Forum Topic

Local Planning Decisions?

CoStar News reported that the Mayor of London overturned Hillingdon Council's rejection of a 514-home scheme proposed by Inland Homes at the Master Brewer Motel site behind Hillingdon Tube Station. Hillingdon's planning committee refused the original application on February 19 2020, saying the proposals represented "over-development of the site, resulting in an unduly intrusive, visually prominent and incongruous form of development". On March 16 the Mayor informed Hillingdon Council that he would be taking over the application and has now approved it.This is a follow up to a piece on here a couple of weeks ago, about the difficulty in opposing big developments-I am thinking of the TfL plans on Bollo Lane. Does not bode well.

Andrew Steed ● 2242d10 Comments

Can the Mayor make the final decision on the Bollo Lane scheme? As it is a TfL project he is effectively the applicant.

Paul Corcoran ● 2242d

I don't believe there's any reason why the Mayor can't Paul - effectively this is no different to any planning department of a local authority being able to determine applications by other departments of the same authority.

Adam Beamish ● 2242d

"As it is a TfL project he is effectively the applicant."Mmmmm. This is interesting. I would have thought it is a conflict of interest. If he is the applicant he is abusing his position of Mayor to get the decision he wants. There has got to be something wrong with that, surely?

Steve Taylor ● 2242d

Personally I think its a stretch to say he is the applicant.

Andrew Steed ● 2242d

Adam is right. It's not abnormal for a council to make a decision on its own application. However, I do think there would be a difference if the Mayor overrode a decision by a local authority on a matter his office had an interest in.The Mayor is effectively the applicant for any TfL scheme because the organisation is under his authority.

Paul Corcoran ● 2242d

"The Mayor is effectively the applicant for any TfL scheme because the organisation is under his authority."The OP has reported that "the Mayor of London overturned Hillingdon Council's rejection" Hence it seems he is overriding the decision of Hillingdon Council for his own political gains. This is scandalous!

Steve Taylor ● 2242d

Just like to say that Bozza did exactly the same things when he was Mayor.

Vanessa Smith ● 2241d

Haven't the Govt put special representatives into TfL to assess its financial position?

Philippa Bond ● 2241d

Haven't the Govt put special representatives into TfL to assess its financial position?

Philippa Bond ● 2241d

TfL are now under such financial pressure and being leaned on by the government, that they've obviously got to look to get planning permission to develop every bit of spare land they possess, which includes the Bollo Lane embankment and onwards. And the of Mayor of London will be under similar pressure to approve any such scheme.

Peter Evans ● 2241d