Forum Topic

Shakespeare Planning Decision

See front page story. The committee report states that the applicants have already appealed as the council had not decided within the set time period. As a result the decision will be made by appeals process and not the council. However the planning committee will decide whether it was 'minded' to approve or refuse the application. The report recommends approval and gives many reasons for doing so. I suggest anyone interested in the site or the process reads it!http://www2.ealing.gov.uk/services/council/committees/agendas_minutes_reports/regulatory_committees/planning_committee/25may2010-23may2011.html

Iain Muir ● 5630d8 Comments

Surprising that the developer has appealed already, as this means further delay to any decision being made. The application is significant enough to warrant appointment of a planning inspector, with a public hearing, so expect anywhere between 6-12 months before a final decision on this application.No longer being a councillor, nor a resident in the area, I’ve not involved myself in the application (I’ve only glanced at the plans) but the report shows planning officers up to their usual tricks of ignoring planning guidance that does not fit their decision to recommend approval. Two examples will suffice. First, density. The report claim this is an urban area – it isn’t. The site is outside the Acton town centre area, so normal residential measures of density apply, 170-250 habitable rooms per hectare (application is for 301), and between 30-80 units per hectare (application is for 113). Secondly garden space. Two flats have no access to any communal garden space at all. The ground floor flat has a 30m2 garden; the minimum required is 50m2. The reports says this is ‘only’ a shortfall of 20m2; yep, ‘only’ 40% short of the requirement! Ealing planning officers could spin for England (or Alistair Campbell). I sometimes miss having battles on these sorts of things, but then again it’s nice to have a normal life.

Vlod Barchuk ● 5630d

I particularly like the line that hydraulic lifts for cars have been approved by the Council quite happily for residential properties.Persistence by the "anti" campaign leaders demonstrates this is just untrue.Not built, not approved but still, somehow, a precedent for approval.All such a dog's dinner that i would have thought the protesters would have a good Local Ombudsman case for an apppallingly conducted process. But what a fag!

Sara Nathan ● 5630d

The density figures quoted by Vlod are from the UDP, have they been changed since either through progress towards the LDF or the London Plan? Presumably one of the committee members could be asked to raise the question?I have said before that I think this application should be approved. I am more concerned about the Ealing Town Centre schemes like Dickens Yard and now the proposed redevelopment of Westel House.....21 storeys with a viewing platform and the loss of one of the better modern buildings in the area.....also on the agenda for tomorrow

Iain Muir ● 5630d

At tonights meeting the planning application was...................REFUSED !!Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Ellie Rose ● 5630d

Oh goodoWill it make any difference if it has already been referred to the inspectors?

Sara Nathan ● 5630d

Well it tells the inspectors what the committee thought....but as the officers recommended approval a cynic might suggest that the delay in getting to committee, allowing the applicant to appeal, allows the councillors to curry favour with local objectors in the knowledge that the inspectors will over rule them......Tis tricky for politicians to deal with nimbys, which is why 'localism' will not work in this context.

Iain Muir ● 5629d

This isn't Nimbyism AS I understand it - which is about locating something intrinsically undesirable to residents such as a bail hostel or a runway - but about objecting to a specific piece of destruction of a local landmark and its replacement by dense, unsuitable housing of little benefit to any but the developer - where a NIMBY objection is often about something socially or economically useful but which neighbours don't want near THEM. I do agree however that if it has gone to appeal already, councillors had nothing to gain by opposing and equally little to gain by approving...unless they then have a demonstrable voice in the later part of the process.

Sara Nathan ● 5629d

The LDF is currently a proposal so I believe has no planning status (the response to the consultation on this is already several months late for reasons unknown - perhaps Cllr Julian Bell, as the man responsible for regeneration policy can explain the hold up).Anyone who cares about their community is by definition a NIMBY, we need more of them. Good developers work with locals to deliver schemes that everyone can live with, accepting there needs to be give on both sides.The Council formally refusing the application is important as it means they will make representations to the inspector setting out the reasons for the refusal, though that may just mean a luke warm contribution from planning officers.

Vlod Barchuk ● 5629d