25 July 2021

Ridgeway Development comes to a head 

Many of you will have been following the 265 The Ridgeway planning application over the last couple of years and the ongoing campaign to oppose the plans to build an imposing seven storey tower block next to West Harrow's local allotments and park. The petition has gained nearly 3500 signatures and there is a locally produced documentary 'The Fight to Save 265 Ridgeway in Harrow from Developers', including aerial footage that reveals the extent and impact this development will have on the local area.

On Wednesday 28th July, the Planning Application will finally be deliberated by the Planning Committee for a decision 

The council's Planning Department have been given many reasons by residents and conservationists on which to reject this inappropriate overdevelopment and now, the Ridgeway's Planning Application is finally going in front of Harrow Council's Planning Committe for a decision. 

The Planning Committe meeting will take place at 6.30pm on Weds 28th July 2021 at the Kadwar Patidar Centre, Kenmore Lane, Kenton, Harrow, HA3 8LU. This is a public meeting - see the meeting agenda here.  

Please attend and support the local campaigners, who are meeting outside the Kadwa Patidar Centre at 6pm.  Please also email your local Harrow councillor before the meeting to speak out against this development and state the reasons why they should refuse this development, summarised below:

Reasons this planning application must be refused:

1. The height and scale of the proposed 7 storey blocks will be unique in an area where almost everything in this suburban area is just 2 floors; destroying the area’s green, open and tranquil character (including West Harrow park and allotments) and replace it with an urban look.
2. Access - there is currently no path to access this proposed development; to create a new cycle and pedestrian link with it and West Harrow Station will result in a loss of statutory allotment land (including a historic honey bee colony)
3. Lack of affordable housing / social housing included in the plans
4. Lack of two and three bedroom family housing (178 units are currently proposed, consisting mostly of one bedroom flats)
5. Flouts the existing covenant; the 1997 planning conditions which state it can only be used as a low-intense faith premise ‘to safeguard the amenity of neighbouring residents and the character of the locality’
6. Lack of parking included, plus related traffic management problems; the development will push parking on to local streets and increase general traffic issues considerably in the area.
7. Strain on local services and public transport; there will be a big increase in local population, with the development including 178 units
8. Biodiversity and wildlife; the area is surrounded with protected SINC sites (Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation) and home to protected wildlife
9. Sever a green corridor, destroying further precious, remaining local wildlife habitat
10. Disruption of social prescribing unit WiseWorks, which helps local residents with special needs

Planning Report *Update* - Recommendation for refusal of report itself

The council's Planning Officer's recommendation at the Wednesday 28th July meeting is to refuse planning permission of the proposed 265 The Ridgeway development.  The recently published planning report has recommended the refusal of the applicant's submission on grounds of a) lack of social housing and b) the need for more information regarding biodiversity and the affect on the SINC site.  

Campaigners are extremely upset that the report totally ignores the thousands of written objections from local residents, park users and allotment holders who had pointed out that this 7 storey development would be completely out of character and overbearing within this green corridor.   They are concerned that if this refusal is accepted by the Planning Committee the applicant may make a few minor amendments and resubmit the plans and then campaigners will be unable to challenge them. 

Consequently, campaigners and local residents are requesting that this planning report is withdrawn and resubmitted, recommending instead refusal on grounds of the proposed developments height, density and scale.  They would like The Ridgeway application struck off the Planning Committee meeting Agenda for the 28th July until the report is fit for purpose.

Update Tuesday 27th July

As a result of complaints being lodged regarding Harrow Council's inadequate planning report, the council have added an addendum to the report, to include emails and responses from campaigners expressing their dismay at the 1000s of objections submitted, but ignored.  Is the Council now trying to cover their tracks?

Artists impression of the proposed Ridgeway blocks

Aerial photos of the 265 The Ridgeway, by John Styles,"High Flying Photography"

 

 

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