Agenda item

A Member stated that with two applications on the agenda, the meeting had taken over 3.5 hours and a number of Members had had to leave. She raised concern about there being two large applications scheduled for the next meeting and suggested that there be no more than one application considered at each meeting. The Chairman stated as far as possible, the applications were scheduled with just one to be considered at each meeting but the pipeline of planning applications had to be managed too. He added that the City of London prided itself on prompt decision making to give confidence to the development industry and the investment community. The Director of Planning and Development stated that he considered that two items was achievable in one meeting if everyone worked towards this. He was concerned about the implications on the development pipeline and confidence in the City if the consideration of schemes was delayed. The Chairman stated that he would look at the development pipeline with the Director of Planning and Development and the Deputy Chairman and where there were opportunities to have just one application, where two had been planned, they would try to do so. In response to a Member’s suggestion that two meetings could be held in one week, the Chairman stated there were resource implications for Officers.

A Member asked for a report to the Planning & Transportation Committee on the impact of the carbon optioneering guidance. The Director of Planning & Development stated that there had been more retrofits than redevelopments for several years running. He stated the impact of the guidance could be reviewed and he would take this away and discuss with colleagues. He raised concerns about Officer time with the City Plan and the Sustainability SPD being priorities. The Chairman stated that the time frame could be left to agree but Officers were requested to produce the report.

A Member asked for information on ceiling heights in relation to insulation and

mechanical ventilation, heat recovery, air source heat pumps, and ducting used in a modern building to try and make the building climate friendly. He stated that by accepting a low floor to ceiling height, this would not be possible and there would be carbon implications. Officers stated they would take this away and try to incorporate it in the SPD or any potential review.

A Member asked if the planning and historic environment training session recorded on 17 May 2024 could be shared with Members. Officers agreed to circulate this.