The Development Committee of Tower Hamlets Council met on Tuesday 1 September 2026, granting planning permission for a two-storey roof extension to the Theatre Building at 1 Paton Close, London E3. The committee also noted the introduction of the National Scheme of Delegation and proposed changes to committee terms of reference.

Planning Application for Decision: Theatre Building, 1 Paton Close, London E3

The committee granted planning permission for a two-storey roof extension to the Theatre Building at 1 Paton Close, London E3, which will provide nine new dwellings. The decision was made by a majority vote of four in favour and one against. Councillor Mads Churchhouse voted against the proposal, citing the lack of affordable housing provision and stating that the application would have been more acceptable if it had included affordable housing in line with the Local Plan and Policy DH2. The development includes associated cycle parking, refuse and recycling storage, amenity space, landscaping, and restoration works to the existing façade of the Theatre Building.

During the discussion, concerns were raised by residents regarding structural safety, inadequate bin storage, and unsatisfactory cycle parking arrangements. Objectors highlighted that the proposed bin store location was three feet above ground level, making it difficult to wheel bins out for emptying, and that the 16-stair staircase to the cycle storage was impractical. Transport for London also expressed concerns about the cycle parking access, stating it did not comply with London cycle standards.

Officers addressed these concerns by noting that a waste management plan would be secured by a pre-commencement condition and that the council's highways officers were satisfied with the cycle parking solution, which included a ramp alongside the stairs. The application also included a financial contribution of £622,337.34 towards affordable housing, as required by the council's small sites policy. The committee also discussed the cladding on the building, with officers confirming that a lawful development certificate had been approved for its remediation and that a condition would be imposed to ensure cladding works were completed before the new development commenced.

Other Planning Matters: Reform of Planning Committees and National Scheme of Delegation

Paul Buckenham, Head of Development Management, presented a report on the introduction of the National Scheme of Delegation (NSD) and proposed changes to the committee's terms of reference. The NSD, which comes into effect on 31 October 2026, aims to create greater consistency across planning authorities by categorising applications into Schedule 1 (must be delegated to officers) and Schedule 2 (may be referred to a committee if a nominated officer and member agree).

Key changes include the removal of local thresholds for referring applications to committee, such as the previous rule of 20 or more representations triggering a committee review. Instead, referrals will be based on whether an application raises issues of economic, social, or environmental significance locally, and significant planning matters. The report noted that this would likely lead to a reduction in the number of applications considered by the Development Committee.

Members expressed concerns about the potential for reduced transparency and resident influence due to the removal of objection thresholds. Councillor Elliot raised concerns that the legislation was incredibly concerning and heavily weighted in favour of developers, potentially disenfranchising residents. Officers acknowledged these concerns and suggested updating the Council's Statement of Community Involvement to provide clearer guidance on focusing representations and potentially bringing pre-application proposals to committee for earlier input.

The report also proposed maintaining the current two-committee structure (Development Committee and Strategic Development Committee) but with amendments to their terms of reference to better balance agendas. Option 2, which involves revising the terms of reference to align with broader strategic importance criteria rather than a fixed height threshold, was recommended. This aims to ensure that strategically significant developments are considered by the appropriate committee. The proposed changes will be presented to the General Purposes Committee and then to Full Council for approval.