Out-Law News 1 min. read
13 Mar 2012, 2:02 pm
The scheme is a joint venture between Cathedral Group and United House and is known as the Deptford Project. It comprises an eight storey building providing 121 residential units, seven commercial workshop units and an extension to the existing St Paul's House to provide an additional 11 residential units, including three town houses.
The Deptford Project is located on a 0.7 hectare site adjacent to Deptford Railway Station and will also involve the refurbishment of the Grade 2 listed carriage ramp and use of the arches for 14 workshops, the creation of public open space and the creation of a permanent market place in front of the carriage ramp.
The Council officer's report to the Planning Committee noted that the development will provide eight affordable units, 6% of the total units.
Although the provision of affordable housing falls below the target in the Council's local development framework, officers were satisfied that the applicant's financial appraisal showed that the development provided the maximum viable amount of affordable housing units. The shortfall in affordable housing was considered to be acceptable taking into account the regeneration benefits of the scheme.
It was recommended that a section 106 agreement include a mechanism pursuant to which a financial contribution to off site affordable housing could be secured in future if this was found to be viable.
A section 106 agreement is a legally binding agreement under the Town and Country Planning Act which allows a local planning authority to agree planning obligations with a developer in association with the granting of planning permission.
Cathedral and United House are working to now finalise the section 106 agreement with the Council and hope to start construction towards the end of 2012.
