After two long sessions in November and December, and after 15 action-packed days of hearings, the Planning Inspector Mr. Glen Rollings brought proceedings to an end on Thursday 12th December,
The whole of the last day was taken up with the Closing Statements from all the parties who were represented and with the Developer’s KC finishing off at almost 8.00pm. A true marathon.
Peter Eaton, our Co-Chair wrapped things up by thanking the Council for organising the live-streaming and also thanking Mr. Rollings for the open and collaborative spirit he had encouraged throughout proceedings, and for inviting members of the public and local residents to make their representations and comments each day.
He also thanked Ms. Vincent the Gately Hamer Programme Manager who did a sterling job making all the information and core documents so accessible via the Inquiry website.
So, what next?
All the participants take a deep breath and sigh of relief, and we now have to wait until the Inspector makes his decision, which he confirmed will probably be in March next year.
According to our barrister, Nick Grant of Landmark Chambers, and the GLA’s barrister Mr. Edwards, this Stag Inquiry has been especially complicated compared to other national cases over recent years, and this explains why it will take some time for the Inspector to compile his report and decision.
Thank you to Team MBCG
We fought the MBCG case on four main issues – Design & Townscape, Heritage, Transport and Education, leaving the highly complex issue of Financial Viability and resultant Affordable Housing provision to the GLA and their formidable team of experts.
Huge thanks to Nick Grant who did a brilliant job in focusing our evidence on these areas and preparing us for cross-examination.
Thanks also go out to the MBCG expert witnesses Geoff Woodhouse, Howard Potter, Dorian Crone and Peter Eaton. Representations were also made by other members of the MBCG, MESS and MCA. We also must mention our local Green Party Councillor Niki Crookdake who attended every day, made a series of punchy statements, and grilled various representatives of the Council and the Developer on a range of subjects.
We did not quite manage to raise all the funds we hoped for, but have nevertheless been able to settle our legal costs and those of our Heritage experts. Thank you to all of you who kindly contributed to our fighting fund.
Decision is finally balanced
The decision seems finely balanced between the impact of the design and density of the scheme on the local context and heritage assets, and the lack of affordable homes when compared with the presumption in favour of development of this brownfield site and the desperate need for new homes in London.
The newly published National Planning Policy Framework, re-drafted by the Government, and Richmond’s very poor record of delivering new homes (and woeful delivery of affordable homes), will weigh heavily in favour of the scheme, but to counter this, we did manage with the GLA to present compelling arguments against the excessive density and heights of the scheme, along with traffic safety issues, heritage harms and no compelling case for the new school.
Fingers crossed for a few months and hopefully we get a late but welcome Christmas present in March. We intend to hold a public meeting either way soon after the Decision is released.
We wish you all a very Happy Christmas and New Year.