The Strategic Planning Committee of Havering Council met on Thursday 19 September 2024 to discuss a planning application for the Former Miniature Golf Club in Hall Lane, Upminster. The committee resolved to defer a decision on the application to allow for further clarification on financial contributions and the location of proposed play facilities.

P1533.23 - Former Miniature Golf Club, Hall Lane, Upminster

The committee discussed an application to vary condition number 1 of a reserved matters approval for the development at the Former Miniature Golf Club site in Hall Lane, Upminster. The original outline planning permission, approved in July 2020, was for 37 dwellings, which was later revised to 35 dwellings at the reserved matters stage in October 2022. The current application sought to substitute the approved plans, specifically concerning the public amenity spaces.

The core of the discussion revolved around the proposed changes to the public open spaces. The developer sought to replace a formal play space with an informal play space and transfer the responsibility for the management and maintenance of these spaces from the council to the developer. This transfer would be funded by a service charge to residents, estimated at £80,000 per annum.

A key point of contention was the financial contribution offered by the developer. Originally, £55,000 was proposed to enhance play facilities in the local area, in addition to a £120,000 contribution already agreed for improvements to Upminster Hall Playing Fields. However, concerns were raised by ward councillors and committee members that this amount was insufficient and that the proposed informal play area was not an adequate replacement for the formal play facilities.

Councillor John Tyler, a Ward Councillor for Cranham, expressed concerns that the informal play area, consisting of boulders, planting, and benches, would not be suitable for children's play and that the £55,000 offered was inadequate compensation for the loss of formal play equipment. He suggested that a more appropriate figure would be around £125,000.

Habib Neshat, the case officer, explained that the council's Park Management team considered the formal play provision at this specific location not essential, given the proximity of Upminster Hall Playing Fields. He also noted that the developer had increased their financial contribution offer to £71,000 (as per the addendum report). The Parks Manager indicated that the formal play facilities would be better located in a more accessible place, such as a local park, and that the decision on the exact location would be made by the public realm team.

During the debate, Councillor Ray Best proposed a motion to defer the decision to allow officers to seek further clarification on several points:

• The specific location where the financial contribution would be spent.
• Fuller details of what the contribution would fund.
• Consideration of an enhanced increase to the contribution.
• The cost of the equipment had it been installed on the original site.
• The cost and location of the proposed new site for the play equipment.

This motion was seconded by Councillor Dilip Patel.

Following a vote, the motion to defer was carried by five votes to one. The committee members who voted in favour of deferral were Councillor Reg Whitney, Councillor Ray Best, Councillor Dilip Patel, Councillor Jane Keane, and Councillor Bryan Vincent. Councillor Laurence Garrard voted against the motion.

The meeting was then closed.