2010-03-25
2010-03-19
Twins!
From Barnet Times web site stories:
Jonathan Joseph from the Brent Cross Cricklewood Development Partners said:
Councillor Melvin Cohen, who is responsible for planning in Barnet, said:
Literary Comment from the Coalition:
Jonathan Joseph from the Brent Cross Cricklewood Development Partners said:
We fully understand the need for the Government to take sufficient time to consider the planning application, which is one of the largest and most complex in the UK.
Councillor Melvin Cohen, who is responsible for planning in Barnet, said:
This is the largest single planning scheme in London, so it is perfectly understandable that the Government office for London should ask for more time to consider the application.
Literary Comment from the Coalition:
The public outside looked from developers to council, and from council to developers, and from developers to council again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
2010-03-18
Local Press reports
Ham and High
Barnet Times (front page lead)
Barnet Press
Barnet Press Letters Page
Willesden and Brent Times
Willesden/Wembley Observer
Willesden/Wembley Observer: High speed rail link boosts prospects for urban regeneration
2010-03-16
MAYOR HAS SHIRKED HIS DUTY ON BRENT CROSS - Sarah Teather MP
Responding to news that Boris Johnson has given the green light to unpopular plans for the redevelopment of Brent Cross, local MP Sarah Teather said:
Everyone wants regeneration, but this scheme will make our area worse and not better. People in Brent will feel like they have been stabbed in the back by the man who is supposed to serve their interests.
It now falls to the Secretary of State to demand a public enquiry. The Labour Government has it in its power to block these catastrophic plans and it must not shirk its duty, as the Mayor has.
Navin Shah, London Assembly Member, condemns Mayor Johnson
.jpg)
It's now down to the Secretary of State and I'd very much hope that he'd reject it, because I'm after a development that is sustainable, provides affordable housing, minimises the impact on its neighbours and is of benefit to North West London as a whole.
Otherwise, the once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve this area will just see the extension of road clogging out-of-town shopping to the detriment of North London as a whole."
2010-03-15
Brent Lib Dems urge Call-In by Secretary of State
Letter for publication from Cllr. Alec Castle and Cllr. Paul Lorber
Dear Editor,
As a Liberal Democrat councillor for Dollis Hill, and the Leader of Brent Council, we wanted to let your readers know that we have written separately to John Denham MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, urging him to reject the damaging redevelopment plans for Brent Cross passed by Tory-run Barnet Council.
We have restated Brent’s formal opposition to the plans, and made clear that until key wider planning aspects of importance to us are resolved, our strong objections will remain.
The developers have paid little attention to transport issues, and without measures in place to alleviate the likely problems of thousands of extra cars and heavy freight lorries navigating the streets off Cricklewood Broadway and Edgware Road, the impact in Cricklewood, Dollis Hill and Dudden Hill would be devastating.
In our view, no work should begin until appropriate traffic measures and parking restrictions have been formally agreed and put in place. These in turn must be properly informed and influenced by a long-awaited study on the wider traffic flow around the A5 Corridor.
Dear Editor,
As a Liberal Democrat councillor for Dollis Hill, and the Leader of Brent Council, we wanted to let your readers know that we have written separately to John Denham MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, urging him to reject the damaging redevelopment plans for Brent Cross passed by Tory-run Barnet Council.
We have restated Brent’s formal opposition to the plans, and made clear that until key wider planning aspects of importance to us are resolved, our strong objections will remain.
The developers have paid little attention to transport issues, and without measures in place to alleviate the likely problems of thousands of extra cars and heavy freight lorries navigating the streets off Cricklewood Broadway and Edgware Road, the impact in Cricklewood, Dollis Hill and Dudden Hill would be devastating.
In our view, no work should begin until appropriate traffic measures and parking restrictions have been formally agreed and put in place. These in turn must be properly informed and influenced by a long-awaited study on the wider traffic flow around the A5 Corridor.
We will now have to see if the Labour Secretary of State is willing to support local residents and ourselves in our serious concerns about these plans. We very much hope he will, but will continue to keep residents informed as soon as we hear anything.
