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76 Burnley Road |
A proposal to replace a vehicle repair workshop with a
Co-operative food store opposite the Burnley Road entrance to Dollis Hill
Station has divided local residents. Brent Council planners have recommended
rejection of the application:
In contrast to Brent Council's advocacy of the retails jobs
provided at the London Designer Outlet at Wembley Stadium, Planning Officers
state:
With regards to on-site employment, the
Applicant has submitted information stating that there would
be a net increase
in employment on the site as a result of the proposal. The Homes and
Communities Agency (HCA) Employment Densities Guide (2010) sets out that Use
Class B2 (General Industry) requires 36sqm floorspace per employee. This equates
to a capacity, for the existing use, of approximately 8 employees, whereas the
proposed retail store could create 20-25 jobs. It must be noted, however, that
up to 20 of these employees for the retail unit are proposed to be ‘part time’
employees. Furthermore, your officers consider that the jobs associated with
defined employment uses are more likely to be skilled jobs than those
associated with a retail use. Therefore, whilst acknowledging there would be a
net increase in employment on the site, your officers conclude that an
employment use has a greater beneficial impact on employment, with higher
skilled personnel with the potential of apprentice schemes, than the proposed
retail use.
Petitions both for and against the proposal
have been submitted as well as individual comments. The majority are against:
Against
35 comments
Petition Against - The second was an
organised petition from 680 addresses with 992 signatures - including 175
signatures that did not have a full address. The objections are that the
introduction of the local convenience store will damage the local shops and
their business.
Your
officers are also aware of a change.org petition against the proposal titled
Help Protect Our Shops, with 103 objectors, on the grounds that the Council
should support local community stores
For
5 comments
Petition For
1)- Petition consisting of approximately 95 names. Many of these did not have
full addresses. The generic supporting reason was the positive addition of a convenience
store on Burnley Road.
Petition For
2) 5 individuals from 5 different addresses who support the application based
on new jobs and groceries at fair prices.
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A number of councillors called in the proposal so that it would be decided by the Planning Committee rather than by officers and their reasons varied:
Name of
Councillor
Councillor
Harrison
Date and
Reason for Request
17/04/2016
Details
of any representations received
We
understand that the Co-operative Group proposals will result in the employment
of 20-25 people with priority given to recruitment in the local area.
Name of
Councillor
Councillor
Nerva
Date and
Reason for Request
17/04/2016
Details
of any representations received
We
understand that the Co-operative Group proposals will result in the employment
of 20-25 people with priority given to recruitment in the local area.
Name of
Councillor
Councillor
Collier
Date and
Reason for Request
18/04/2016
Details
of any representations received
We
understand that the Co-operative Group proposals will result in the employment
of 20-25 people with priority given to recruitment in the local area.
Name of
Councillor
Councillor
Shahzad
Date and
Reason for Request
20/04/2016
Details
of any representations received
Should be
heard at Committee so residences can expressed their views to the committee.
Name of
Councillor
Councillor
Hirani
Date and
Reason for Request
22/04/2016
Details
of any representations received
Concerned
about the impact on local independent shops;
Concerns with the increase of
traffic and spaces for loading vehicles.
Name of
Councillor
Councillor Choudry
Date and
Reason for Request
22/04/2016
Details
of any representations received
Concerned about the impact on local
independent shops;
Concerns with the increase of traffic and spaces for loading
vehicles.
Name of
Councillor
Councillor Patel
Date and
Reason for Request
20/04/2016
Details
of any representations received
Request that the application be discussed and decided by the Planning
Committee only.
Any
person wishing to inspect the above papers should contact Robert Reeds,
Planning and Regeneration, Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0FJ,
Tel. No. 020 8937 6726