DD2063 Flamingo Park Club, Public Inquiry Costs

Flamingo Park Club
1.1 Cray Wanderers Football Club submitted a planning application to Bromley Council for the redevelopment of Flamingo Park, A20 Sidcup By Pass, Chislehurst. The proposal includes the demolition of existing buildings and erection of two/three storey football stadium with ancillary facilities; 2 community sport pitches; re-location of 3 existing football pitches and two 4-storey residential blocks (enabling development) comprising 28 two bedroom flats with undercroft car parking, refuse and cycle storage; as well as over ground parking for the stadium for a total of 393 cars and bicycle parking.
1.2 Bromley Council resolved to grant planning permission for the development on the 19 April 2016. In accordance with article 5 of the Town and Country Planning (Mayor of London) Order 2008, the application was referred back to the Mayor for Stage II consideration.
1.3 The Mayor of London formally directed Bromley Council to refuse a planning application made by Cray Wanderers FC on the 15 June 2016 because he found it was contrary to the London Plan given that the ‘very special circumstances’ argument presented by the applicant and the Council failed to justify the proposed development, which is considered to be inappropriate Green Belt development (see attached letter dated 15 June 2016). This application would have allowed the construction of a new football stadium and 28 “enabling” flats, which the Mayor also found would have a significant impact on the openness and character of the Green Belt. The stated reason for the Direction was:
“Green Belt: The ‘very special circumstances’ argument presented does not justify the proposed development, which is considered to be inappropriate, in the Green Belt. Whilst the benefits of the outdoor sports facilities to Cray Wanderers FC and the wider community are acknowledged, these benefits do not outweigh the significant harm that would be caused to the openness and character of the Green Belt. As such the proposal is contrary to the aims and objectives of the NPPF (2012), Policy 7.16 of the London Plan (2015) and Policy G1 of Bromley’s Unitary Development Plan (2006).”
1.4 The Secretary of State subsequently called in the application, which will be heard at a Public Inquiry in April 2017. The Mayor will be a “Rule 6 Party” at this Inquiry and is required to set out and defend his decision. This in turn requires him to prepare and present technical information most notably in respect of Green Belt, the determination of ‘very special circumstances’, landscape and visual impacts, and possibly valuation and viability evidence. Legal representation by leading Counsel will be required at the public inquiry.
1.5 These costs could be in the region of £145,000 and no current budget allocation exists. It is therefore requested that the Executive Director – Development, Enterprise & Environment allocates and authorises expenditure up to this figure to allow the Planning Team to appoint an external planning consultancy and leading Counsel as the necessary expertise and resource does not exist within the GLA. This figure is based on informal fee quotations requested from a planning consultancy that performed a similar role for the Mayor at a Public Inquiry earlier this year and internally estimated Counsel fees.

Planning consultant £58,000
Landscape consultant £42,000
Counsel £30,000
Miscellaneous £15,000
Total £145,000

2.1 To enable preparation for and presentation of a robust Mayoral case at the forthcoming Public Inquiry.

3.1 Under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, in making these decisions “due regard” must be had to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation as well as to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between people who have a protected characteristic and those who do not. Protected characteristics include age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation (and marriage or civil partnership status for the purpose of the duty to eliminate unlawful discrimination only). This duty has been taken into account, but no additional equality impact assessments are required beyond those considered in the relevant planning documentation for the Mayor to make these decisions.

4.1 If the Mayor’s decision is not robustly presented there is a very real risk that the London Plan would be undermined and London’s strategic planning interests would not be properly taken into account by the Planning Inspectorate at the Public Inquiry when he/she considers the planning application, thereby impacting the Mayor’s ability to carry out his statutory duties. The Mayor could also incur significant costs should he be found to have acted unreasonably or unlawfully.

5.1 The proposed expenditure will be funded from the existing 2016/17 Contingency Budget (Resources). All the delivery and spend will be incurred in 2016-17.
5.2 Any changes to this proposal, including budgetary implications will be subject to further approval via the Authority’s decision-making process. All appropriate budget adjustments will be made.

6.1 Section 30 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (as amended) (‘GLA Act’) gives the Mayor a general power to do anything which he considers will further one or more of the principal purposes of the GLA. The principal purposes, as set out in section 30(2), of the GLA Act are:
6.1.1 Promoting economic development and wealth creation in Greater London;
6.1.2 Promoting social development in Greater London; and
6.1.3 Promoting the improvement of the environment in Greater London
6.2 In formulating the proposals in respect of which a decision is sought, officers confirm that they have complied with GLA’s related statutory duties to:
6.2.1 Pay due regard to the principle that there should be equality of opportunity for all people;
6.2.2 Consider how the proposals will promote the improvement of health of persons, health inequalities between persons and to contribute towards the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom; and
6.2.3 Consider consulting with appropriate bodies.
6.3 Section 34 of the GLA Act, which allows the Mayor to do anything which is calculated to facilitate or is conducive or incidental to the exercise of any of his functions, and the Mayor’s powers under section 38 of the GLA Act to delegate to any member of staff functions of the GLA that are exercisable by him, and the foregoing sections of this form indicate that the decision requested falls within the above statutory powers of the GLA exercisable by the Executive Director – Development, Enterprise & Environment.
6.4 Leading Counsel has advised in consultation that planning consultants with particular expertise in Green Belt, landscape and visual impacts, and possibly valuation/viability will be required to prepare and present the Mayor’s decision at the public inquiry.