The plans, which have been submitted by Chalegrove Properties, include the construction of the UK's tallest residential tower on the site of the former City Pride public house at 15 Westferry Road. It would comprise 822 flats, including 37% affordable housing, as well as 162 serviced apartments, a roof terrace, an amenity pavilion with shops and open space.
The Council's planning officers had recommended (62-page / 1.54MB PDF) that the committee should resolve to grant planning permission for the scheme and said that the proposed 239 metre tower would form "an integral part of the cluster of buildings to the north of the Isle of Dogs".
However, the committee members said (4-page / 60KB PDF) at a meeting last week that they were minded to refuse the application because of concerns over the proposed height and scale of the building in relation to the Council's policy for tall buildings in Canary Wharf.
The members also said they were concerned about the density of the proposed scheme in relation to the London Plan, the lack of public open space and the lack of mixed housing tenure.
The committee deferred the application to allow the Council's planning officers to prepare a supplementary report to a future committee meeting, in which they will set out proposed reasons for refusal and the implications of refusal.
In light of the deferral, the committee also deferred a linked application by Chalegrove to develop a range of buildings at 443-451 Westferry Road opposite the City Pride site to comprise 173 homes.
The Council previously granted planning application in 2009 to developer Glenkerrin for a 215m tower at the City Pride site to comprise 62 storeys with flats and a hotel. Chalegrove subsequently bought both sites in 2011.
Chalegrove said in a statement that it was "reviewing its options" before the applications come back and that it remains "committed to the successful development of both sites".
