Sometimes there is a jaw-dropping moment at Brent Planning Committee. Often it is the sheer audacity of planning officers' justification of developer's failure to meeting the demands of planning guidance.
Yesterday it was the confession of the Wembley Point developer's agent team that they knew nothing about the August floods at the Argenta House/Tokyngton Avenue site adjacent to the area on which they wish to build.
Heavy pumping equipment at the site
They seemed pretty nonchalant about their ignorance but this leads to a second thought. Why did Brent planning officers not inform them about the incident which led to TV and newspaper headlines, with one person having to be rescued from their van and families evacuated. Muhammed Butt, leader of Brent Council, had even visited the site to reassure residents and tweeted about it. LINK
Even more troubling, the matter was smoothly passed over and the Committee went on to approve the application, with even the most sceptical coucncillor, Tory Cllr Jayanti Patel (substituting for Cllr Maurice), voting for approval.
This is the modelling of the water flow in the event of a flood - it goes into the Wembley Brook which residents of Tokyngton Avenue should be alert to.
"In the event of a flood, floodwater from the River Brent which surfaces on the Site flows around the north and south of the existing Wembley Point building, discharging into Wembley Brook, which is within the demise of Argentina House(sic)" [Design and Access Statement]
Cllr Dixon abstained on the basis that there was insufficient affordable housing in the scheme (24.8%) against a target of 35% if the Local Plan target of 50% could not be met. She was also concerned about the discrepancy between two independent viability ssessments that led to the reduction in affordable housing. She wanted developers to be more ambitious, even if that meant adding a few storeys to the proposals, and for officesr to be more demanding.
Despite many objections on the planning portal and 29 properties being affected by restricted access to light and overlooking, there was no speaker against the 550 unit (only 116 'affordable') homes. This is in marked contrast to the number of public representations at the Mumbai Junction application at the last meeting.
From the Design and Access Statement
Although Stonebridge Boxing Club was named as the occupant of the proposed community building in the Design and Access statement, the developer's agent hastily clarified on questioning that it could be another community organisation.
The application now goes to the GLA where you can register to be kept informed of progress. LINK
6 comments:
The new developments will obscure yet another view of our show piece National Stadium as the train pulls onto Stonebridge Station!
I totally agree and believe that there ought to be a campaign and petition set up against this scheme as it still has to be approved by the GLA.
Brent planners and committee in the pockets of Butt and Tatler yet again.
they don't understand they are causing the homeless list to increase by their actions.
Yes floods you fools. I wonder if they will try to sell thm or just rent them to Airbnb hosts, or maybe holiday companies, or for student accomadation. There's no chance the Brent residents will get a look in.
People can still object to this planning application by writing to the GLA at: mayor@london.gov.uk
How true of Bent
Sometimes there is a jaw-dropping moment at Brent Planning Committee. Often it is the sheer audacity of planning officers' justification of developer's failure to meeting the demands of planning guidance.
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