Yours faithfully,
Cllr. Alec Castle
(Liberal Democrat, Dollis Hill)
Cllr. Paul Lorber
(Liberal Democrat Leader, Brent Council)
(Liberal Democrat Leader, Brent Council)
Coalition: Mayor Has Betrayed Thousands of North-West London Residents
We are not surprised that Boris Johnson has approved the Brent Cross application, but the complacency of his statement is breathtaking given the huge opposition to the scheme by residents in Barnet and neighbouring boroughs, the objections of Camden and Brent Councils and the potential catastrophic impact of the scheme.
In doing so he has broken his own manifesto commitments on carbon reduction, affordable homes, protecting small shops and environmentally friendly housing. He has betrayed tens of thousands of north- west London residents. Boris isn't the people's Mayor, he's the shopping mall, car-supporting, incinerator and tower block Mayor.
We now await the decision of John Denham, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, on whether he will call-in the application so that a Public Inquiry can be held enabling a full, democratic and transparent consideration of the issues that will affect thousands of Londoners over the next 25 years. The negative impact will last for up to a 100 years and affect the whole of north-west London.
Darren Johnson Condemns Mayor's Rubberstamp for Dirty Brent Cross
Darren Johnson said:
The Mayor has rubberstamped a proposal that will increase traffic and pollution across the whole of North West London. The Mayor has ignored the views of residents and councillors in the neighbouring boroughs of Brent and Camden, who never got a say in the consultation.
“There are better ways to spend £4.8bn if we want to revitalise this town centre. Londoners want less traffic, good local shops and more affordable homes, but the Mayor has rubberstamped a development that will bring the exact opposite to the area: another 29,000 cars, a threat to other neighbourhood shopping areas and one of the lowest affordable homes targets in London.
Brent's Major Environmental Body Requests Call In
Roger Kelly, Chair of the Brent Sustainability Forum, has written to John Denham, requesting that he call in the Brent Cross planning application for a public inquiry. The text of the letter is below:
Dear Mr Denham,
I write to you on behalf, and as Chair, of the Brent Sustainability Forum, first of all to congratulate you on some of your recent announcements - including the programme to tackle climate change through the development of new local carbon frameworks, and the “Warm Homes, Greener Homes” programme.
The Sustainability Forum is Brent’s main environmental network, made up of residents, community groups and representatives from public and private sectors that come together to promote and progress sustainability in the borough. This Forum is a partnership of over 100 different members who have been working hard to get local residents and local groups to take charge of their local environment by taking on environmental initiatives.
Brent Council, its Local Strategic Partnership and the Brent Sustainability Forum recently adopted a comprehensive, borough-wide, Climate Change Strategy (the first in London). This strategy and action plan will set the scene for the community, voluntary, public and private sectors in Brent to both mitigate and adapt to climate change. This strategy puts high expectations on all of Brent’s community to do more in relation to climate change, whilst serving as a demonstration project for other London boroughs.
In line with the Forum’s work, and in line with your recent announcements, the Brent Sustainability Forum would like to register its concern in relation to the Brent Cross Development which is being proposed, which puts at stake all of the hard work we have all been doing.
We are thus asking you to call in the above application for a public inquiry, for a number of reasons:
Firstly, the regeneration scheme does not conform to a number of national planning policy issues. For example, the Government’s Climate Change Law has agreed to reduce CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050. However, this scheme will generate thousands of extra car journeys per day, which will make it effectively impossible to achieve the required reduction in CO2 emissions. In addition, residential buildings will only achieve Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, again making the target impossible to achieve.
Secondly, the adverse impacts arising from this scheme (the large increase in noise, traffic congestion and air pollution) extend far beyond the London Borough of Barnet boundary, so decisions concerning the scheme should not be left to Barnet councillors alone.
Thirdly, there is increasing confusion over what is being proposed. For example, the large waste handling facility is unspecified. Arguments abound concerning incineration and gasification; both could have adverse effects on the health and safety of residents.
Fourthly, there has been a significant lack of adequate and meaningful consultation concerning this scheme, including with Brent and Camden residents. Although Barnet Council mostly adhered to the letter of the law, they did not adhere to its spirit.
Fifthly, Barnet Council are unable to take an impartial view of the scheme due to a conflict of interest, since they are supporters of the scheme, major landowners in the area, and acting as ‘objective’ Local Planning Authority decision-makers.
Finally, the current scheme is simply a way of extending Brent Cross Shopping Centre, a proposal that was strongly opposed and thrown out by a public inquiry in 1999, and a Judicial Review and a High Court judgement in 2003. The recent reduction of other elements of Phase One - but still allowing the doubling of the shopping centre - seems to support this view. No other phases are guaranteed to be delivered by the developers.
