Well, I went to the consultation, signd in, then looked at a series of picture boards describing plans for Lionel Rd and a reminder of the existing residential planning permission for Griffin Park. Also a model of the area with proposed new buildings in clear acrylic to stand out. Several staff from the developers on hand to answer questions. Feedback questionaires awailable for you to fill in with positive statements listed that you rank, for, neutral, against.My view...This is a large residential development, c.900 homes in 9 blocks between 15 and 18 storeys plus parking and a 14 storey hotel, with a football stadium in the middle. A couple of restaurants/cafes etc are also included.The stadium looks OK, tho I am surprised it seems to be limited to c.20000 with no scope for expansion unless they acquire more land to the north which will be tricky.The layout, approaches, transport links, green space etc also looks OK. The scheme does not include the Leisure centre, as proposed in the previous Barrats led plan.The residential, in clusters to the east, west and south of the stadium looks OK in location but is over high and possibly over dense at up to 18 storeys plus parkinglevels in 9 blocks. There is also a possible 14 storey hotel/conference centreThe club say they will apply for detailed planning for the stadium and outline planing for the rest with a short timescale. Planning by Sept this year, start on site 2014, completion of the stadium 2016. with the residential to follow over several years.They plan to sell the residential plots with outline planning to be built out by other developers and the rep I spoke to said this was essential to ensure the long term future of the club.Three points that concern me....1. The existing low rise planning permission for Griffin Park was conceived under a totally different planning environment and I do not believe a new purchaser of the site would build to it. S106 deals for traditional social Housing no longer exist since the Govt slashed grants for Housing Associations. Expect a new planning app for higher density, higher building form of mainly flats.2. The club will apply for 'Outline PP' for the non stadium plots. ie storey height, layout, residential/commercial use etc. This is where the arguments over height, density, tenure and dwelling size will take place. The club will argue it needs to maximise to extract the most value to help the club keep its community activities going...... But view the club as a 'Developer' and they all say that.... It will be down to the community and LBH to peg the club back to agreeable levels of height and density. LBH must also seek the maximum community gain through the S106 replacement, transport the most likely candidate as well as subsidised housing on site.3. After all that 'Outline' stuff (Which is really important BTW as it sets the parameters and needs to be tightly drawn) the club will sell the sites to one or more developers. Time will elapse, Govt policies may change, the economy will change. The developer may/will come back to the council for revised planning, seeking to change the Outline, higher/denser etc....I suggest that having achieved 'Outline' the club includes in its contacts for sale binding agreements with the developer that only non-material changes are allowed to the planning permission so as to fix the agreed planning permission in stone.If you have read so far you might think me negative about the scheme. Not at all, I think the masterplan looks good and it will be good for both the club and Brentford, provided the community and LBH manage the club/developers expectations and negotiate them back from an over high/possibly over dense schemeThere is already a nimby thread on ChiswickW4 if you have not already seen it, will make interesting reading....Iain
Iain Muir ● 4586d