25 September 2021

Stop the Pinner Road Development

Photo of the land up for development

A planning application for four residential blocks, containing 46 flats has been submitted to Harrow Council and is open for public comments (P/3450/21) until Wednesday 6th October 2021.  The Council will look to approve or reject the proposed development at a Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday 17th November, 6.30pm.

Land owners MML Investments have submitted a plan to build on the green corridor behind properties 171-255 Pinner Road, running between The Gardens and Neptune Road, and along the Met Line between North Harrow and Harrow-on-the-Hill stations.   

Harrow Councillors were presented with the buidling proposals back in September 2020, where it was claimed that the site would maintain "most of its green character by retaining the quality trees” (Harrow Times).  This contravenes the reality of the situation, as this incredibly slim piece of land in what is an already extrememly polluted and congested part of Harrow will be devastating for both the environment and local residents.  This development will destroy mature trees and animal habitat, increase pollution, congestion, noise, pressure on local services, impacting the health and well-being of residents whose properties back onto this green embankment. 

The woodland running along the embankment is full of biodiversity and a wildlife haven, including an active badger sett in the middle of site.  The current wildlife corridor connects the sett and other animals to foraging ground and this will be lost and the likelihood is that the badgers will be driven onto the road.

Harrow Green Party member and former Parliamentary candidate Emma Wallace said: “It’s going to destroy a green corridor, a natural badgers’ sett and mature trees. This area is already so polluted so to remove a strip of green land that acts against this is very concerning. It also increases the flood risk – if you concrete over this patch of land then where’s the water going to run off to?” (My London, 30th Sept 2021)

Developers plan of land

Developers illustration of the building development

Oppose the Planning Application 

Please object to the planning application (P/3450/21) by Wednesday 6th October 2021, including the below reasons.

Three previous planning applications for the same site were refused for many of the reasons set out below in 1998 (ref WEST/103/98/FUL), 1999 (ref WEST/130/99/OUT) and 2004 (ref P/2632/04/CFU/TW). These were all for much smaller developments. 

Impact on local residents

  • Noise pollution - the embankment and vegetation provide local residents some form of protection from the noise of the tube line
  • Air pollution - Pinner Road is one of the most polluted roads in Harrow, exceeding WHO levels on a daily basis + the tube line spews out a lot of dust and dirt. The green corridor mitigates some of the worse effects of this
  • Light pollution & increased temperatures, contributing to climate change - the green woodland cools the area and provides some shade. 
  • Increased congestion on local roads - this is already a very busy part of Harrow
  • Lack of parking - not enough parking included in development plans, pushing more parking on to local roads
  • Increased pressure on local sevices - this is already a very built up area, with heavily subscribed schools and medical services
  • Development is proposed outside the housing intensification zone 
  • Scale, mass, density and design of proposed blocks are inappropriate and out of character for the site in relation to the existing residential homes
  • Height of proposed blocks up to 5 stories with balconies included - this is out of keeping with local area and will significantly impact privacy of local residents properties 
  • General loss of green aesthetics and general well-being for local residents

Impact on biodiveristy and wildlife

  • Destruction of a woodland full of biodiversity - an animal and bird habitat, including badgers, foxes, bats and nesting birds
  • Destruction of a wildlife corridor - connecting animals, providing a place to forage and hibernate
  • Destruction of a natural badger sett
  • Destruction of multiple mature trees, 15 which have Tree Protection Orders (see below)

Impact on future buyers 

  • As above + properties to be crammed against the tube line, resulting in constant noise and air pollution
  • A lack of affordable housing included in plans
  • Development of site may result in flooding
  • Japanese knotweed found on site

Harrow Council map of the 15 trees with TPOs

Pinner Road trees with TPOs

 

Updated 2nd October 2021

 






 

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