The Planning Committee of Barking and Dagenham Council met on Monday 14 October 2024 to discuss two significant planning applications. The committee resolved to delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Inclusive Growth to grant planning permission for amendments to the Abbey Retail Park development, subject to the completion of a legal agreement. They also resolved to delegate authority to the Director of Inclusive Growth to approve the Sub Framework Plan for Station Quarter at Barking Riverside, along with specified planning conditions.

Abbey Retail Park, Abbey Road, Barking

The committee considered an application for minor material amendments to the existing planning permission at Abbey Retail Park. The proposed amendments, submitted under Section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, included increasing the height of several blocks to accommodate 51 additional residential flats, removing ground floor car parking to create further flats, and making internal alterations to facilitate additional staircases to meet updated fire safety regulations.

Weston Homes Plc, the applicant, sought to vary approved drawings and amend conditions related to car parking and development particulars. The proposal aimed to re-provide for the loss of internal floor area caused by the addition of second staircases, necessitated by new fire safety guidance following the Grenfell Tower fire. To maintain scheme viability and the affordable housing provision, 56 additional residential units were proposed, all of which would be Discounted Market Sale (DMS) units. This would increase the overall proportion of affordable housing across the wider site from 35% to 38%.

Concerns were raised by Mr. Paul Scott, representing the Barking and Dagenham Heritage, regarding increased light pollution, safety issues arising from the high-rise development, and the adverse effect on local heritage, specifically St. Margarets Church and graveyard. Jarrod Spencer, representing the applicant, responded by noting that English Heritage had not raised concerns.

The committee resolved to agree the reasons for approval as set out in the report. Authority was delegated to the Strategic Director of Inclusive Growth, in consultation with the Head of Legal Services, to grant planning permission based on the proposed updates to the legal agreement under s106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. A timeframe was set for the completion of the legal agreement, with the Strategic Director of Inclusive Growth and Place delegated authority to refuse planning permission or extend this timeframe if the agreement was not completed by 14 April 2025.

Station Quarter - Barking Riverside Development Site, River Road, Barking

The committee also considered an application for the approval of details relating to the Sub Framework Plan (SFP) for Station Quarter, pursuant to conditions of the outline planning permission granted in 2018. This application also sought the partial discharge of several conditions, including those related to phasing, nature conservation, landscape, access, and the design code. The proposal covered up to 1,000 dwellings within Use Class C3 or equivalent large-scale purpose-built shared living accommodation, up to 2,000 sqm of retail and commercial floorspace, and up to 6,800 sqm of health and leisure facilities, with associated landscaping, parking, and routes.

Barking Riverside Ltd (BRL) is the applicant for this development. A supplementary report was presented to correct formatting errors in the published report concerning the minimum percentage proposed for the mix and size of dwellings within the Station Quarter SFP area. The corrected text clarified that the exact dwelling mix would be provided at the reserved matters stage, but the SFP in total would provide 30% 1-bed units, 45% 2-bed units, and 25% 3-bed+ units.

Matthew Carpen, Managing Director of BRL, highlighted the progress of the wider Barking Riverside development, noting the completion of approximately 560 homes in the last year and plans for a further 600 homes. He emphasised that this application represented the next stage in land disposals to BRL's partners, providing confidence to deliver infrastructure and planning permissions in challenging market conditions.

Officers concluded that the submitted details demonstrated a high quality for the SFP and that the revised SFP would remain within the maximum parameters and agreed strategies of the outline planning consent. The proposals were considered to facilitate the continued delivery of homes and commercial development in a high-quality and compliant manner.

The committee resolved to agree the reasons for approval as set out in the report and delegated authority to the Director of Inclusive Growth (or authorised Officer) to approve the SFP's and specified planning conditions for Station Quarter, Barking Riverside.