Northfields Allotments Building Plans Reaffirmed By Landlord

Local MP Rupa Huq urges the charity to consider other options

Concerned residents turned out in force last weekend ( 12th Nov) to see a public exhibition showing controversial proposals for Northfields allotments.

Housing charity Pathways want to develop a section of London's oldest allotments to build affordable housing and rehouse current residents from Dean Court

Since they revealed the plans and were met with huge opposition the development has been scaled down and would now see five percent of the historic site built on, down from the ten percent cited in the original proposal.

This reduction has been achieved by shrinking the volume of social housing units on the site from 18 to 15 and removing all parking provision from the plans. In addition to the 15 social housing units, Pathways intends to build four townhouses on the allotment site to sell on the open market.

Local opposition to the proposal however remains very strong.

Rupa Huq, MP for Ealing Central and Acton, Labour councillors from Walpole ward, and Conservative councillors from neighbouring Northfield ward, where many plotholders live, are all unanimous in their opposition.

Rupa Huq, said: "The revised plans from Pathways are moving in the right direction but do not go far enough. The new proposal would see five percent of the allotment site being built on, however for many people in Ealing the thought of losing green space, be it for housing or any other purpose, is deeply regrettable.

“I still believe that Pathways can achieve its objectives without needing to build on London’s oldest allotments and am urging the charity to consider other options."

The allotments have been designated a Community Open Space and a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC), by Ealing Council, a designation that would normally give the site protection under the Council’s own planning guidelines.

Christina Fox, chairman of the Ealing Dean Allotment Society, said: “The development on the allotment is being advanced in order to temporarily house 15 residents, however the solution is a permanent one. We know that many of Pathways’ trustees have years of experience in housing and urge them to find alternative solutions which do not involve sacrificing this historic site.

“Ealing is famed for its natural heritage and any reduction in the borough’s green spaces would be met with genuine regret by the local community. Having conducted our own consultations with plotholders, local residents’ groups and other affected parties, it is clear that the majority of local residents strongly oppose the development of any part of Northfields Allotments.”

Prior to the last weeks consultation, Pathways Chief Executive, Clive Wilson, said: '' We will no doubt receive opposition which we can then build into our plan.''

17 November 2016