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Click above for what became the consented plan, plus Transport page.

2017-10-23

Brent & Kilburn Times: "Last chance to object to freight 'super hub' in Cricklewood"


UPDATE: "The online consultation period for this application has ended. Comments that have been submitted may be viewed within the list of documents for this application. Comments may not be submitted online at this time but can be emailed to planning.consultation@barnet.gov.uk and can be accepted up until the time that the decision is made."

Link to web site

"Objectors have until the end of today to make their voices heard against a proposed development to create a freight ‘super hub’ in Cricklewood.

"A consultation on Barnet Council’s planning portal ends today. The application is to turn a rail yard off the A5 behind Lidl into a freight hub.

"However protestors have come out in their droves with over 500 objections made. They cite extreme environmental issues as the cause of their concerns as well severe traffic disruption. It is thought around 500 extra lorries could be on local roads every day if the application is successful."




Comment on application 17/5761/EIA

Construction Enquirer: "Laing O’Rourke scoops £700m Brent Cross revamp" [except the 2016 CPO public inquiry isn't exactly tied up yet]


Link to web site

"Joint owners Hammerson and Standard Life have signed a pre-construction services agreement as part of a two-stage tender process for the main construction works expected to be worth £700m.

"Laing O'Rourke will now finalise the design and procurement in order to enable a start on site in 2018.

"The appointment of a contractor for the infrastructure works will made next year with Barhale, Clancy Docwra and Murphy all believed to be in the chase."

2017-10-22

"Council sneaks out announcement of Hammerson/Westfield’s planning date"


Link to 'Inside Croydon'

" 'The £1.4billion redevelopment proposal for [Hammerson and Westfield's] Whitgift Shopping Centre is set to go before a special meeting of the council’s planning committee on Tuesday 14 November.' They didn’t mention that this would be the third time this year that a date had been set aside for such a meeting.

'Croydon Council has been working closely with the Greater London Authority (GLA), local MPs and the Minister for London to do all it could to ensure the Partnership's proposals made it to a planning committee,' the press release states, presumably to update anyone who doesn’t read 'Inside Croydon'.

"... But there was no mention of the proportion of affordable housing to be included within the scheme. Sources at City Hall have indicated this week that the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, 'is minded' to use his city-wide powers to call in the planning application."

2017-10-17

Is Hammerson still in trouble in Croydon?


Link to 'Inside Croydon'

"Tony Newman, the Labour leader of the council, was missing from the Town Hall for last night's extraordinary meeting on the state of the borough’s children’s services. Apparently, he had more important matters to attend to.

According to Stuart Collins, who chaired last night's Town Hall meeting, Newman and the leader of the Conservative opposition on the council, Tim Pollard, were away in London to meet with ministers to discuss the situation over Westfield’s badly stalled £1.4billion redevelopment of the town centre.

"... Westfield, in a forced partnership with shopping centre managers Hammerson, were supposed to be opening their redeveloped supermall on the site of the Whitgift Centre and Centrale this year. No building work has been undertaken, despite a Compulsory Purchase Order on the large area and planning permission being granted by the council two years ago."


Additional story:



2017-10-07

NorthWestTwo Residents Association: "Cricklewood Superhub: How Much Dust?"


Piles of aggregate at the similar Bow Road-rail freight faculty
Link to web site

"... This stuff will be brought in by rail, stocked in piles, and loaded into HGVs. It’s dusty stuff and a dusty business handling it. So how much dust will there be?

"There will be rain, and mitigation measures: there'll be sprinklers. Wheels will be washed. Drivers will be told to cover their loads. 'It is anticipated the dust impact during the operational phase will be minimised.'

"What does 'minimised' mean? Politicians talk of minimising the tax burden and very occasionally shave a percent or two off – we still pay plenty. It seems we're being told we have to accept 'minimised' dust pollution as part of our regeneration."

2017-10-04

Brent & Kilburn Times: Site of West London Orbital Railway depot wasted on something else


Link to web site

"Proposals to convert a railway yard in Cricklewood into a rail freight ‘super hub’ have been met with objections from residents. Protesters believe that noise, pollution, and traffic will soar dramatically if the plans go ahead.

"DB Cargo, the UK's largest rail freight hauler, has a 125 year lease on the land, which is owned by National Rail, until 2121.

"DB Cargo and the London Borough of Barnet would like to transform the rail yard, which is opposite the bus depot on Edgware Road, into a storage area for lorries to pick up aggregates, material used in construction, such as sand and gravel."

2017-10-01

IanVisits: "New railway line for West London proposed"


Link to web site
(it would interchange at Neasden, not Dollis Hill)

An old railway line currently used for cargo trains could be converted into passenger use, linking parts of West London currently poorly served by rail services.

The little-used railway line runs from just north of Cricklewood on the Thameslink line and loops around West London, ever so slightly just missing aligning with a number of stations on existing lines, until it join up with the London Overground at Acton.

"... A consortium of local councils, the West London Economic Prosperity Board has now endorsed a plan to convert the freight railway tracks into passenger services and create what could be an extension of the London Overground service."