The meeting will include a report by the Head of Development Management (Wandsworth) on the details of seven applications to develop in the borough, as well as a report on alleged breaches of planning control at three locations. In addition, reports will be provided on the number of recent decisions on planning applications made under delegated authority and by the Planning Applications Committee, the closure of investigation files on complaints alleging a breach of planning control during January 2025, and appeals closed during January 2025.

Land at Whitnell Way Estate

The most significant item on the agenda is a proposal to demolish garages, pram sheds, a substation and refuse store, and construct 32 new homes for social rent across three sites at the Whitnell Way Estate. The plans also include a new 54.5 square metre community space, alterations to vehicle access, new cycle and vehicle parking, the enlargement of a children’s playground and new landscaping.

The sites form part of the Council’s own development programme that aims to deliver “1,000+ new Council rent homes on surplus or under-utilised land”.

The proposal has received 99 representations from local people, the overwhelming majority (97) in objection. Local Councillors, Sutters, Ghossain and Austin, also submitted objections. Concerns raised include the loss of open space, loss of trees, parking and traffic, fears that the new community space “could exacerbate existing problems”, and that “all the leaseholds of this estate contain this covenant in the Charges Register that does not allow any building erection on this land”.

The report acknowledges that the proposals would involve the removal of eight existing trees, including:

• 1 x Category A tree
• 4 x Category B trees

It is noted that 85 new trees would be planted across the estate.

The proposals would also result in a net loss of 35 car parking spaces. The report states that:

The applicant has therefore carried out an overnight parking survey to assess the existing parking stress in the area around the site. The surveys were carried out on two nights in February 2023 on all roads / parking areas within a 200m radius of the site, including the public highway and estate roads.

It concludes that:

Any additional cars parked as a result of the reduction in off-street parking at the development site and this increase in demand from the new residential units, could therefore be accommodated in the area, even given the net reduction in the number of on-street parking spaces.

45 Lyford Road

The committee is also asked to consider an application to demolish the existing bungalow at 45 Lyford Road and erect a replacement two-storey house with a basement. The scheme also includes the “reformation of boundary of 33 Routh Road to include detached garage previously associated with 45 Lyford Road”.

The site is located within the Wandsworth Common Conservation Area and the report states that:

The proposed building would have a two-storey element which would increase its prominence in the street and have a greater impact on the character and appearance of the conservation area.

However, it concludes that:

It is considered that an effective balance has been struck through careful design of the proposed house to minimize overall massing from the street, while still adding an additional storey of accommodation.

Six objections have been received, with concerns raised about the overdevelopment of the site, potential overlooking, the loss of off-street parking, and the potential disturbance to bat populations.

The report acknowledges that the proposals will lead to the removal of one off-street parking space, but states that Given the scale of the development, it is considered that the difference in the vehicle movements and car parking demand associated with the existing and proposed development would not be materially harmful.

157 Fallsbrook Road

The committee will also be asked to consider a request to modify the existing Section 106 legal agreement for the development at 157 Fallsbrook Road

The original planning permission, granted in 2020, was for the “Demolition of existing building and construction of a part-three part-four storey building comprising 29 residential units with associated amenity, refuse and cycle provision and landscaping". The proposals included six shared ownership homes.

The applicants have informed the Council that they have been unable to find a Housing Association to acquire the shared ownership units, and therefore request that the agreement is amended to allow them to:

make a financial contribution in place of the on-site affordable housing which would then revert to market housing.

This application seeks to allow a payment of “£950,000 (in addition to the already agreed £27,486) in lieu of 6 shared ownership units on site.”

193-197 Upper Tooting Road

The report pack also contains an application seeking permission to add an extra storey to the building at 193-197 Upper Tooting Road. The development would include the creation of 9 new flats on the upper floors and alterations to the existing retail units on the ground floor.

The existing building consists of “three two-storey terraces”. The ground floor of each building is currently occupied by a supermarket, with residential units above.

The report pack notes that “This new proposal aligns with the massing and appearance of the previously approved 2023 application for 6 flats (2023/3698), but now includes rear outrigger extensions and front-facing dormers on the main roof, similar to those at 191 Upper Tooting Road.”

