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Ward
Question – |
Under Standing Order 14,
“There is much speculation by residents in my ward concerning plans by London
Irish to redevelop the Avenue site for 'alternative use' as announced on their
website and the national press. The
Planning Department is treating London Irish's approach regarding this
redevelopment as confidential. When was
the Council first approached by London Irish and please would the Leader give
an assurance that the public will be consulted well in advance of a planning
application being submitted? Is the
Planning Department considering recommending a relaxation of the Protected
Urban Open Space status currently afforded to this site?”
Councillor
“London Irish have indeed announced on their website an intention to
pursue the redevelopment of their site in The Avenue,
As a
Council, we encourage developers to have discussions with officers prior to
submitting planning applications. This
enables developers to understand at an early stage the constraints and
requirements that may apply to a site and what the Council would expect to see
in schemes that in principle may be acceptable. Where advice is heeded by
developers, this can avoid schemes being submitted where there is no chance of
getting consent and, where details need to be resolved,
this is done before the application is made.
This process saves Council tax payers’ money and helps developers
submit better schemes than might otherwise be the case. Furthermore, developers are charged for this
advice.
Developers usually have these discussions on a
confidential basis. This will be for a
variety of reasons, including their wish to get advice before they finalise
their own thinking on what to do and, secondly, developments may involve other
parties who need to be notified before they can make matters public. Whatever their reasons, when we are trusted
with confidential information in this way, we always honour that trust.
There are a
number of examples where I am pleased to say this approach has proved
beneficial and welcomed by local people and I hope it is done more and
more. However, we cannot force
developers to do this.
In the case
of London Irish, I can say that if, in due course, they bring forward
proposals in pursuit of their stated aspiration to develop their existing
site, our officers will advise them
very clearly of all the Council policies they must comply with, including the
very important policy of protecting urban/public open space. If they seek to pursue a development we
would, as a matter of course, ask them to engage in pre-application
consultation, hopefully with the local community and local Members.”