Mayor Declines to Intervene on Twyford Abbey Application
Endorses council’s approval for development on historic site
Twyford Abbey. Picture: Ealing Green Party
December 22, 2022
There has been disappointment for campaigners hoping to prevent the development of the historic Twyford Abbey site after the Mayor of London endorsed the scheme.
In a letter to Ealing Council sent on 19 December, he said that, having considered his own officers report on the case, that he was content to allow the council’s approval to stand.
This represents a major blow to the hopes of opponents of the scheme who believed, due to the proposed development being on Metropolitan Open Land and the affordable housing proportion being below his target, there was a good chance that the Mayor might refuse or call in the scheme.
The application submitted by Clarion House for the construction of seven blocks containing 326 flats was approved in October by the council’s planning committee despite over 200 objections from local residents and environmental campaign groups. Local MP Rupa Huq also submitted an objection to the application which she described as a gross over-development.
Objectors say that woodland areas would be destroyed and 150 trees lost. However, Ealing Council planning officers said that the scheme would deliver a net gain in bio-diversity due to the replanting of the trees and a £100,000 financial contribution for more trees to be planted elsewhere in the area.
There was a strong objection from West Twyford Primary School which is sited next to the proposed main exit of the development.
The developer Clarion says that its scheme will open up the Twyford Abbey grounds to the public for the first time and will provide funding for the restoration of the Victorian building.
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