Tesco Essex Arms development approved

Artists impression of new store... where did the cars go?

After twice rejecting Tesco’s plans for the former Essex Arms site on Forest Road, Waltham Forest council approved the Express store and 17 flats at a meeting on Tuesday night (2nd Feb).

The Waltham Forest Guardian was at the meeting and reports that the only planning committee members to vote against the development were Ed Northover and Bob Wheatley.  Cllr Wheatley told the Guardian “We hear about it bringing in jobs but it may take away other jobs because some of the shops will have to close down.”

Residents contacting BAG were split 50/50 between those who just want someone to develop a run down site and those against Tesco’s arrival in the area.  Concerns were expressed at Tesco’s maintenance of the site after squatters moved into the building.
Residents of the flats behind have also complained about the new building blocking their view/light.
Although BAG received a number of suspiciously detailed enthusiastic emails that had the reek of PR all over them, it has to be said that opinion is divided and many people will welcome the arrival of Tesco into the area.

The four storey new build will consist of 6 x 1 bed, 8 x 2 bed & 3 x 3 bed with the Express store beneath.

To view the plans visit the councils website here

Tesco were granted approval on the condition they spend £129,000 “improving the local area”. BAG have spoken to Tesco several times to get clarification as to what this money will be spent on but has yet to receive the information.
According to the council minutes, these are the details:

Section 106 Legal Agreement – Planning Obligations

1.          Provision of 100% affordable housing based on the number, housing mix and tenure as illustrated on the Accommodation Schedule submitted with the application,

2.          Payment of a contribution of £129,310 towards the provision of additional local educational facilities, local health care, improvements to the public realm, bus stop accessibility improvements, upgrading of cycle routes, the setting up of a car club scheme with the provision of an off site car club in close proximity of the site, environmental improvements including street tree planting and towards implementing the Council’s Air Quality Action Plan in line with guidance in the Council’s Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document 2008

3.          Agreement of the developer to fund works to upgrade the ‘estate’ road off Pretoria Avenue to serve the residential parking at the rear to an adoptable standard including waiting restrictions along the residential access road and any associated costs related to the advertising and amendments to Traffic Orders and that the approved works be undertaken prior to first occupation of any of the 17 residential units.

4.          Agreement of the developer to fund the design and implementation of the new vehicular access located to the west of the site utilising the existing turning head and works to the service vehicle access/egress utilising the existing access on Forest Road, works to be agreed with the Council’s Highway Authority prior to implementation and any associated costs related to the advertising and amendments to Traffic Orders etc. The approved works be undertaken prior to the store being open for trading.

5.          An independent Safety Audit (funded by the developer) is carried out in respect of (4) above and the results provided and approved by the Council prior to any use of the store for trading purposes.

6.          Future occupiers of the residential units shall not be entitled to obtain parking permits to park in the surrounding Controlled Parking Zone.

7.          Agreement to pay an additional fee of 5% of the total monetary contribution for monitoring the agreement.

The Committee further agreed that in the event that the Section 106 Agreement is not signed/sealed before the statutory determination date of 15th February 2010 the Director of Development be authorised to refuse planning permission for the development for the reason of failure to complete the Agreement

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