If we are to achieve on current climate change policy and targets, not to mention the social inclusion agenda, schemes developed on these grounds must be assessed adequately. We therefore urge you to exercise your authority and call a public inquiry on this scheme.
http://www.brent.gov.uk/directorate.nsf/Environmental%20sustainability/LBB-17
Dear Mr Denham,
I write to you on behalf, and as Chair, of the Brent Sustainability Forum, first of all to congratulate you on some of your recent announcements - including the programme to tackle climate change through the development of new local carbon frameworks, and the “Warm Homes, Greener Homes” programme.
The Sustainability Forum is Brent’s main environmental network, made up of residents, community groups and representatives from public and private sectors that come together to promote and progress sustainability in the borough. This Forum is a partnership of over 100 different members who have been working hard to get local residents and local groups to take charge of their local environment by taking on environmental initiatives.
In line with the Forum’s work, and in line with your recent announcements, the Brent Sustainability Forum would like to register its concern in relation to the Brent Cross Development which is being proposed, which puts at stake all of the hard work we have all been doing.
We are thus asking you to call in the above application for a public inquiry, for a number of reasons:
Firstly, the regeneration scheme does not conform to a number of national planning policy issues. For example, the Government’s Climate Change Law has agreed to reduce CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050. However, this scheme will generate thousands of extra car journeys per day, which will make it effectively impossible to achieve the required reduction in CO2 emissions. In addition, residential buildings will only achieve Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, again making the target impossible to achieve.
Secondly, the adverse impacts arising from this scheme (the large increase in noise, traffic congestion and air pollution) extend far beyond the London Borough of Barnet boundary, so decisions concerning the scheme should not be left to Barnet councillors alone.
Thirdly, there is increasing confusion over what is being proposed. For example, the large waste handling facility is unspecified. Arguments abound concerning incineration and gasification; both could have adverse effects on the health and safety of residents.
Fourthly, there has been a significant lack of adequate and meaningful consultation concerning this scheme, including with Brent and Camden residents. Although Barnet Council mostly adhered to the letter of the law, they did not adhere to its spirit.
Fifthly, Barnet Council are unable to take an impartial view of the scheme due to a conflict of interest, since they are supporters of the scheme, major landowners in the area, and acting as ‘objective’ Local Planning Authority decision-makers.
Finally, the current scheme is simply a way of extending Brent Cross Shopping Centre, a proposal that was strongly opposed and thrown out by a public inquiry in 1999, and a Judicial Review and a High Court judgement in 2003. The recent reduction of other elements of Phase One - but still allowing the doubling of the shopping centre - seems to support this view. No other phases are guaranteed to be delivered by the developers.
If we are to achieve on current climate change policy and targets, not to mention the social inclusion agenda, schemes developed on these grounds must be assessed adequately. We therefore urge you to exercise your authority and call a public inquiry on this scheme.
http://www.brent.gov.uk/directorate.nsf/Environmental%20sustainability/LBB-17
2010-03-14
Brent Cross Catastrophe Approved by Boris
“This is another great example of pushing ahead with major development and infrastructure improvements to create jobs, and boost the capital’s economic growth, while transforming the quality of life of thousands of Londoners. The scheme will bring a new vitality to a part of the capital in need of regeneration.
“Having carefully considered the proposal I am satisfied that the application fulfils the need to have the kinds of transport links that will bring fluidity and rejuvenation to Brent Cross while avoiding potential problems caused by any extra traffic.”
The Coalition has stated: Although no one is surprised that he has approved the application, the complacency of his statement is breathtaking given the huge opposition to the scheme by residents in Barnet and neighbouring boroughs and the objections of Camden and Brent Councils and the potential catastrophic impact of the scheme.
We now await the decision of John Denham, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, on whether he will call-in the application so that a Public Inquiry can be held enabling a full, democratic and transparent consideration of the issues that will affect thousands of Londoners over the next 30 years.
Read More: Times Series; London Daily News; Property Week
2010-03-10
2010-03-01
Coalition Calls for Call-In
Press Release:
Coalition – Why John Denham Must Call in Brent Cross Plans
The Coalition opposing the £4.5 billion development for a Brent Cross Cricklewood new town is urging Secretary of State John Denham to call the development in, for a Public Inquiry, in view of Barnet sending the papers to the Government Office for London and the Mayor of London.