Garages west of 79 Mayford Road

The report pack also includes a proposal to demolish a block of 17 garages at Mayford Place and construct three new homes.

The report notes that the garages are subject to a Tree Preservation Order and that two Lime trees would be removed as part of the development:

The proposal includes the removal of T5 and T6 Lime (Cat C) to allow for the development.

The site adjoins the rear gardens of properties fronting Airedale Road and Calbourne Road, and 41 objections have been received from local residents. Concerns include overdevelopment of the site, the design of the proposals, and the impact on local parking.

The report states that:

The proposal therefore includes a potential increase in on-street car parking demand resulting from the proposed new residential units.

A parking survey was carried out and it concludes that:

Any additional cars parked as a result of any increase in demand from the new residential units, could therefore be accommodated in the area.

18 Hollies Way

The meeting will also include an application to extend a bungalow at 18 Hollies Way. The proposals include:

erection of single-storey side and first floor extensions; alterations to hard and soft landscaping; and alterations to the boundary treatment.

The site is located close to the boundary of the Nightingale Lane Conservation Area and the report states that:

The site is located adjacent to the Nightingale Conservation Area, this part of the area is mainly characterised by groups of semidetached pairs. Although these houses are of good quality, many with fine brick detailing, there are examples of modern contemporary alterations. Given the location of site within a modern housing development that already has a degree of visual impact on the setting of the CA, the proposed works would not exacerbate this impact and are considered to be acceptable and would not detract or harm the setting of the conservation area.

12 objections have been received, with concerns raised about the design, scale, and visual impact of the proposals. The report acknowledges that “The proposal would appear slightly higher than the proposal at no.1 Hollies Way” but concludes that:

this would not impact the character of the property or streetscene as the overall design and scale of the proposal would provide balance and a uniform nature to the single storey podium when viewed from Temperley Road, replicating the works at no.1 Hollies Way in terms of its design, height and scale.

10 Alderbrook Road

The final planning application included in the report pack is for alterations to a recently approved scheme at 10 Alderbrook Road.

Planning permission was previously granted at appeal for the “Demolition of existing two storey property and erection of three storey property with roof accommodation and creation of 5 self-contained flats (2 x 3-bed, 1 x 2-bed, 2 x 1-bed/1-Person) with outside amenity space and associated refuse and cycle storage”.

This application seeks permission to alter the internal layout of the approved flats and to install new windows in the side elevations.

The proposals have received 9 objections from local residents.

54 Clapham Common North Side

The report pack also includes three requests to authorise enforcement action.

The first is for the alleged unauthorised construction of a roof terrace at 54 Clapham Common North Side.

The report states that two retrospective planning applications have been submitted for the roof terrace, but were both withdrawn following concerns about their potential impact on the character and appearance of the Clapham Common Conservation Area.

The report concludes that:

The design, appearance, citing and materials of the roof terrace are out of keeping with the architectural form and materials of the host building and fail to preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Clapham Common Conservation Area.

Officers recommend that the committee authorise the issuing of an enforcement notice.

76-78 Tooting High Street

The second request to authorise enforcement action relates to the alleged unauthorised construction of an extension at 76-78 Tooting High Street, and the use of the extension as a shisha lounge.

The report states that the premises is located in Tooting Town Centre and that a retrospective planning application was submitted but withdrawn following a lack of communication with the applicant.

The report notes that:

In order to allow shisha smoking to take place, the roof of the extension must be opened. This creates a focal point of activity directly in this part of the venue which is adjacent to residential flats at nos. 1 and 3 Gilbey Road and 2 and 4 Coverton Road.

This has led to noise complaints from local residents:

The Council’s Noise and Nuisance Team have received a total of 13 complaints since the start of 2023.

Officers recommend that the committee authorise the issuing of an enforcement notice that would require the removal of the extension.

1, 3, 5 & 7 Sisters Avenue

The final enforcement case included in the report pack is for the alleged unauthorised replacement of windows at 1, 3, 5 & 7 Sisters Avenue.

The report notes that all four properties are locally listed¹ “owing to their architectural and or historic interest".

A retrospective planning application was refused, and a subsequent appeal dismissed.

Officers recommend that the committee authorise the issuing of an enforcement notice to require the replacement of the uPVC windows with timber framed sash windows.