Public Inquiry Into St. Alban's Church Development

A date has now been set for a hearing in January

The controversial St Albans Church planning application will be the subject of a Planning Inquiry for three days next January.

The date set for the hearing is on Tuesday, 29th January at 10.00am at Ealing Town Hall.

Councillor Andrew Steed said: “The Public Appeal is a good sign, touch wood, as all the facts will be heard and discussed in an open matter. We will update residents nearer the time about the details of the Inquiry.”

It is understood that the Church of England will pursue a community option if the planning application is refused.

According to Cllr. Gary Malcolm, the other community options, including a primary school and theatre proposal are viable financially and there are a number of churches that have expressed interests in making use of the building.

Ealing Council refused permission to a planning application for a residential development at the St. Alban's Church site.

The decision was taken by planning officials using their delegated powers, in advance of the planning meeting on October 17th where the matter was due for discussion.

The current application is to convert the disused church into ten residential flats and add 2 two-storey buildings to the site. A nursery school on the site was to be allowed to remain.

Local residents’ groups and councillors have been campaigning to have the Church building and site retained for community use. Alternative uses to a residential development included a school, a theatre, or use by the Armenian Church or Antiochian Orthodox Church. A representative from a Polish Catholic Church has recently expressed interest in the site.

A site visit by Ealing planning officials and councillors last July attracted over 100 people opposed to the current proposed development.

The St. Alban's Community Association, (SACA) the group who have been coordinating the campaign to stop the planning application from being agreed and to ensure viable community uses for the site, can be contacted through their Secretary Chris Chauncy. His email address is: chris@chauncy.co.uk

December 14, 2012