(a) A part 7 / part 7 / part 8 storey building on the east side of site around the EDF substation (on Skerne Road) for a 180 bedroom hotel (with conference, banqueting & meeting facilities) and 121 flats; and (b) 2 blocks (part 6 / part 8 and and part 9 / part 11 storey) providing 235 flats on the west part of the site (the Riverside); together with parking and amenity space on the site of the old Kingston Power Station, Skerne Road, Kingston-upon-Thames.
These latest proposals are different from those previously refused permission in October 2007 (06/12424/FUL) in the following respects:
The Riverside proposals:
- have been entirely redesigned
- there would be two blocks arranged around a central courtyard
- the overall height of the proposals has been drastically reduced
- there would be 13 more flats in this part of the site
- vehicular access to the site remains off Henry MacCauley Avenue but the entrance to the underground parking has been relocated further south within the site.
- there are detailed changes to the external appearance and its scale and mass
- the proposed hotel has been increased from 150 to 180 bedrooms
- the proposed flats have been redesigned internally, some are enlarged and thus there would be 27 fewer flats in this block.
- The Environmental Services Help Desk, 2nd Floor, Guildhall 2 between 8.45am and 5pm Monday to Thursday and 8.45am to 4.45pm on Fridays.
- Kingston Library during normal opening hours.
After a huge amount of debate the CARA Committee is broadly supportive of these new proposals as we wish to see improvements to this long neglected but strategically important site for the town centre, creating a solution of which everyone can be proud of.
We would also encourage all interested parties to comment on this application (both those who are 'for' and those 'against'). In fact the Council welcomes relevant comment as part of the consideration of the application. Please write, e-mail (including your name and address) to dc@rbk.kingston.gov.uk, or comment directly at www.kingston.gov.uk by 21st April 2008, quoting the reference number 08/12146.
Presumably this will be reviewed at the Development Control Committee scheduled for Thursday 5th June 2008 at 7.30pm at the Guildhall.
(Click on the image for a larger view of the plan)
1 comment:
RBK Development Control Committee approved the Power Station site
hotel and apartment development on 27th May. No objectors were
registered to speak, so there were only speakers for the proposal:
NPL, the applicants, and Tommy Moran of the Moran hotel group, who are still keen to be part of the project.There were no opportunities for comments or questions from the floor, and there were surprisingly few
members of the public there (though lots from NPL and the architects).
Cllr Osbourne at one point referred to the "absence of outrage" at this latest proposal as evidence that it was much more acceptable than previous ones.
The Service Director (Planning and Development) recommended approval
in his (very detailed) report, and councillors' questions and
discussion tended to focus not on the principle of the development but on detail, e g phasing, terms and conditions, parking and traffic, the proportion and concentration of affordable housing, the safety of the
electricity substation, noise, rubbish and recycling. RBK appeared inclined to accept the lower proportion of affordable housing than originally envisaged, wanted by the developers for reasons of "financial viability", in order to achieve regeneration at last of the site and a hotel development that was widely supported. RBK had set conditions, e g to prevent the developers racing ahead with expensive
flats for sale and lagging behind on the hotel and affordable units.
Council officers were confident that the concerns aired had been or could be dealt with and that the conditions laid down for the
developers were sufficient. When it came to the vote only Cllr Mama
was against, with 8 (I think) for. It now has to go to the Mayor of
London for approval, but as the GLA apparently is supportive, this
seems likely.
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