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Barnet councillors have overwhelmingly backed plans for the £6.5bn Brent Cross regeneration project, for a second time.
The mammoth scheme for Brent Cross and Cricklewood has been bouncing between the Mayor's Office and central government since November. It was announced in May that the Government Office for London, who halted the deal, would soon to be abolished. Several weeks ago a letter from Communities Secretary Eric Pickles cleared the way for the local authority to start work on the huge scheme. His predecessor John Denham had blocked the development issuing a stop notice: "not to grant (outline) planning permission on this application without specific authorisation". A full public planning inquiry was expected. Just days before that, Mayor Boris Johnson approved the plans to build 7,550 new homes, three new schools, a new office district, new train station and town centre as well as an expanded shopping centre. After this weeks vote, the ambitious project is back on track. Last nights meeting was a smoother ride for councillors compared to their two-day marathon planning committee session last year - all but one councillor, local Lib Dem leader Jack Cohen who represents Childs Hill which will be affected by the project, voted in favour. The Coalition for a Sustainable Brent Cross Cricklewood led objections and the Federation of Residents Associations in Barnet said the plans were being pushed through too quickly. They also expressed "suspicions" that only a week’s notice of the meeting was given, saying that the meeting should have been held in October to allow opponents to prepare their case.
A spokeswoman for the local authority said: "Members of Barnet Council's Planning and Environment Committee last night (29 July) agreed to extend the period given to clear the Section 106 for the Brent Cross Cricklewood development by a further three months.
When the Brent Cross Cricklewood development was approved by Barnet Council Planning and Environment Committee last November, a period of six months was given to clear the Section 106.
Since the Secretary of State’s decision not to ‘call-in’ the application wasn’t given until 16 June, more than six months from the date of the original committee decision, a further Planning Committee was necessary to extend the time allowed to agree the Section 106 and issue the planning permission.
A third agreed draft of the Section 106 was placed on the Planning Register on 16 July 2010 to keep people aware of how plans for the development were progressing."
The scheme is expected to deliver up to 27,000 jobs. 15% affordable homes Currently just 15% of the 7,550 new homes will be classed as 'affordable' - developers hope to raise that to 30%, but it is unclear how. The Mayor's office said: "This will be reviewed at each phase to ensure there are opportunities to add more affordable housing in line with changing market conditions". It emerged last year that the Mayor would miss his target of 50,000 affordable homes by the 2010/11 financial year; his spokesperson said it would be reached "before the start of the London Olympics" - former Mayor Ken Livingston accused Johnson of "failing the poor". Two hundred homes will be demolished on the Whitefield estate, to be rebuilt on the new site - overall, the project is expected to take 20 years to complete. There is also a commitment that 46% of the new housing will be of a "3 bedroom character".
Forums criticism
Criticism had also been levelled by councillors who accused developers of not offering "forums" for local residents to air serious grievances like the residents of West Hendon who have consistently objected to the increase of traffic from the new expanded Brent Cross. Yet, out of 29,000 consultation letters sent to residents, just 500 letters were ever returned.
Many businesses will have to relocate from their current premises, developers commented that: "This process will not be easy but it will be in our interest to not see these companies extinguished and we are sensitive of the interests of business".
The scheme has been ten years in the making and has so far cost developers Brookfield Europe, Hammerson and Standard Life £33 million.
No light-rail
While developers herald a reported £1bn investment in transport infrastructure and community facilities, several objections were made as to why a light railway scheme was not factored into the application.
Barnet council officers responded by saying that this may materialise over the course of the project but no money was committed to this, and the "London Plan" does not require this to take place.
The project will see improvements to highways and road junctions in the area, equipping it to efficiently carry any extra traffic arising from the development. The new public transport measures in the scheme will be managed by a new Transport Strategy Group, with representatives from Transport for London, Barnet Council and the developers.
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