Repackaged: Developer again seeks permission for Brewery Road storage block

An artist’s impression of the Brewery Road development. Image: Islington Council

A Brewery Road development is having another crack at securing planning permission after previous attempts were deferred by councillors worried about its impact on a nearby housing association block.

The storage centre proposals were kicked into touch two years ago over concerns that nearby Simla Court would lose too much daylight – more than the 20 per cent threshold recommended by the Building Research Establishment (BRE).

The meeting in April 2019 saw a clash between officers and Cllr Paul Convery, who was unimpressed by the argument that the loss of light could be acceptably set at 30 per cent in Islington due to its built-up nature.

The new application, to be judged next week, repeats the argument that “transgressions” of the BRE guidance can be accepted in Islington.

Assessments show eight rooms at Simla would be affected by reductions in direct skylight ranging between 23.8 and 29.6 per cent.

The report states: “In Islington, given the built-up context, transgressions of up to 30 per cent are often accepted (reflecting the dense urban nature of the borough and that these reductions are modest).

“There are several windows at Simla Court that would be affected in terms of no-sky line (NSL) losses above BRE guidelines. However, the NSL transgressions are all below 30 per cent  and are regarded as a minor infringement.”

Officers said the impact on any individual property was not considered “so significant as to warrant refusal of planning permission”, with other benefits of the development including 2,043 square metres of storage and distribution space.

They added: “The proposal would serve to successfully support and enhance the functions of the Vale Royal/Brewery Road Locally Significant Industrial Site (LSIS) designation and is strongly supported in terms of land use.”