Over 1,000 Objections Made to Gurnell Development
Comments can still be submitted on plan for 599 flats and new leisure centre
CGI of Gurnell scheme from the developer's web site
Opposition to plans for six residential tower blocks up to 17 storeys high on the Gurnell Leisure Centre site has continued to grow with now over 1,000 objections against 8 in favour.
The deadline for submission of comments has been extended to 29 July.
Objectors claim the development breaches local, London and national planning policies as it is proposed to build on land that has the same level of protection as Green Belt.
It is also alleged that the proposed development will have a significant ecological and environmental impact. Not only will 158 trees be cut down but an area of SINC (Site of Importance for Nature Conservation) will be destroyed by the relocated BMX track. Local wildlife such as bats could be adversely impacted.
The planning application also suggests that there will be no traffic impact and negligible parking issues but this is contradicted by objectors who point out that with 5 years of construction and only 168 parking spaces for 1,800 residents, it is unlikely to be the case.
They also suggest that as the communal areas of the development such as the roof garden will not be accessible to residents of the affordable housing blocks, and the affordable and private housing are segregated this effectively creates a “poor door” within the development.
The Ealing Council case officer responsible for the development has invited everyone that has commented to date, to an online presentation about the development. Local residents are concerned that this does not comply with the council’s duty to consider any application on its merits and in accordance with the development plan.
A presentation will take place on Saturday 25 July 10.30am - 12.00pm. If you wish to participate you can register here.
The Save Gurnell campaign also dispute the description by the Council of the proposal a “state-of-the-art” saying that the new leisure centre will have broadly the same facility mix. The 50m pool will increase from six to ten lanes and there will be one additional studio. The gym capacity will remain at 100 stations. The estimated cost of this is around £40 million and it will take at least 3 years to build - subject to there being no delays. During that time there will be no leisure facilities at the site. Campaigners say other councils have delivered new leisure centres using the same developer for a much more reasonable price, including Fairfield Pool and Leisure Centre which only cost £12 million for a complex refurbishment.
CGI of the new leisure centre
Developer Ecoworld have launched a dedicated web site for the development.
The Save Gurnell campaign have published a guide on how to object and you can submit your comments here.
Ealing Council is proceeding with major planning applications during lockdown despite claims from opposition politicians that they pledged not to. They have not altered the way that they consult the public on major planning applications despite government advise to do so. They claim that planning applications published in The Gazette newspaper meet the requirement of the law which states that the notice must be published in a ‘newspaper in general circulation in the area’. Objectors to the scheme say that the paper is not distributed in the area around the development and that, if the scheme is approved, they would consider a judicial review of the decision and the failure to comply with the law on consultation would be one of the grounds they would ask the court to consider.
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July 23, 2020
