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3 weeks ago
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Plans to build 355 new homes and a community café and music venue in Stratford are set to be approved next week (March 18). The Pickstock Group have submitted plans to build two tower blocks on vacant land located at 68 to 70 Stratford High Street.
The site was last used as a car dealership showroom for Porsche, but this was demolished in 2016. Under the proposals, a 12 storey and 29 storey building would be built on site and would include space for communal facilities and a community café which would function as a jazz café on certain evenings and weekends.
The taller building would consist of 272 private rent homes while the smaller building would consist of 83 'affordable' homes. Of the affordable homes, 51 would be social rent while the remaining 32 would be intermediate housing. The site is surrounded by the Bow Back River while various cycle and walking routes are located along Marshgate Lane and Stratford High Street.
If the plans are approved, the site would help to open up the river's waterfront, which planning officers have said is currently inaccessible. Planning officers went on to praise the plans, adding it's an opportunity to provide an 'exciting new use' of the currently vacant site, while Pickstock said it hopes the scheme would create a vibrant and inclusive environment.
During the public consultation stage, the plans received 12 responses of which 11 were objections and one was in support. Jazz East, which has set its sights on taking up the community space, submitted a letter of support. Meanwhile the 11 objections included concerns over the height of the buildings, loss of views, overlooking and loss of privacy, loss of daylight and sunlight and potential noise impacts from the music venue.
Objectors also raised concerns over potential congestion on Marshgate Lane and the impact on traffic and parking from residents and construction. In response to concerns raised over loss of views, planning officers said the proposed development is located 'far enough away' from nearby properties to avoid 'an undue impact on outlook'.
In response to noise concerns, planning officers said: "...Environmental Health Officers have requested standard conditions to ensure that noise insulation for the units is of an acceptable standard. Similarly, conditions are required to ensure that the proposed café/music venue would not result in undue impacts on residents. It should also be noted that any music venue and events may also be subject to separate licensing controls."
The plans will ultimately be heard by Newham Council's Strategic Development Committee on March 18.
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