London resi tower to go ahead after High Court battle

25/1/22

Attempts by the London Borough of Hillingdon to request a judicial view after the Mayor of London green-lit Inland Homes's 11-storey scheme were waved away by the High Court. The judicial review was the last chance for the borough to halt the brownfield development plan.

The borough had objected to the scheme over concerns about pollution, but Justice Lang of the High Court ruled in November that the mayor had taken the decision after reviewing all of the evidence ahead of him and thus did not grant the review.

Developer Inland Homes has confirmed it will now press ahead with the scheme. Chief executive Stephen Wicks said the site was an example of the kind of "sustainable" developments that could make a difference to London: "It is very disappointing that it should be such a long and torturous process to develop on an allocated brownfield site in a highly sustainable location."

The development will see 514 homes delivered across 12 buildings, including one 11-storey tower, on a 2.5 hectare site. Commercial units and new highways will also be built, while 35 per cent of the homes will be affordable.

The council's planning authority originally rejected the scheme in February 2020 on the grounds that the site would be "unduly intrusive" and would not suit the area. A hotel previously stood on the site and was demolished around 11 years ago. The council also argued that the air-quality assessments had not been properly carried out, as the area is within an air-quality focus area.

But the Mayor of London approved the scheme after the Greater London Authority (GLA) ruled the air-quality concerns had not been substantiated. Sadiq Khan said in September 2020 that, as a brownfield site, it was "exactly the kind of site we need to intensify if we are to deliver the homes Londoners need whilst protecting the Green Belt".

Changes to planning rules in December 2020 led to the council asking for the mayor to reconsider the application, which he did, confirming his earlier decision. But the council then took the decision to the High Court, on the grounds that the rate of pollution had not been considered.

The borough of Hillingdon and the Mayor of London's office have been contacted for comment.

Source: Construction News