The Coalition for a Sustainable Brent Cross Cricklewood Plan believes the development clearly meets the criteria to merit a call-in, as set out in section 77 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 [ref.1]. The Secretary of State’s powers to call this in are very general and discretionary.
Barnet should have referred this to the Secretary of State prior to the planning meeting on the grounds that Barnet owns some of the land. Some other grounds for call-in are :
- significant effects beyond the immediate locality
- giving rise to substantial regional or national controversy or where issues are of more than local importance
- raise significant architectural and urban design issues
- and in 2008 the sustainability of the proposed development was specifically added as a criterion.
Lia Colacicco, Coalition Co-ordinator and Mapesbury resident says:
“This scheme could be called in on several criteria, but in particular because its effects go far beyond the immediate area. Brent and Camden councils object to it, local people don’t want it in this form, and because it is completely unsustainable in terms of traffic, housing, and the environment. There was no meaningful public consultation, so we are now calling on John Denham to call it in immediately, so that these disastrous plans can undergo full public scrutiny”.
Darren Johnson (Green Party London Assembly Member) says:
"Given Boris Johnson’s manifesto commitment to cut London carbon emissions 60% by 2025 and build more environmentally friendly homes the Mayor must refuse this development. From 2016 all new homes are required to be carbon zero whereas this development falls far short of that.”
The Mayor, and Secretary of State John Denham, have until just 12 March to call in the plans for a Public Inquiry.
References
(1) Criteria for a Call-in. http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/briefings/snsc-00930.pdf.See page 3 for Town and Country Planning Act 1990
Notes to Editors
1. The “Coalition for a Sustainable Brent Cross Cricklewood Plan” comprises twelve residents’ associations plus the Federation of Residents’ Associations in Barnet (representing the 12 largest residents’ associations in Barnet), Brent Cyclists, the North West London Light Railway (NWLLR) group, Brent Friends of the Earth (FoE), Barnet & Enfield FoE, Camden FoE, Sarah Teather (MP for Brent East), Dawn Butler (MP for Brent South), Labour and LibDem Councillors from Brent and Camden, Navin Shah (London Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow), Darren Johnson (London Assembly Member), Jean Lambert (London MEP), Brent Green Party, Barnet Green Party, Cllr Alexis Rowell (Chair of Camden Sustainability Taskforce), Brent and Barnet Trades Councils (TUC) and the Bestway Group.
2. The petition to call the development in for a public inquiry is available at: http://www.petition.co.uk/campaign_for_a_sustainable_brent_cross_cricklewood_development
3. The Coalition has a blog, which is rapidly putting news online at www.brentcrosscoalition.blogspot.com
4. Facts about Brent Cross and the Coalition are at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brent_Cross and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalition_for_a_Sustainable_Brent_Cross_Cricklewood
2010-02-27
2010-02-23
Shopping Centre Owner: London Projects on Hold
Hammerson calls halt to new projects in Britain and heads to France
"Hammerson would not start a London project unless it had been pre-let."
Click here for story
2010-02-11
2010-02-07
Brian Coleman AM comments on Barnet's Transport Experts
London Assembly Member Brian Coleman, and Mayor of Barnet for 2009-2010, is quoted as saying, at the Mill Hill East planning public forum:I have no confidence in that traffic expert and I have no faith in our Highways Department. They get every scheme wrong. We must go to outside consultants who know what they are talking about. Proper Experts. They don’t know what they are doing. They will cause harm for many years to the area.
Source: http://barneteye.blogspot.com/
2010-02-05
Mayor Boris Johnson responds to GLA Member Navin Shah
"As the concept of Super Hubs is dead in the water, will you be directing refusal of BXC’s planning application condemned by the neighbouring boroughs and lobbying groups / amenity societies?"
– Navin Shah
– Navin Shah
The Council has not yet referred the Brent Cross Cricklewood application to me for consideration. My officers continue to negotiate on matters that I commented on at the consultation stage.
Should the application be referred to me then, in the usual way, I expect to consider my officers’ report, the Council’s decision and any representations received at that time before determining the application.
2010-02-04
2010-01-15
Submission on Transport Strategy for Barnet's 'Local Development Framework' (Hey, stay with us on this, it's worth it...)
