The Strategic Planning Committee met to discuss an application to amend a previously approved planning permission for Autopia House, 231 Colney Hatch Lane, London, N11 3DG. The committee voted to grant planning permission for the amended plans, subject to a Section 106 agreement¹ and referral to the Mayor of London.

Autopia House, 231 Colney Hatch Lane

The committee considered a Section 73 application² to amend planning permission 20/1610/FUL, which was granted in October 2021 for the demolition of existing buildings and redevelopment to provide two buildings up to seven storeys high, plus a basement, comprising 204 residential units and a food store, with associated parking, amenity space, and landscaping. The committee voted to grant planning permission subject to Section 106 and referral to the Mayor of London.

The proposed amendments include:

• Extending the fourth and fifth floor massing of Block B
• Expanding two facade elements of Block A by approximately 20cm
• Altering select balcony positions
• Removing one passenger lift and adding a smoke shaft in each core
• Making the internal corridors within both blocks continuous to allow for access to multiple cores
• Bridging the gap between the eastern and western massing elements and extending the fifth floor of Block B
• Increasing the number of homes from 204 to 206
• Amending the residential unit mix

Dennis Nickandroff, Senior Planning Officer, explained that the amendments were needed to ensure the scheme complied with current building regulations, particularly regarding fire safety. The changes would result in a minor reduction in affordable housing provision, from 34.8% to 34.2%, due to the loss of four shared ownership units. The number of London Affordable Renting schemes would remain unchanged at 16.

Luke Rastrick of Centro Planning Consultancy, the agent for the application, said that the new fire regulations introduced in November 2024 meant that the consented layout was no longer compliant. He added that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Greater London Authority (GLA) were content with the proposed amendments. He also noted that there was already a contract in place with Lidl to deliver the food store, which would create 40 local jobs and provide competition to existing food stores in the area.

Councillor Nigel Young, Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee, asked about the viability of the Lidl store, given its proximity to a large Tesco store. Mr. Rastrick responded that Lidl's business model involves positioning stores close to established food stores to capitalise on existing footfall.

Several public objections were received, raising concerns about the development being out of character with the area, its visual impact, the impact on Coppetts Wood Nature Reserve, increased pollution and traffic, and strain on local infrastructure.

The planning officer's report noted that the GLA had confirmed that the amendments did not raise any new strategic planning issues. Transport for London (TfL) commented that the minor increase in the number of homes would have minimal impact on transport matters, subject to previously requested conditions being adhered to. The Metropolitan Police Designing Out Crime officer requested the retention of the previously secured 'Secure by Design' condition.

The report also addressed the impact on Metropolitan Open Land (MOL), stating that while the site is not within the MOL designation, the adjacent Coppetts Wood is. The report concluded that the proposed amendments would not have increased effects on the openness, character, and tranquillity of the MOL.

The committee report recommended that planning permission be granted subject to a Section 106 agreement, which would secure obligations relating to affordable housing, carbon offset, highways, playspace and open space, and trees.