Council Adopt 'Local Plan' On Long Term Development

Planning blueprint facing challenge on Empire House

Hounslow Council has unveiled the Local Plan which sets out its vision for the development of the borough over the next 15 years.

However the Plan could face its first challenge soon as a court hearing on Tuesday will decide whether a judicial review into the Empire House development on Chiswick High Road should be heard.

The challenge is based on the manner in which Hounslow Council granted planning permission to Lend Lease for the project, the biggest development since the Second World War, on Chiswick High Road. The judicial review into the issue is being taken by local resident Simon Kverner, supported by four local residents' groups.

One of the main points being made by those opposing the development, is that Hounslow Council did not apply the terms of what was then the 'emerging' (now adopted) Local Plan in terms of development for Chiswick. The claim is that the decision was unlawful because of the failure of Officers to properly consult and their failure to take into account and apply important local planning policies.

The section in the now adopted Local Plan on development for Chiswick pledges "Preserving and enhancing the High Road through: Recognising and responding to its historic, well-established character of 3 to 4 storey mixed use buildings and promoting sensitive infill development; Wider public realm improvements including careful maintenance of the mature plane trees that line the high road;  Supporting the diverse mix of local independent shops and businesses."

The Local Plan, which was approved at the Borough Council meeting on Tuesday 15 September, puts emphasis on the need to make sure all new developments are in keeping with the borough’s heritage, natural environment and open spaces and designed to be sympathetic to existing homes and businesses.

The Plan is the result of extensive work over the past two years, including several rounds of public consultation and a public inquiry which provices the strategy , development site allocations and policies to be followed when the council decides all new planning applications.

It also sets the tone for how money contributed to council coffers by developers will be spent to fund new infrastructure and services.

This new Community Infrastructure Levy will help pay for new schools, medical surgeries and leisure facilities, as funding new transport links to serve new and existing communities over the next decade. Parts of the west of the borough and areas surrounding The Golden Mile have been earmarked as ripe for regeneration, to tap into the borough’s bourgeoning tech and media industry – now already the second largest in the capital according to the Council.

An ambitious target for more than 12,330 new homes has been set, with 40 per cent to be at affordable levels.

Councillor Steve Curran, Leader of Hounslow Council, said: “This Local Plan has been meticulously created over the past two years to target areas that will benefit from regeneration over the next 15 years. It is an exciting opportunity to channel our efforts into improving these areas for the people who live and work in them. We want to make the London Borough of Hounslow  a great place to live and work for Hounslow families.

“Of course all new developments will have to pass the same rigorous planning processes as they do now but this plan is our vision of how Hounslow will look and it will serve as guidance for developers. This is a once in a generation opportunity.”

There is now a six-week window for any legal challenge against any error made in the legal procedures followed.

The formal Adoption Notice and full details are available on the Local Plan page of the council’s web site.

September 26, 2015