This meeting was scheduled to include discussions about a variety of planning applications, including the demolition and redevelopment of a Mosque in East Ham, an Outline Planning Application for a hotel at London City Airport, and an application for the continuation of an urban rooftop park in Stratford.

Bilal Mosque 295 - 297 Barking Road East Ham

The Strategic Development Committee were scheduled to discuss a proposal for the demolition of existing buildings at 295 - 297 Barking Road and the construction of a new five-storey building on the site.

This application sought permission to expand the existing Masjid Bilal & Islamic Centre E6, and to add a new retail unit to the ground floor of the development. The fourth (top) floor of the building was scheduled to contain three one-bedroom flats, and their associated amenity space, landscaping, cycle parking and refuse storage.

The report pack submitted to the Strategic Development Committee notes that The application has been under consideration for a significant period of time due to a number of revisions being submitted throughout the application process.

Initially, the proposals included a gym on the fourth floor of the building, but this was removed following discussions. The report pack does not say with whom these discussions took place.

The revised scheme, which was scheduled to be discussed, does not include a gym and instead contains an additional residential unit.

The report pack notes that limited details regarding the materiality of the building have been provided.

Officers recommended that the Committee agree to the reasons for approval set out in the report pack. It was also recommended that they delegate authority to the Director of Planning and Development to grant planning permission subject to the completion of a legal agreement under S106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.¹ The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 is the primary piece of legislation in the UK that deals with land use planning. It sets out a complex set of rules that govern how councils in England and Wales can decide what types of developments can happen in their areas, and how they can charge developers money to pay for infrastructure like roads, schools and parks.

It was recommended that the legal agreement include the following:

1. Administrative fees.
2. A commitment to apprenticeships on the construction phase of the development, local employment, and a commitment to sourcing goods and services locally.
3. A carbon offset contribution.
4. A commitment to the monitoring and review of the Travel Plan²
5. Agreement that none of the occupants of the development will be able to apply for parking permits.
6. A commitment to entering a S278 agreement³ to pay for highway improvement works. Travel Plans are documents that set out how developments will seek to reduce the use of single occupancy private vehicles to access the site. Travel plans are expected to include an audit of the transport options available to people accessing the site, targets for the reduction in car use, and incentives to encourage the use of sustainable modes like walking, cycling and public transport. S278 agreements are entered into between developers and Highway Authorities, in this case Newham Council, to make developers pay for highway works that are made necessary by the development.

The Committee were also scheduled to consider the conditions listed in Appendix 1 of the report pack, including conditions related to:

1. Time
2. Approved documents
3. Environmental Code⁴
4. Demolition and Construction Logistics Plan
5. Piling Method Statement
6. BREEAM Statement⁵
7. Blast Mitigation Impact Assessment⁶
8. Sustainable Urban Drainage
9. Community Safety
10. Façade mock up
11. Materials
12. Architectural Detailing
13. Cycle Parking
14. Environmental Noise
15. Waste Management
16. Green Roof
17. Zero Carbon
18. Sound Insulation
19. Fixed Plant Machinery
20. Rooftop Plant
21. Landscaping
22. Photovoltaic Panels
23. Delivery and Servicing Plan
24. Travel Plan
25. Event Management Strategy
26. Water Efficiency (residential)
27. Water Efficiency (non residential)
28. Rainwater pipes/flues/grills/vents An Environmental Code is a document that sets out how developers will ensure that their construction activities do not have negative environmental impacts on neighbouring properties and people. They include details of what will be done to prevent noise, dust and other types of pollution during the demolition and construction phase. BREEAM is a well-known environmental assessment method and rating system for buildings. BREEAM rated developments are more sustainable environments that enhance the well-being of the people who live and work in them, help protect natural resources and make for more attractive property investments. Blast Mitigation Impact Assessments are used to understand the potential impact of explosives, including bomb blasts, on a development. They are increasingly important, even in non-military settings, because of their importance in safeguarding against terrorism.

The planning report for the application included a location plan, as well as proposed ground, first, second, third and fourth floor plans, and elevations.

A large number of representations of support were submitted to Newham Council from members of the public. They focussed on the positive social impact the Mosque has on the community. A common theme was a belief that the new development would help to integrate the Muslim community into the wider East Ham community. Some representations referred specifically to the loss of the Hartley Centre, and suggested that the new development would make up for the community facilities lost when that building was demolished.

