Covent Garden London
The heart of London's West End
Planning & Licensing sub-committee report
Central to the aims of the CGCA since the day it was founded has been to "promote high standards of planning and architecture in the [Covent Garden] area and to secure the preservation, protection, development of buildings or features of historic or public interest in the area. The Planning & Licensing sub-committee bears the responsibility for this work.
The CGCA is recognised as an amenity society by both Westminster and Camden for the Covent Garden area. In this capacity, we receive hundreds of applications every year, asking us for comments prior to the Council adjudicating whether to permit or refuse the application.
Applications and correspondence, on receipt, are stacked beside the co-ordinator's desk. It is not uncommon for this paper tower to rise several feet high. Our fortnightly agenda will usually feature 30 or more items for discussion. In these circumstances it would be easy to spend all our time only reacting to what we receive, however we also will write and send deputations on overall policy matters to local and central government. The volunteers who make up our committee sift and evaluate these applications and with their expertise and advice we respond to all. The list of members of this committee (given on the inside front cover) is a roll of honour, and the CGCA is very grateful for their work.
I give you a taste of the comments we make on frequent issues in applications. Air Handling Equipment Just as the sound of waves greets you at the seaside, so the hum and screech of air-conditioning follows you around the streets of Covent Garden. Hearing is not the only sense affected. Smells are pumped out into narrow alleys, and large pipes and equipment blot the streetscape and block light-wells. We say to applicants, • Why not natural ventilation? • The sound of air-conditioning is always intrusive • If you must have it, maintain your equipment, and use screening where possible • Turn it off at night Change of Shop Fronts We believe Covent Garden should maintain its character with individual and diverse narrow shop fronts. We say to applicants, • Look around you, is your proposal in character? • Look above ground floor level and respect the building you occupy • Look at the best examples in the area • Keep signage simple • Keep clutter off the pavement Change of Use We believe Covent Garden is not just for visitor shopping. The attraction of the area rests on the preservation of a high mix of uses and a residential community. We say to applicants for change and development, • What does the community gain? • Aren't there enough bars /cafés / restaurants? • Is the use compatible with your neighbours? • What about housing? • What about affordable housing? Security With rising crime and lawlessness on the streets, this a standard by which we increasingly judge applications. We say to applicants • Will the use or design attract crime? • Are there spaces which drug users or vagrants will occupy It is probably unavoidable that it is by our objections that we are known (they lead to dispute, appeals, public meetings etc). This can give a negative image of our work, particularly to potential applicants. It is instructive to know that in the last 3 meetings we have considered 36 planning applications, of which 13 were objected to. Sometimes our objection can be resolved in quick order by the applicant (better materials, lighting, refuse facilities etc). In other cases, we must always point out that it is as a result of 30 years campaigning to conserve and protect Covent Garden that has made this area so attractive to the very developers who now wish to exploit it. Statistics (April 2001 to March 2002) No of meetings : 21 Analysis of agenda items : Planning applications - 329 Tables & Chairs - 53 Licensing cases - 50 Other items - 145 In addition, there have been special presentations made by : Shaftesbury plc - re Thomas Neal's Cllr N Boles - re Civic Renewal The City Lit - re Wild St & Stukeley St G Philip Properties - re Stanfords Mercers Company - re block C The Planning & Licensing committee meets on alternate Tuesdays, starting at 6.30 and ending no later than 8.30. It is an open meeting and any interested members are encouraged to attend. Please ring the office, if you are interested to come and join us.James Tait, chair of Planning & Licensing sub-committee
"We have a collective responsibility not to ruin this city and all its many facets by not allowing 24-hour licensing and all the trouble it will bring to visitors and residents alike" Ms W, Shaftesbury Avenue
[ Home | About | Advice | Cartoons | Contact | Gallery | Handbook | Links | News | Newsletters | Sponsors ]