UPDATE
BRENT PLANNING COMMITTEE APPROVED THE EXTRA EVENTS APPLICATION WITH JUST ONE VOTE AGAINST. MINUTES WILL GO TO PLANNING COMMITTEE BECAUSE OF WIDER ISSUES RAISED.
The application by Wembley National Stadium Ltd (WNSL) for additional major events at the stadium will be heard at 6pm tonight. The officer's report to the Planning Committee can be read HERE. The public can attend the meeting in person at the Civic Centre or watch online HERE.
While the full report can be read on the link above I print below two significant extracts. Quintain Ltd is the owner of some land within the planning application area and their developments around the stadium now has a large number of residents, many of whom have become restive over the impact of Wembley events on their lives:
QUINTAIN COMMENTS
The proposal is supported
subject to the following conditions:
From reviewing the
representations submitted by local residents, it is clear that event day management, and in
particular stewarding and post-event cleaning, are areas of significant
concern. Therefore, WNSL should commit to paying all the operational and management
costs associated with the additional events and/or any event that exceeds the
existing caps of 22 sporting events and 24 non -sporting events in a calendar
year.
WNSL have highlighted the
success of the triparty ‘Best in Class’ initiative between WNSL, Quintain and
Brent, which currently manages the impacts of event days upon the local area
and state this will be implemented for the additional events. Whilst we agree
that the ‘Best in Class’ principles covering stewarding, parking enforcement,
traffic management, toilets and street cleaning should apply to the additional
events, the increased costs associated with delivering these should be borne
wholly by WNSL.
To ensure residents’ amenity
is adequately protected, WNSL should commit to the following restrictions on
events: a cap on the maximum number of consecutive non -sporting events; a cap on the maximum number
of non-sporting events per week; and a cap on the maximum number of weeks in any
calendar year where the maximum number of consecutive non -sporting events or
maximum number of non-sporting events in a week can be held.
The above conditions should
be included in the s.106 Agreement (Deed of Variation).
Should they not be secured,
Quintain reserve the right to make further representations. As a participant in the Best
in Class initiative, and owner of land within the planning application boundary where
many of these measures will take place, Quintain would expect to be consulted on the
Deed of Variation before it is completed
We would also request that
WNSL, TfL and Brent work closely on mitigating the impact Stadium events have upon
existing bus routes and services to ensure residents are able to carry on their
daily lives and move around the area on event days with the minimum of
disruption.
THE OFFICER REPORT CONCLUSIONS (original report paragraph numbers)
144. The objections received
indicate that there is a level of impact currently experienced by local residents as a result
of events at the Stadium, with concerns predominantly focussed on anti-social behaviour,
transport issues, air quality and noise. Some impacts are to be expected, given the size of
the Stadium and its siting in a location surrounded by residential properties and businesses,
within a dense urban area, although it must be remembered that a Stadium has been in situ for
over 100 years.
145. The original cap on
events was imposed to manage the impacts until such time as specific transport
improvements had been made. Whilst most of these have taken place, not all of them
have been realised. Circumstances have changed since the original planning
permission in 2002, which suggest that the final piece of transport
infrastructure (i.e., the Stadium Access Corridor) will not be provided in its
originally envisaged form, but other changes to the road network have now taken
place. Therefore, the Council considers that the cap remains relevant.
146. Clearly, to increase
the number of higher capacity events to accommodate up to 8 additional major
non-sporting events per calendar year would imply an increase in the impact. However,
a wide range of mitigation measures have previously been secured and would continue
to do so to help mitigate these impacts. There are ongoing efforts to reduce
the number of vehicles on an event day, including additional parking
enforcement capacity and an updated Spectator Travel Plan to promote
sustainable travel patterns. WNSL and public transport operators work closely
to promote sustainable transport solutions and maximise the efficiency of the
network. This in turn contributes to reducing noise and air quality issues.
147. Infrastructure works
including two-way working in the area to the east of the Stadium and the
opening of a link between the western end of North End Road and Bridge Road to
provide an east-west route past the Stadium that is capable of being kept open
at all times before and after Stadium events has improved traffic flow in the
area and assist residents’ movements on event days.
148. The Trusted Parking
Scheme aims to ensure authorised car parks are responsibly run in a way that would limit their
impact on neighbouring residents and reduce local congestion, whilst the
Private Hire Management Scheme would reduce the number of vehicles in the area around the Stadium after
events have finished.
149. Employment and Training
benefits for Brent residents would also be secured by the proposed scheme.
150. With regard to
antisocial behaviour, a financial contribution would be paid by the Stadium to
Brent Council per additional major non-sporting event. This would go towards
mitigation measures as agreed between WNSL and the Council which may cover
measures to address anti-social behaviour.
151. Whilst it is
appreciated that local residents face challenges on event days, the direct economic benefits for the
local Brent economy of Stadium events are also recognised, including spending on
accommodation, food, drink and other ancillary items within the Wembley area. The uplift in
the event cap would also create additional event day steward and catering positions. Whilst
some types of business would suffer on event days, many would benefit from the influx of
people to the area.
152. In summary, it is
recognised that there is a level of impact associated with major events now, and that this would
increase with an increase in the number of high capacity major events. However, the measures
proposed would ensure that this is moderated as much as is reasonably achievable. All
are considered necessary to mitigate the increased number of major events which this
application proposes.
153. A further consideration
is that the Stadium can already be used for events up to 51,000 without restriction.
Existing mitigation measures would be extended to cover this increase. Measures including the
training and employment opportunities would apply more broadly to Stadium events, not just the
additional major non-sporting events for which permission is sought under this
application and would therefore provide wider benefits to local people and the local economy more
generally.
154. The proposal is
considered to accord with the development plan, having regard to material planning
considerations. While there will inevitably be some additional impacts
associated with an increase in the number of higher capacity non-sporting
events, a range of mitigation measures are proposed and some benefits are also
anticipated. The proposal is, on balance, recommended for approval.
Reading the report, although TfL mention the rail and tube routes they pay little attention to bus routes and their diversion and curtailment that impacts on residents.
Despite several protests over the curtailment of the 206 bus at Brent Park, affecting workers travelling to the industrial estates south of the stadium and school pupils when events are held on weekdays, no proposals are contained enabling the route to use the North End Road link.