The report pack included only two objections to the proposals. They were from a person who lives on Caulfield Road in East Ham, and they focussed on the conduct of the management committee at the Mosque, suggesting that they have mismanaged money and allowed children to be mistreated. The report pack contains no response to the objections from the management committee of the Mosque.

London City Airport

The Committee were scheduled to discuss an Outline Planning Application to build a hotel at London City Airport on Hartmann Road in Silvertown. The application proposes a hotel building with ancillary meeting, conference, restaurant and bar space. The documents submitted by the applicant note that the hotel would contain approximately 280 bedrooms.

The application seeks to replace an existing permission that was granted in July 2013, but which is due to expire in July 2024.

The applicant notes that the impacts of Covid mean they are unable to submit Reserved Matters⁷ for the scheme before the expiry date. Reserved Matters are the details of a development that are not provided in an outline application, and instead are provided in a later application that is submitted after the outline application has been approved. Reserved Matters include things like the design, layout, landscaping and access arrangements for the development.

The report pack says that officers remain of the view that a hotel use in this location would be suitable and would help to achieve the policy objectives of making Newham a more attractive place for visitors and to help promote the growth of employment in the area.

Officers recommended that the committee agree to the reasons for approval set out in the report. They also recommended that they delegate authority to the Director of Planning and Development to grant planning permission, subject to the completion of a legal agreement under S106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

The legal agreement was recommended to include commitments to:

1.  Administrative fees.
2.  Commitments to apprenticeships, local employment, and sourcing goods and services locally.
3.  A carbon offset contribution.
4.  A commitment to the monitoring and review of the Travel Plan.
5.  A fee for the monitoring of car parking permit restrictions.
6.  A fee for the environmental monitoring of the construction of the hotel.

Officers recommended that the Committee also consider a long list of conditions related to:

1.  Approved Drawings and Documents
2.  Reserved Matters (Submission of details)
3.  Reserved Matters (Time Limits for Submission)
4.  Reserved Matters (Commencement)
5.  Reserved Matters: (Appearance Design Details)
6.  Reserved Matters: Landscaping Scheme
7.  Notification of Commencement of Development
8.  Unexploded Bombs
9.  Contamination
10. Detailed Sustainable Drainage Strategy
11. Mechanical Ventilation
12. Grease Trap
13. Car Parking
14. Cycle Parking
15. Construction Logistics Plan
16. BREEAM
17. Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP)
18. Noise Mitigation Measures
19. Air Quality Assessment
20. Air Quality Neutral
21. Thames Water - Surface Water Capacity
22. Thames Water - Water network Upgrades
23. Thames Water - Foul Water Capacity
24. Secured By Design
25. Circular Economy Statement
26. Post Construction monitoring report
27. Whole Life-Cycle Carbon Assessment
28. Ecological management plan EMP
29. Submission of a Bird Hazard Management Plan
30. Fixed Plant Machinery
31. Traffic Management Plan
32. Travel Plan
33. Delivery and Service Plan
34. Waste Management Strategy
35. Energy Assessment
36. Design Code
37. Environmental Statement
38. Carbon Reduction
39. Height Limitation on Buildings and Structures
40. Instrument Flight Procedures (IFPs) Impact Condition (Building and cranes)
41. Submission of a Navigational Aids Impact Assessment
42. Submission of a Construction Management Strategy (Aviation)
43. Photovoltaic cells (Glint & Glare)

Multi Storey Car Park, The Stratford Centre

The Committee were scheduled to discuss an application seeking the continuation of the existing use of levels seven and eight of the Stratford multi-storey car park as an urban park. The documents submitted by the applicant refer to this urban park as 'Roof East'.

The application seeks permanent permission for a cafe/bar, games and leisure activities, an outdoor cinema, covered areas, and toilet facilities.

This application sought to replace a five-year temporary permission that was granted in 2019.

The Stratford Centre is a large shopping centre in Stratford that is partly owned by Newham Council.

Officers recommended that the Committee approve the application, subject to a small number of conditions related to:

1. Approved documents
2. Noise/Music limits
3. Hours of use