Ealing's Planning Department Slammed

After officers fail to send crucial papers through to Inspectorate in time

Concerns have been raised over Ealing's planning department once again after officers failed to submit crucial documents to the Planning Inspector in time.

It follows an application by developers for permission to turn two period houses in W13 (5A Rathgar & 42 Waldemar Avenue) into 7 flats. There have been hundreds of objections over the plans which residents say do not fit into the surroundings and, despite it being recommended by officers, Ealing's Councillors unanimously turned the application down.

Artist's impression

Committee member Councillor Shital Manro said at the time: ''the whole development by the sheer scale and the massing and bulk of it is so out of kilter with the residential area there, and next to a conservation area [that it] is absolutely not acceptable.''

The developer has appealed and the application is now being considered by the Planning Inspectorate. However, as part of this process there is a deadline for the planning department to submit its statement of case and for third parties to submit representations.

Ealing's planning officers didn't submit their statement of case - which gave the reasons the application should be refused - prior to the deadline.

Campaigners, Save Ealing Centre (SEC) believe this will be prejudicial and say if this were to happen again it could have impications across the whole borough.

They're now working alongside SEC members including the Kingsdown Residents’ Association (KRA), the Walpole Residents’ Association (WRA) and West Ealing Neighbours (WEN).

Julian Smith from SEC said: ''Whether as a result of negligence or otherwise this omission must be dealt with firmly by council executive officers and by the full council acting as our democratically elected representatives.''

They have been informed the LBE have submitted comments today supporting the third party representations made to the Planning Inspectorate, but don't believe this will correct their initial failure.

A council spokesperson said: ''The council’s planning department routinely make recommendations to the planning committee. The committee is independent and considers representations from all parties before making a decision. With regards to this appeal, we have provided a formal response to the Planning Inspectorate as part of the process and we wait to hear their decision.''

12th May 2016 (updated)