Agenda item

Report of the Deputy Town Clerk.

The Committee received a report of the Deputy Town Clerk & Chief Executive providing an update on the implementation of the recommendations of the Recovery Taskforce report, Square Mile: Future City, published in April 2021.

A Member commented that it was positive that exercise provision had been added to the Supplementary Planning Document, but added that an adult exercise area should be considered for the Barbican Podium, arising from a project which would create the City of London’s largest open space. The addition of accessible public amenity, which had been during the public consultation, would more greatly accord with the principles which the City of London Corporation applied to developers in the planning process, and a lack of public amenity would need to be taken into account when considering any planning application for the project.

Members commented that the project needed to aim for the widest possible benefit rather than specifically for residents of the Barbican Estate, and that it was hoped the application put to Committee would demonstrate broad consultation, with due consideration given to the provision of an adult exercise area. Permeability and access should also be key aims of the project, and Members urged officers to work collaboratively towards bringing the project to the Committee. The Chief Planning Officer and Development Director advised that whilst feedback would be communicated to the relevant officers, it would be important to maintain a degree of separation between the planning officers and the applicant, given the nature of the nature the application.

RESOLVED - That the report be noted.