After extensive discussion, much of it concerned with the lack of affordable housing in the development, Brent Planning Committee approved the redevelopment of the Moberly Sports Centre. A speaker from Wilmott Dixon said that they would not be able to provide a high quality sports centre if they were required to build affordable rather than market housing. He said that Brent and Westminster councils had accepted this.
Cllr Mashari who is responsible for sports told the committee that the new centre was required to give an opportunity to the large number of people in the south of the borough who do not partake in regular physical activity which contributes to ill health. The centre represented a bargain for local people who would benefit from superior facilities at special concessionary rates negotiated for disabled, unemployed and low wage residents.
The application was approved with 7 for, 1 abstention and 1 against.
Approval is subject to any direction by the Mayor of London to refuse the application. He has 14 days to allow the draft decision to proceed unchanged or direct the Council to refuse the application.
Cllr Mashari who is responsible for sports told the committee that the new centre was required to give an opportunity to the large number of people in the south of the borough who do not partake in regular physical activity which contributes to ill health. The centre represented a bargain for local people who would benefit from superior facilities at special concessionary rates negotiated for disabled, unemployed and low wage residents.
The application was approved with 7 for, 1 abstention and 1 against.
Approval is subject to any direction by the Mayor of London to refuse the application. He has 14 days to allow the draft decision to proceed unchanged or direct the Council to refuse the application.
They have learnt nothing from the Willesden Library debacle. Property investors in Singapore will be happy though.
ReplyDeleteRubbish - It is the best thing to happen to this part of Brent for a long long time.
DeleteThis time they made the correct decision
This wasn't a comment on the sports centre itself, just on the housing aspect. Why are councils so soft on developers who refuse to include so-called affordable housing? These companies are making enormous profits, I don't think it's unreasonable for a Council that has a policy of 50% of all new housing to be "affordable" to actually insist it (or something close to it) is adhered to?
DeleteAgree
DeleteIn a few years time everyone will be moaning the rents are high and nobody can afford them.