Cat Hill Planning Application

Former Cat Hill Campus (Middlesex University) Proposed New Residential Development Planning Application (Ref:P12-02266PLA)

The Site 

The former Cat Hill Campus is located at the junction of Cat Hill and Chase side. The site is approximately 4.9 hectares and contains approximately 17,000sqm of education buildings . The University has vacated the site and has relocated to purpose built facilities on the University's Hendon Campus. The site contains a significant number of mature trees/ woodlands around the perimeter of the site's boundary as well as two ponds one at the north east and smaller pond in the wooded southwest corner.    The site slopes down from the roads to the southwest corner. Acknowledging ,the importance of trees a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) is in place on the boundaries of the site, the woodland area in the southwest corner and 4 other individual trees. The TPO does not include the trees in the main central core of the campus. The site is bounded by Oak Tree School to the South, playing fields to the east on the opposite side of Chase Side and semi detached and detached residential properties to the west and north. The site is currently accessed by vehicles and pedestrians from two points one at Cat Hill and one at Chase Side. The site is approximately 15m walk walking distance to Cockfosters and Oakwood Tube Stations.

The Proposal

The proposal involves the demolition of existing buildings and redevelopment of the site to provide a total of 232 residential units comprising 163 self contained flats and 69 houses comprising the following break down: Block (A) 4 storey with balconies (11 units: 3x1 bed and 8x2 bed), Blocks B,C,D,E,F which are part 4/5 storeys ( which incorporates the part ground floor/ semi basement parking for these 5 blocks) as well as projecting lift shafts/ stair case elements above these blocks and recessed balconies.  Block B ( 32 units: 8x1 bed, 16x2 bed and 8x3 bed), Block C ( 28 Units: 8x1 bed and 20 x2 bed), Block D: ( 32 Units: 16 x1 bed, 8 x2 Bed and 8 x3 Bed), Block E ( 32 units: 24x2 bed and 8x3 bed), Block F ( 28 units: 8x1 bed, 8x2 bed and 12 x3 bed). 57 terraced houses comprising a mixture of 3 and 4 bed units with dormer windows to front and rear, some with balcony area, 12x4 bed semi detached houses with front and rear dormers together with raised ground level stepped terraced rear gardens, a total of 245 car parking spaces, pumping station, electricity sub station, trim trail, private amenity space as well as community amenity space including 3 play areas, landscaping and internal access roads, as well as changes in ground levels including raising of ground levels and other ancillary works including drainage. 

A  site layout plan of the proposed development is  shown to give an overview of the application. For full details of all the drawings and documentation associated with the application please refer to the Councils website.

Planning Committee Meeting 4 March 2013

At the meeting of the Council's Planning Committee on 4th March, proposals for the redevelopment of the site were considered and it was resolved to grant conditional planning permission subject to  the application being referred the Greater London Authority and the Mayor raising no objection to the recommendation and the signing of the Section 106 legal agreement to secure necessary financial contributions towards identified mitigation and infrastructure.

Once the referral has commenced, the GLA has 14 days in which to consider the application and decide whether to agree with the Council's resolution and the suggested conditions.