The Waltham Forest Council Planning Committee met on 1 April 2025 to discuss several planning applications, including a proposal for a new crematorium, and the redevelopment of a secondary school. The committee was also scheduled to discuss a report on development management.

Here is a summary of the key items from the agenda:

• 806 High Road, Leyton A request for permission to demolish existing buildings, except for the High Road Leyton facade, and construct three blocks (one to six storeys) and an infill property on William Street (2.5 storeys). The development would provide purpose-built student accommodation and commercial floorspace.

  The report pack noted that the proposed development would include:

  • A mixed-use block fronting High Road Leyton, retaining the facade of the existing building, with a new commercial unit at ground floor and student bedrooms above.
  • Two blocks in the rear part of the site fronting St Heliers Road, comprising student bedrooms and internal amenity space.
  • A single infill property fronting William Street, comprising four en-suite student bedrooms.

  The report pack stated that the Assistant Director – Development Management and Building Control recommended that planning permission be granted subject to conditions, informatives, and the completion of a Section 106 agreement. The Section 106 agreement would secure:

  • Affordable student accommodation: At least 35% of the accommodation must be secured as affordable student accommodation.
  • Marketing of student accommodation: All student bedrooms to be marketed exclusively to University of Portsmouth between 1 September – 31 October each academic year before marketing the rooms on the open market.
  • Employment and Training Strategy: An Employment & Skills Plan and a financial contribution of £105,000.00 as compensation for the loss of existing employment space.
  • Highways and Public Realm: Highway works under a Section 278 agreement would be required upon completion of the development, and prior to occupation.
  • Sustainability: A financial contribution of £49,619.00 towards a carbon offset fund (COF) should be made prior implementation.
  • Epping Forest Special Area of Conservation (SAC): A financial contribution of £104.00 per bedspace towards Strategic Access Management and Monitoring Strategy (SAMMS) with a total of £67,600.00 based on 261 bedspaces.

• 215 - 229 Wood Street, Walthamstow A request for permission to construct a roof extension above Nos. 215-229 Wood Street to create a fourth floor, providing an additional nine self-contained flats. The proposal included the construction of a five-storey infill extension to provide an access stairwell and lift, a side extension for refuse and recycling storage and bicycle parking, and the erection of two ancillary storage sheds.

  The report pack stated that the Assistant Director - Development Management and Building Control recommended that planning permission be granted subject to conditions and informatives and the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement. The Section 106 legal agreement would secure:

  • Highways and Transportation: Contribution of £750 towards CLP monitoring and £4,500 to sustainable modes of transport.
  • Car Free Housing: The site will be car-free, residents will not be entitled to parking permits for any CPZ unless a disabled/blue badge holder.
  • Energy Efficiency and Carbon Reductions: A financial contribution of £2,451 towards the Carbon Offset Fund.
  • Epping Forest Special Area of Conservation (SAC): Financial Contribution of £5,850 towards Strategic Access Management and Monitoring Strategy (SAMMs).

• Relcon Works, 35 Sutherland Road, Walthamstow A request for a change of use from general industrial (Use Class B2) to office/industrial use (Use Class E(g)) at Relcon Works. The proposal included external wall insulation and timber cladding, new canopies over entrances, roof mounted solar panels, external lighting, bicycle parking, bin storage and associated landscaping.

  The report pack stated that the Commercial Director – Regeneration, Planning & Delivery recommended that planning permission be granted subject to conditions.

• Burnside Secondary School, 2 Burnside Avenue, Chingford A request for permission for the redevelopment of the school site, with phased demolition of the existing buildings and the provision of a new part single, part two-storey building with a glazed link, along with a multi-use games area (MUGA) and new site landscaping.

  The report pack stated that the Commercial Director – Regeneration, Planning & Delivery recommended that planning permission be granted subject to conditions and informatives and the completion of a Section 106 Legal Agreement. The Section 106 Legal Agreement would secure:

  • Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG): To register the site on the Biodiversity Gain Site Register and complete the Habitat Creation and Enhancement Works at the application site.
  • Highways and Transportation: Facilitating Highway works under a Section 278 agreement will be required upon completion of the development, prior to occupation.
  • Employment and Training: Construction should incorporate 30% Local Labour, 4 Apprenticeship Posts.

• Chingford Mount Cemetery, 121 Old Church Road, Chingford A request for permission for the construction of a single storey crematorium with ancillary servicing areas, landscaping, refuse storage, cycle & parking spaces, EV charging points and associated public realm works.

  The report pack stated that the Commercial Director – Regeneration, Planning & Delivery recommended that planning permission be granted subject to conditions and informatives.

  The report pack noted that the proposed crematorium would be built with bricks in white and warm buff mortar colour, featuring brick detailing (projecting horizontal stripes), aluminium/timber windows and hardwood main doors.

  The proposed opening hours for the crematorium are Monday to Friday 09:30 to 17:00. It is expected that approximately seven cremations would take place at the new crematorium on average per day.

  To improve pedestrian and road safety at the south-western entrance of the cemetery, the side gate would be reinstated for pedestrian access. Road markings would be used to provide 5 disabled parking spaces and 2 electric vehicle charging points. Double yellow line markings would be introduced along the northern side of Cemetery Way and the entrance of the new crematorium.

  The soft landscaping would include a memorial garden to the south of the crematorium, 14 new trees and flower-rich perennial planting.

• Development management The committee was scheduled to note that the Chair had agreed to the submission of an Update Report to ensure that members had all the relevant facts and information about the planning applications on the agenda. The committee was also scheduled to resolve that, in the event of recommendations being amended at the meeting, the task of formalising the wording of conditions and/or reasons for refusal be delegated to the Assistant Director - Development Management and Building Control.

Please note that this summary is based solely on the information provided in the report pack and does not reflect what was actually discussed or decided at the meeting.