Forum Topic

Developer led planning processes - Friary Park

We're seeing an increase in developer led planning processes and applications across the country and Friary Park estate in Acton is one of them.  What we need to see by our Council is an open suburban/urban planning process that actually responds to local need.  The Friary Park area is a suburban and the Catalyst proposal for a 20 - 29 storey tower block (yes, it's now been confirmed as up to 29 floors by Catalyst themselves) is classed as an urban project. The density PTAL of an urban area and project exceeds that of a suburban area and the Catalyst proposal has higher density levels than our current suburban area would allow.  So, what to do if you're the Council?  Reject the plans by the developer with a flea in their ear and tell them to rethink and design so that the area is served well by this proposal?  No.  It seems, from what Catalyst was saying, and from the classification of this proposal as urban, that our beloved Council, who protect us so well, are willing to re-designate our suburban status to urban, by the flick of pen probably.  Any consultation on this one?

Angela White ● 4147d2 Comments

Correction "fully fund"*

Julian Smith ● 4147d

Not that I've seen...Some questions for Catalyst, and Ealing Council:Why do they need to fully find the build from sales?Why can't future income from the affordable/social part be used to finance this? At least in part?What effect does the use of 30-40% of valuation for borrowing purposes on "transferred stock" have on financing future redevelopment?When they redevelop an existing estate the cost model is different to a developer having to buy a new site - potentially (see later) no land costs, potential to create new housing with effectively zero land cost even if sunk cost of land must be taken into account in replacement of existing dwellings. Therefore, what is their current borrowing against Friary Park Estate?What has that money been used for?How much was paid for the purchase of the estate? And how much of this original price has been recovered from rents subsequently paid?What part of the objectives which Housing Associations were set up to fulfil (provision of affordable and social housing) is met by sale of units to foreign investors? Have they changed their constitution/objects to allow this, and if so was there public consultation given the manner of original stock transfer?I believe that they are treating us like idiots...

Julian Smith ● 4147d