Click above for details
Click above for maps
(You may need to download and install the free font called London Tube for best results)
(You may need to download and install the free font called London Tube for best results)
iPlayer: How Brent Cross's transport plans should has been
2010-01-14
Sarah Teather MP publicises support for the Coalition
2010-01-12
'WORST PLANNING DECISION' (click on later cutting from 'Willesden and Brent Times', 21/01/2010)
THE Brent Cross-Cricklewood Plan is one of four planning decisions in the running for the coveted 2010 'Worst Planning Decision Award'.
Darren Johnson, London Assembly Member for the Green Party, makes the award each year for the planning decision he considers to be the most most damaging, in parallel to the Mayor's London Planning Awards.
Johnson's citation for Brent Cricklewood Regeneration, in Barnet, states:""By waving through a development that will create a surge in traffic and air pollution, the Mayor has undermined city-wide efforts to improve air quality, and has done nothing to help severely affected centres in neighbouring boroughs."
The other planning decisions nominated are:
- London City Airport, Newham;
- Columbus Tower, Tower Hamlets and
- Ferrier Estate, Greenwich.
2009-12-19
London Plan and Transport Strategy
Mayor Boris Johnson is consulting on the 'London Plan' and the 'Mayor's Transport Strategy', until 12 January 2010. See http://www.london.gov.uk/shaping-london
Give him your views! You might say regeneration of the huge development areas in London is welcome, but it should follow proper public consultation, unlike at Brent Cross! (Click on map below.)
Members of the Coalition have urged the Mayor to direct 'planning gain' money from the north and west London areas to spending on light-rail instead of roads. This would use the existing hardly-used freight lines that join Park Royal/Wembley to Brent Cross, Colindale and West Hampstead, and the old railway trackbed to Mill Hill East. If you agree, please tell the Mayor that as well. (The map here was published in Transport for London's 'Transport 2025' document.)
Give him your views! You might say regeneration of the huge development areas in London is welcome, but it should follow proper public consultation, unlike at Brent Cross! (Click on map below.)
Members of the Coalition have urged the Mayor to direct 'planning gain' money from the north and west London areas to spending on light-rail instead of roads. This would use the existing hardly-used freight lines that join Park Royal/Wembley to Brent Cross, Colindale and West Hampstead, and the old railway trackbed to Mill Hill East. If you agree, please tell the Mayor that as well. (The map here was published in Transport for London's 'Transport 2025' document.)
2009-12-10
ON-LINE POLL SHOWS MAJORITY AGAINST BRENT CROSS DEVELOPMENT
An on-line poll conducted by the Wembley and Willesden Observer last week produced the following result:
"Are you happy with the Brent Cross/Cricklewood development plans?"
YES: 29% NO: 71%
"Are you happy with the Brent Cross/Cricklewood development plans?"
YES: 29% NO: 71%
2009-12-08
SECRETARY OF STATE HOLDS FUTURE OF BRENT CROSS IN HIS HANDS – TEATHER
Liberal Democrat Press Statement:
Thousands of local residents have signed petitions supporting Sarah’s demand for the Labour government to call in the controversial scheme for public inquiry.Barnet councillors gave the go ahead despite formal opposition from neighbouring boroughs Brent and Camden, who will suffer the devastating impact of extra traffic and pollution. The development includes a large waste dump on the border with Brent and would bring an estimated 29,000 extra cars a day onto local roads.
Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:
“The Secretary of State holds the long term future of our area in his hands, and owes it to thousands of people in Brent to do the right thing. If the development goes ahead we face tens of thousands of extra cars on local roads, and hundreds of lorries and rubbish trucks on their way to the dump.
“Local people are understandably furious that councillors in Barnet forced through the scheme despite the cries of objection. Inner London already suffers from dreadful levels of pollution and congestion, and it simply can’t be right to make the situation event worse.
“You simply cannot build a colossal new urban centre without taking steps to protect the environment and the community that is already there. The Labour government now have it in their power to right this wrong, and must urgently step in to protect our area from the devastating impact of this development.”
2009-12-06
2009-12-04
2009-11-26
LOCAL PRESS THIS WEEK - KEEPING UP THE PRESSURE
Click on cuttings to enlarge
Hampstead and Highgate Express - Front page and inside:
Willesden and Brent Times Willesden and Wembley Observer:
Barnet Press:
Link to HOME (see all posts).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
