Excerpt of Tower Hamlets Council meeting held on 15 January 2025 (AI Generated Summary).
Strategic Development Committee – Wednesday 15 January 2025
The committee considered three applications for planning permission, two of which were approved and one deferred to the next meeting.
Bow Common Gas Works
The committee approved a Section 73 application to amend the masterplan for the redevelopment of the former Bow Common Gas Works site. The application, submitted by St William, seeks to increase the quantum of development on the site, amend the layout of the development, increase the number of residential units, and amend the landscaping.
The applicant argued that the application was necessary in order to accommodate changes in fire regulations and to increase the amount of affordable housing being delivered on the site. The applicant stated that the revised masterplan would:
Deliver up to 1,762 homes across the site.
Maintain 35% affordable housing.
Deliver 271 affordable homes in the next phase of development.
Increase the size of the public park by 70%, to 4.2 acres.
Deliver a new amphitheatre.
Provide high-quality, biodiverse-rich green space.
The application had been the subject of an extensive program of community engagement, and the applicant told the committee that residents had been fully consulted on the changes. However, representations from residents were heard at the meeting, in particular from Mr Tom Houghton, speaking on behalf of residents of the adjacent St Leopold development.
“We do not oppose the development in itself as we understand that this needs to be developed…but we feel that it needs to be done in consultation with the community”
The residents objected to the application on a number of grounds, including the increased density of the development and the scale and height of the proposed buildings. However, the committee were persuaded by the applicant’s arguments that the application would deliver significant benefits to the borough, in particular the increased provision of affordable housing and publicly accessible open space. The committee voted unanimously to approve the application, subject to a number of conditions.
This summary is provided by Open Council, which uses AI-generated summaries to ensure that journalism fulfils its role in informing the public of the activities of government.
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