Agenda item

Report of the City Planning Officer.

Consideration was given to a report of the City Planning Officer which presented to Members the key issues that had arisen from the most recent consultation on the City of London Local Plan which ran from 14 January – 11 March 2013.

Key Issue – Offices

Members agreed that inclusion of a range of different types of Offices was important in the City to accommodate different types of businesses with varying needs.  Members supported the proposed approach to the protection of offices and indicated that  the criteria for change of use from office to other use needed to be clear and concise.

Key Issue – Thames and the Riverside

Members were supportive of an approach which encouraged office-led commercial development on the riverside. It was agreed that reference to “office gateway” should be removed.

Key Issues – Visitors, Arts and Culture

It was suggested that the hotel policy should be closely linked to the office policy.  Members raised concerns over the potential over-supply of hotel accommodation and the need for servicing to be undertaken off-street. They agreed that the policy approach should be criteria based and that the title needed to be amended.

Key Issues – Sustainable Development

Discussion took place regarding the level of carbon reduction and the guidance which was being produced by central government.  Members supported the approach to allowable solutions but noted the uncertainty over the timing of the adoption of further guidance by Government. It was agreed that detailed interpretation through SPD should await clarity over the Government’s approach.

Key Issue – Public Transport, Streets and Walkways

It was agreed that the strategy relevant to the above contained in the Local Plan should be as succinct as possible.

Key Issues – Cycle Parking

Members noted that cycle parking was very much dependent on the re-development rate within the City.  Members discussed the availability of cycle racks in the City and the options to charge for parking.  Officers agreed to consider introducing a requirement for developers to maximise the use of off-street cycle parking, whilst retaining a standard of 1 space per 125 sqm of office floorspace.

Key Issue – Waste

Members noted that a piece of work was being undertaken to assess which other authorities received City Waste and further information would be brought to the next meeting.

Key Issue – Housing

Members agreed that the Policy should allow housing development “in or near” defined residential areas.

Key Issue – Licensing and planning

It was considered that to minimise the disturbance from late night premises effectively, this should be done at the design stage. Members did not support the proposed differential approach to the planning control of licensed premises in or near residential areas and other parts of the City. Members expressed a desire for a standard approach to controlling the hours of operation City-wide and closer linkages between planning and licensing activity to ensure enforcement of conditions.

RESOLVED – That the views of Members in respect of the key issues be noted and a further report, containing the full draft text of the Local Plan, be presented to a meeting of the LDF Sub Committee in September/October 2013.