The Planning Committee of Waltham Forest Council met on Tuesday, 7 May 2024, to discuss and determine several planning applications. The committee granted planning permission for two significant developments: Altham House at 1 Blackhorse Lane, Walthamstow, and a mixed-use development at 817-823 Forest Road, Walthamstow.

Altham House, 1 Blackhorse Lane, Walthamstow, London, E17 6DS (240359)

Planning permission was granted for the variation of Condition 2 of a previous planning permission at Altham House. The approved amendments involve minor material amendments to the development, including an increase in co-living accommodation numbers and alterations to the building's massing, along with minor changes to the layout and landscaped public realm.

The decision included a Section 106 Agreement with several Heads of Terms. These include a financial contribution of £602,292 towards offsite affordable housing provision, with an early-stage viability review mechanism. The agreement also stipulates that all shared living rooms will be marketed exclusively to key workers and local residents for three months before being offered on the open market. Specific provisions are made for the retention and marketing of a music venue, including the requirement for a marketing strategy and regular updates to the Local Planning Authority.

Further terms of the Section 106 Agreement cover an Employment and Training Strategy, aiming for 30% local labour, 20% local spend, 29 apprentice posts, and 10 work placements, with default payments if these targets are not met. Wheelchair accessible shared-living units will be exclusively marketed to disabled occupiers for one year.

Significant financial contributions are also required for highways and public realm improvements, including footway and cycle track renewal, vehicle crossover construction, and CCTV installation. A contribution of £280,000 is allocated for sustainable transport, £15,000 for the Walthamstow Marshes flood study, and £12,500 for Construction Logistics Plan monitoring. The development is designated as car-free, except for two disabled parking spaces. Contributions are also mandated for Walthamstow Wetlands (£321,000), local community infrastructure (£10,000), and an Air Quality Action Plan (£40,006). A carbon offset fund contribution of £387,240 is required, with a provision for recalculation if the site connects to the Blackhorse Lane Heat Network. Financial contributions are also stipulated for Epping Forest Special Area of Conservation (SAC) (£111,814) and legal and monitoring fees.

The decision was made subject to numerous conditions covering materials, signage strategy, highways and parking, air quality and noise, hours of operation, landscaping, waste management, energy and sustainability, water and drainage, contamination, safety and security, boundary treatment, and wheelchair user units.

817 - 823 Forest Road, Walthamstow, London, E17 0DN (232205)

Planning permission was granted for the demolition of the existing petrol station building and structures and the construction of a new mixed-use building. The development will comprise commercial floorspace (Use Class E) on the ground floor and 39 residential units (Use Class C3) across part three, part four, and part five storeys. The proposal includes landscaping, refuse/recycling storage, cycle parking, disabled persons' parking, and associated works.

The decision was subject to a Section 106 Legal Agreement. Key Heads of Terms include a £150,000 contribution towards off-site affordable housing provision, with viability review mechanisms. The agreement also mandates a Wheelchair Accessible Dwelling Marketing Strategy, requiring wheelchair units to be exclusively marketed for a minimum of 12 months.

Significant highway works are required under a Section 278 agreement, including the removal of redundant crossovers, installation of dropped kerbs, construction of vehicle crossovers, and renewal of footways and cycle tracks on Forest Road, Clifford Road, and St John's Road. Amendments to Traffic Regulation Orders and the adoption of land fronting Forest Road are also included. Contributions of £2,000 for Construction Logistics Plan monitoring and £35,000 towards sustainable transport improvements are stipulated. A car-free development is mandated, with residents not entitled to parking permits unless they are blue badge holders.

An Employment and Training Strategy requires 30% local labour, 20% local spend, 7 apprentice posts, and 2 work placements during the construction phase, with default payments for non-compliance. Financial contributions are also required for air quality (£3,900), a carbon offset fund for both residential (£27,929) and commercial (£2,377) development, Epping Forest SAC (£24,453), parks and leisure refurbishment (£5,000), and flood mitigation/SuDS implementation (£5,000). A contribution towards the value of a street tree is also stipulated if it dies within five years due to building works. The agreement also covers the retention of the architect, legal fees, and monitoring fees.

The development was granted subject to numerous conditions covering time limits, approved plans and documents, contamination, construction, architecture and design, highways, sustainable design and energy efficiency, landscape and biodiversity, waste management, flooding and water management, parking management, noise, residential standards, commercial use, and operational hours.

The meeting also noted the minutes of the previous meeting and the Chair's agreement to the submission of an Update Report for the Development Management items. The Committee resolved to delegate the formalisation of wording for conditions and reasons for refusal to the Assistant Director – Development Management & Building Control.

Councillor Andrew Dixon attended as a substitute for Councillor Kira Lewis. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the Chair, Councillor Jenny Gray, for her leadership.