The Development Committee of Tower Hamlets Council met on Thursday, 25 April 2024, to discuss a planning application for a property on Columbia Road and an interim delegation scheme for planning powers from the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC). The committee unanimously granted planning permission for the proposed development at 82 Columbia Road and agreed to the recommendations for the interim delegation scheme.

Planning Application for 82 Columbia Road

The committee granted planning permission with conditions for a proposed single-storey rear extension and a new rear garden entrance door at 82 Columbia Road, London, E2 7QB. The application, PA/23/02171, had generated 23 objections from local residents and businesses.

The proposal involves modifying an existing single-storey rear extension to create a new kitchen and outdoor courtyard for the first-floor residential unit. This would reduce the retail and café floor space on the ground floor by approximately 31 square metres, from 128 sqm to 97 sqm (including the basement). Objectors raised concerns about the loss of retail space, the potential negative impact on the character of the Jesus Hospital Estate Conservation Area, and the viability of the current business operating at the site. They also expressed concerns about the accuracy of the submitted plans and the potential for the property to be used as an Airbnb.

Officers advised that while the loss of floor space was noted, the remaining 97 sqm of Class E floorspace would still be a viable retail unit and would not materially alter the nature or viability of the unit or the Columbia Road Neighbourhood Centre. They also stated that the impact on the conservation area would be positive, with the removal of an uncharacteristic roller shutter and a reduction in the overall built form of the rear extension. The committee heard that the current café operates only on weekends, and the business viability of a specific tenant is not a material planning consideration. The proposal was deemed to comply with the London Plan and the Tower Hamlets Local Plan, particularly policies relating to land use, heritage, design, and residential quality. The committee voted unanimously to grant planning permission.

London Legacy Development Corporation Interim Delegation Scheme

The committee also considered a report on an interim delegation scheme for planning functions from the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) to Tower Hamlets. This scheme is designed to ensure a smooth handover of planning powers from the LLDC to the four boroughs it covers, including Tower Hamlets, which is scheduled to take effect on 1 December 2024.

The interim delegation scheme, proposed to run from 1 September to 30 November 2024, would allow Tower Hamlets to assess and determine new planning applications submitted to the LLDC during this period. The benefits of this approach include providing certainty and continuity for applicants, allowing LLDC planning teams to focus on existing cases, and enabling the boroughs to influence planning decisions in the Olympic legacy area earlier. The scheme also ensures that the receiving borough benefits from planning fees.

The committee was informed that if the necessary secondary legislation to formalise the transfer of powers is delayed, the delegation scheme could continue beyond 1 December 2024. The committee agreed to the recommendations, confirming their willingness to determine applications under the delegation scheme and requesting that the Council formally confirm the scheme. This decision was made unanimously.