Mayor of London set to make decision on future of Perceval House next week

By Dimitris Kouimtsidis

26th Aug 2021 | Local News

THE Mayor of London is set to make a decision on the plan to redevelop Perceval House next week.

The plan was finally approved by Ealing Council's planning committee on March 31, at the third attempt, after the first meeting's conclusion called for the decision to be deferred, while the second meeting's decision to approve the proposal was overturned following problems with the live stream.

Sadiq Khan was originally scheduled to make a decision yesterday (May 17), but that has been pushed back to next Monday (May 24), after Ealing Central and Acton MP, Rupa Huq, called for a delay in order to allow residents more time to raise their objections.

The new date will come less than a week after Peter Mason is officially named as leader of Ealing Council, which is due to happen later on today (May 18).

If the controversial plan is passed by the Mayor, it'll go to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary, Robert Jenrick MP, for the final stage of the application.

Rupa Huq has called on the Mayor to reject the plans: "The impact of this hugely controversial plan will change the face of Ealing, Queen of the Suburbs, forever.

"Many residents are blissfully unaware of the 477 mostly-private sale flats, 10,000 square feet of offices, and inevitably more unlet shops which have not been consulted upon since way before COVID-19 hit.

"This proposal gambles away heritage public land which belongs to us all."

The Labour MP added: "I urge the Mayor to reject the hideous Perceval House redevelopment plans - they're are a hugely inappropriate densification of what is a relatively small site.

"I understand Sadiq recently turned down a Lambeth Council approved planning decision for a similar tower in Brixton due to overwhelming public opposition.

"I hope that local residents in Ealing make their voices heard ahead of the review so the same can be done with the Perceval House scheme, which should have been strangled at birth.

"Ealing appeals to Sadiq to stop this monstrosity, which includes precious little family housing or anything affordable to the average resident.

"Either the Mayor stops it in its tracks, or we'll try higher up."

Opponents to the plans are outraged at the decision to refer the application to the Mayor so soon after the local elections which took place less than two weeks ago.

Will French, chair of Save Ealing's Centre [SEC], said he was worried the plans were being 'hurried past the Mayor', giving the community very little time to make representations on them.

"SEC and other local groups are looking to the Mayor to respond to our concerns and give what we say a fairer hearing than has been the case so far.

"He should begin by giving people more time to comment to him on the plans.

"It's not even as if the development would provide many homes for local people to afford.

"Mainly one or two-bedroom flats, very few of the homes are suitable for families, and the [Mayor's] London Plan says that as the development uses Council-owned land far more than 50% of the new homes should be affordable."

The application has so far received over 2,300 rejections on Ealing Council's website.

Concerns raised included noise and light pollution, along with the environmental impact of demolishing the existing site, as well as the lack of affordable housing.

Justine Sullivan of the pressure group Stop the Towers said: "It's universally acknowledged that this is a highly controversial scheme, given the council is so conflicted as the co-Developer and planning authority.

"A scheme of this size in the municipal heart of Ealing, which has received thousands of objections both from residents and national bodies should not simply scrape through planning with the slimmest of majorities or fast tracked to Stage 2 at the GLA."

Now the application has been moved up to the Mayor, residents are encouraged to make comments on the application HERE.

Ealing Council has been approached for comment but has declined to do so until after the Mayor makes his decision.

     

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