The Local Development Committee of Newham Council met on 6 October 2025. During the meeting, attendees were scheduled to discuss a planning application relating to 269 High Street South, and to elect a vice-chair. The committee was also expected to confirm the minutes of a previous meeting.

Election of Vice-Chair

The committee was scheduled to elect a vice-chair. The report pack did not name the candidates, or explain the reason for the election.

269 High Street South

The committee was scheduled to discuss a Section 73 application¹ to vary condition 4 (hours of operation) relating to 269 High Street South, London, E6 3PG.

The applicant, Central Park Education & Welfare, sought to increase the hours of operation to 04:00 to 23:00, Monday to Sunday, including bank holidays. This condition was attached to planning consent 19/00395/FUL, which allowed the change of use of the ground floor from a restaurant to an educational institute and community centre.

The Director of Planning and Development, Jane Custance, recommended that the committee refuse planning permission, because the extended operating hours would negatively impact neighbouring residents.

The officer's report noted that the site is a mid-terraced ground floor unit with a residential flat above, located within a parade of commercial units on High Street South.

The report stated that an application (ref: 18/00236/FUL) for a change of use from A3 restaurant to D1 community centre was refused in 2018, due to its location, lack of evidence of local need, and potential for increased noise. This decision was appealed, but the appeal was dismissed in November 2019.

Another application (Ref: 19/00395/FUL) was approved in June 2019, with a condition imposed restricting the operating hours. This condition was later varied in July 2020 to extend the hours of operation to 09:00 - 23:00 (Monday to Saturday) and 09:00 - 22:00 (Sunday and Bank Holidays).

The applicant stated that the change in hours was required to accommodate two additional activities and one related preparation session in the early morning from 04:00 to 08:45. These included an exercise club from 06:00 to 07:00 and a breakfast club from 07:30 to 08:45, with delivery and preparation for the breakfast club from 04:00 to 05:30.

The report stated that Environmental Health officers objected to the proposed extended operating hours, and that the submitted documents had not justified the early morning start at 04:00.

The report noted that a revised supporting statement stated that the participants of the morning sessions would number 15 to 20, and food deliveries would be limited to one small van per day, scheduled no earlier than 04:00. However, officers considered that this clarification would not overcome concerns about the impact on neighbouring amenity.

The report concluded that the proposed extended operation time would significantly harm neighbouring amenity without sufficient justification and mitigation measures.