Following successful campaigns to reject planning proposals for 265, The Ridgeway as well as the 11-storey Aparthotel on Vaughan Road, it is clear West Harrow needs its own Neighbourhood plan.

I have written the below letter to the new council Chief Executive, Patrick Flaherty:

Dear Chief Executive Patrick Flaherty,

 

RE: The Future of West Harrow

 

I am writing now, specifically about the implications for West Harrow of a decision by the Planning Inspector to reject Harrow Gospel Hall Trust’s appeal against Harrow Council’s entirely reasonable arguments against their proposals for 180 flats and huge further development on the site. On first hearing of the Inspector’s decision many will have sighed with relief that a nightmare was over.

There is as you will understand though the possibility of further development proposals coming forward for this site. In practice, it has merely bought time before the next big development gets proposed in our community. After 600 plus changes to planning law since 2010 it has become ever harder to stop over development and determined developers from getting their way.

 

Harrow Council could now support preparation of a local Neighbourhod Plan for our area. West Harrow has a distinctive character and a local plan could help to preserve this community whilst allowing sensible initiatives to increase affordable homes.

 

When Boris Johnson was Mayor of London, Harrow, like every other London borough, was required to identify an area for higher and more dense development. The resulting intensification area stretches from Harrow on the Hill to Wealdstone and includes the Kodak site. Recent Prime Ministers have perhaps not surprisingly kept this requirement in place. A neighbourhood plan for West Harrow would help to ensure that there was no developmental overspill from central Harrow and Wealdstone.

 

Harrow Council would have to accept a West Harrow neighbourhood plan so long as there had been proper consultation with all residents.

 

We therefore urge you to support and facilitate local residents to put together a Neighbourhood Plan for West Harrow before any further proposals are brought forward to damage the character and amenity of this beautiful part of our borough.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Gareth Thomas

Member of Parliament for Harrow West

Sign your name to my open letter below if you support the idea of a specific local neighbourhood plan for West Harrow: