This meeting was scheduled to consider three planning applications and one request for a stopping up order. The meeting also included the confirmation of the minutes of the previous meeting.

176-178 York Way

This application concerned the demolition of the existing buildings and structures on the site, which includes a former petrol station and car sales outlet and a car wash. The plans included the erection of a new eight-storey mixed-use building rising up to 43m in height, designed by DP9 on behalf of the developer Delancey. The new building was scheduled for discussion as a potential laboratory-enabled office space, alongside community use floorspace, a ‘Makerspace’, and affordable workspace. The report noted the scheme exceeds the height specified in the Site Allocation for the area¹, and would require a Section 106² agreement to offset the effects of the increased height through the provision of public benefits. The application requested permission to build a total of 18,273sqm of Gross External Area. Of this, 16,830sqm was for lab-enabled office space, with 551sqm for a community space referred to as ‘Randell’s Room’, and 65sqm for a makerspace. 1,277sqm of plant and back-of-house facilities were also scheduled for consideration. Affordable workspace totalling 1,612sqm, including a room at ground level and the entire first floor, was also part of the proposals. To support the lab-enabled office space, 128 long-stay cycle spaces were proposed in the basement, as well as extensive end-of-trip facilities including showers, changing rooms, and lockers, as well as an additional 21 short-stay cycle spaces to be located within the public realm surrounding the site. It was noted the site sits above the Piccadilly Line with a 6m ‘clearance zone’ above the tunnels, and that this had implications for the building’s design and the layout of its basement levels. The proposals also included the creation of a new service yard with capacity for two goods vehicles to be located off Randell’s Road, alongside an on-street loading bay in the event the two loading bays were occupied. It was noted that the proposed development would result in the felling of an existing street tree. To mitigate this, the applicant proposed to plant 14 new street trees around the site. The scheme’s impact on surrounding residential properties in terms of daylight, sunlight and overshadowing was also included for discussion, noting that the scheme was expected to result in adverse impacts to Rubicon Court and Saxon Court. The proposals’ Urban Greening Factor³, Biodiversity Net Gain⁴, and impacts in terms of Whole Life-Cycle Carbon were also scheduled for discussion. The scheme was presented to the Islington Design Review Panel on two occasions. The report quoted the panel as saying that > the Panel considered a range of options relating to the front most module to York Way, in particular the impact of the cut-out terrace on the elevation of this important primacy façade.

William Martin Court, 65 Margery Street

This application requested permission for a range of internal and external alterations to the existing building. The report noted the building was previously granted permission for a change of use in 2022 to “temporary accommodation for Maltese residents receiving medical treatment in the UK and their families”, but that permission has not yet been implemented. This application included permission for a single-storey roof extension, the creation of a rear extension at first floor level, and the removal of external stairs at the southern end of the site. It also sought permission to increase the number of units from 23 to 29, with 10% of these units proposed to be wheelchair accessible. The report noted: > The existing building’s fenestration facing Margery Street is overtly horizontal in emphasis with UPVC window units. The applicant proposes to revise the fenestration strategy, reordering of the windows to provide more generous and architecturally improved treatments with an expressed masonry surround and vertical ventilation panel which helps bring some vertical counterbalance to the façade. The report also included a discussion of the impact the proposals would have on the surrounding New River Conservation Area, noting the proximity to 25-37 Wilmington Square. It was noted the rear elevation would be more greatly affected by the proposed changes: > Elevational alterations to the rear elevation are also proposed, however, a more restrained approach to the fenestration and roof storey has been taken, reflecting its position at the back of the building and respecting the adjacent listed terrace. It was also noted the proposals’ impact on daylight and sunlight would need to be assessed. It was noted that the application was supported by a letter from Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Stopping up Order: City Road/Islington High Street

This application concerned a request to stop up three small sections of highway located on City Road and Islington High Street at 1-7 Torrens Street to enable the implementation of the planning permission granted under application ref: P2022/0871/FUL. The three areas, identified in the report as areas A, B, and C, are bordered by the building line of the approved development. Area A is 0.125sqm in size, while areas B and C are 7.31sqm and 5.89sqm respectively. It was noted that the stopping up would not result in the loss of public land, and that the footway was expected to be widened as part of the development. The report noted: > The areas were previously part of the adopted footway and while they would still essentially form part of the footway, they are now in between pillars under the overhang of the proposed building. It was noted in the report that public consultation on the proposals would take place after the meeting.