install flues. Members were shown images of the flues, comprising one horizontal flue and two vertical flues.

The Officer showed an image of the plant room prior to the amended flue installation which demonstrated the constrained and unsafe ladder access which was heavily compromised by the position of flues. Members were informed that the extract flue relocation was to accommodate a safe ladder access and they were shown images of the

Report of the Chief Planning Officer & Development Director.

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

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Chief Planning Officer & 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.

A Member raised concern about the number of retrospective applications from the City of London School for Girls and stated they had recently installed CCTV, a camera keypad and cabling plus a permanent shelter for security guards. She asked if it was acceptable for this amount of work to be undertaken without planning permission, in particular when it impacted on the listed status of the Barbican Estate. She also raised concern that there seemed to be a lack of active involvement with residents.

An Officer stated that a retrospective planning application was not the preferred approach. To try and prevent it from happening again, there was an agreement in principle for there to be a quarterly meeting with Planning Officers, City Surveyors and the City of London Girls School to discuss the programme of works being undertaken. In relation to the other works outlined, Officers would be visiting the site in the immediate future. The Director of Planning and Development stated he would raise the matter with the City Surveyor after the meeting. The Deputy Chairman stated the situation was unacceptable and there needed to be clarity on where the responsibility lay, to ensure it did not happen again. He added that whilst a solution had been found, it had caused unnecessary expense, delay and work.

A Member stated that this was a constant source of frustration with people undertaking work on the estate without regard for the list of building guidelines for the Barbican Estate. He stated the need for those working on the estate to be made aware of these guidelines. The Director of Planning and Development stated he would outline the points raised by Members, and provide a link to the debate, to the City Surveyor and state the need for discipline and proper procedure to be

There were no additional, urgent items of business for consideration.