The most significant item scheduled to be included in the Development Committee's meeting pack is a report on a planning application concerning the redevelopment of Montgomery Square, Water Street and surrounding roads. The application was previously considered by the Committee in October, and the report pack for the meeting includes an updated recommendation in light of amendments to the application submitted since then.

Montgomery Square Redevelopment (PA/24/00894)

The original application, submitted by Canary Wharf Contractors Limited, proposed significant changes to the layout and use of Montgomery Square, including:

• Replacing the existing 640 East cafe with a new three-storey pavilion with restaurants and terraces.
• Removing all vehicular traffic from the square.
• Public realm improvements including additional trees and planting, new seating, and better pedestrian routes across the square.
• Changes to the road layout of surrounding roads including the pedestrianisation of the southern part of Upper Bank Street.

The application also sought to change the layout of Water Street, which connects Montgomery Square to Wood Wharf, by:

• Removing all through-traffic and restricting vehicular access to service, delivery and emergency vehicles only.
• Providing additional planting, seating and 'pocket parks'.

Officers recommended that the application be granted planning permission, however the Committee resolved to refuse the application on the following grounds:

• The road closures would adversely affect local businesses.
• The road closures would affect traffic and congestion within Canary Wharf.
• The adverse impact on residents entering and exiting Wood Wharf by car.

The report pack includes an updated recommendation which takes into account amendments to the original proposals for Water Street. The report pack now describes the proposals for Water Street as follows:

The second phase of the proposals relate to Water Street, as well as a section of Park Drive leading to Union Square. It is proposed to restrict vehicular access to Water Street from its junction with Montgomery Street down to the junction with Park Drive so that there is only westbound access and no eastbound access. This will create a new area of semi-pedestrianised public realm in which new seating and planting will be installed. Water Street will receive a different surface treatment to demarcate it as semi-pedestrianised.

The updated recommendation is to grant planning permission for the amended scheme.

Guidance for Development Committee Meetings

The meeting pack also includes guidance on the procedure for hearing objections at meetings of the Development Committee, including information on how the committee will consider planning applications. The guidance contains information on speaking at meetings:

The Chair may vary the speaking rules and the order of speaking in the interest of natural justice or in exceptional circumstances.

The guidance also sets out what can be circulated at meetings:

No written material (including photos) may be circulated at the Committee meeting itself by members of the public including public speakers.