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They have done something similar before but managed to pay their way out of it.
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Ha, thanks. I read about that years ago but I'd completely forgotten about it. If that's part of their general modus operandi, I have no doubt that they've taken it too far here. The breaches are too many and too serious. That is, unless Greenwich Labour are angling for a 'donation' ...
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Personally I'd like them to have to demolish it to prove the point. That said I'm sure many of the issues with the building can be rectified retrospectively, the windows, façade etc can be changed, balconies can be moved to become properly accessible as was on planning permission. It would be cheaper than demolishing it.
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Some London planning news on (I think, but correct me if you know better) the three biggest schemes at the moment.
The Mayor of London has issued a Stage 2 decision, refusing planning permission for the proposed Monosodium Glutamate Sphere in Stratford:
The decision letter and the detailed report to committee (pre-decision) are attached.
It's not over here, as it goes to the Secretary of State now (Gove at the moment).
Wimbledon is another interesting one. Merton's given planning permission, Wandsworth officers have recommended refusal. The meeting is tomorrow night.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/18/wimbledon-match-wandsworth-council-tennis
A really bad application.
And finally, we have again the absolutely stupid nonsense proposed for Liverpool Street Station.
2 Attachments
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I forgot that the Chelsea expansion plans are still going on.
https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-fc-stamforde-bridge-expansion-stoll-b1114020.html
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The Mayor of London has issued a Stage 2 decision, refusing planning permission for the proposed Monosodium Glutamate Sphere in Stratford
Thanks for posting up the letter from the Mayor.
I suspect there'll be an odd twitter pushback from a subset of the yimby contingent following this, quoting "significant harm to the outlook of neighbouring properties" and "significant harm to the general amenity enjoyed by residents of their own homes", as if the planning refusal is an affront to progress and equality.
I do sometimes wish that the political legitimacy of the Mayor's office would afford a simple response of "fuck off and do something better with your time and money".
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Well, each to their own. I think it's just about the worst kind of development imaginable. Unbelievably wasteful and ridiculously inappropriate for that location. Again, it's not over, as the Secretary of State may overrule the Mayor. We'll see.
Two more articles:
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I do sometimes wish that the political legitimacy of the Mayor's office would afford a simple response of "fuck off and do something better with your time and money".
You do get that sort of thing in dictatorships. :)
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It would certainly help if people didn't submit applications in breach of planning regulations in the first place. That would greatly reduce the number of applications and free up officer and committee time to actually work on other grounds for decision, e.g. what new considerations might emerge from an otherwise compliant application (and councils should obviously be given some more discretion to consider these).
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As expected, Wandsworth refused permission for the tennis club privatisation of Metropolitan Open Land in Wimbledon last night.
“Given the split council decision, with the London Borough of Merton resolving to approve our application last month, our planning application will now be referred to the mayor of London’s office for consideration.”
This would have happened in any event.
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As expected, the Mayor's decision about the 'MSG Sphere' has been called in by the Secretary of State. One imagines there will be furious behind-the-scenes lobbying going on, although it would be a clear scandal if the Mayor's decision were overruled.
Some stupid bullshit from the developers:
A spokesperson for the company said: “The entire five-year planning process was hijacked by the mayor and his bogus last-minute report.
It's not a 'last-minute' report, the Mayor hasn't 'hijacked' anything, and it's not 'bogus'. It's simply a Stage 2 decision under the Mayor's powers over strategic planning applications, completely routine. At the same time, they're trying to stink up London's status as a destination for 'investment', another distinctly unclassy move. Let's just hope they don't get a bogus last-minute report from Gove hijacking the process and overruling the Mayor. Can you imagine how unhappy they would be then?
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Here's the redevelopment of a car park for housing opposite Eel Pie Island:
It's the site of the former Twickenham Lido:
(That's King Street in the foreground.)
https://lidosalive.com/twickenham.html
Before that, it was the site of Richmond House:
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More action on the Curzon Cinema in Mayfair. It's pretty clear that the building's owners want to turn it into a restaurant, so they've submitted a silly application that it seems has fooled planning officers into recommending approval.
The plans would also combine the cinema and existing restaurant so customers can have the "unique experience of being able to dine while watching a movie”.
... which is total nonsense and would in due course lead to more applications claiming that 'cinema use is not viable, hence we'd like it to become a restaurant full stop'.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/westminster-city-council-curzon-mayfair-b1127203.html
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This is also interesting. I've never liked the old City Hall--its concept is one of those ideas that looks great in a 'working lunch' napkin drawing, but that in practice doesn't work at all. More London understandably want to change its use now that the GLA have moved out:
A spokesman for the company said that the ground floor will include spaces for new cafes, shop and restaurants.
No idea if it'll be better like this. The best thing would be to put it out of its misery and start again.
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And, of course, Richard Desmond doesn't let a little row over meeting a minister deter him.
Richard Desmond, the billionaire former owner of the Daily Express, has submitted new proposals for a huge housing project in east London, with almost twice the amount of housing envisaged under the original plans.
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Some interviews about the Wimbledon application.
I expect it'll get waved through the higher planning instances, unfortunately.
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Plans for the Stratford sphere now dropped ... https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-67920774
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Town planning in London, planning proposals and applications, and planning decisions
Posted by
@Oliver Schick
Just a really interesting case. As far as I can see, but I'm not a lawyer, the developers don't have a prayer and will lose in court.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/mast-quay-greenwich-council-woolwich-appeal-mutant-towers-b1109912.html