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Andy Slaughter, Labour MP for HammersmithShadow Minister for
Justice
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA020 7219 6052
Nigel PallaceDirector of EnvironmentLB Hammersmith &
Fulham
14 th February 2012
Dear Nigel,
I understand that Application for Seagrave Road Car, Coach and
Lorry Park is fordecision by PAC this Thursday 16 February with a
recommendation for approval.
I am writing to express my concern and to request the decision
is deferred. Theofficer report acknowledges the view that the
application should not beconsidered before the strategy for the
whole area is established both byadoption of the SPD and
consideration of the Masterplan application. But itseeks to argue
(paragraph 3.1) that the draft SPD is not a development
plandocument, and even when adopted it will supplement the Core
Strategy and not
supplant it
This is the second time in a week (following the approval of the
Shepherds BushMarket application) that the Council has repudiated
its own principle detailedplanning document in order to comply with
a political and developers timetable.
The wish to decide major controversial planning applications
before the MayoralElection in May and the implementation of the
Crossrail levy on 1 April are notlegitimate reasons for
accelerating such applications to Committee.
It is very likely that the SPD consultation will proscribe
policy for the OpportunityArea which will materially affect plans
for the Seagrave Road site . And thedetermination of the Masterplan
is fundamental to the future use of the site.
As regards current user, the report concedes permission must be
(Reasons forGranting Permission paragraph 5): Subject to a
satisfactory strategy secured through the legal agreement to cover
the re-provision of parking spaces in theevent that the Earl's
Court Exhibition Centres remain open, it is considered that there
would be no adverse impact on traffic generation ... It is
difficult to seehow this could be achieved.
The proposed use of the site for high-density housing is
controversial (there arenine pages of comments more than 80% of
which are adverse), as are the loss of employment land and the now
customary inadequate viability statement. The
report states (paragraph 3.42): given the uncertainty
surrounding theredevelopment of the two housing estates...fall back
positions have had to be
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considered None of the three fall back positions has any detail
attached to it(paragraphs 3.44 and 3.45). The Committee is being
asked to buy a pig in apoke.
It is scarcely credible that the Council believes it is
appropriate that thisapplication should be considered now rather
than delayed a relatively short timeuntil the SPD and Masterplan
have been considered. Please defer this decision.I am copying this
letter to the Chair and lead Opposition member of PAC andshould the
Committee proceed to consider the report, I would ask that it is
drawnto the Committees attention,
Yours sincerely
Andy Slaughter
Cc: Councillors Alex Chalk and Mike Cartwright
