Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London has decided to use his powers to call in all three planning applications for the Brewery which were discussed in January by Richmond Council. This means that the Mayor will now take over responsibility from the Council for the development.
In a letter dated 4th May, Jules Pipe, Deputy Mayor responsible for planning matters, has informed the Council that the scheme will have a significant impact on The London Plan and that the level of affordable housing in planning application A is significantly less than current targets desired by The Mayor. The Mayor is also concerned that the Council has rejected the plan to widen Chalker’s Corner (Application C) with no plan to mitigate increased traffic arising from the development.
You can read the letter and report here: GLA Stag Brewery planning report
What happens next?
- The Mayor and his officers at the GLA will now review all three planning applications in detail and consider each element, including, design, density, traffic, air quality, environment and the need for a secondary school. The GLA officers will prepare a report prior to a public hearing.
- The Mayor has to give 14 days’ notice of a public hearing to those wishing to make representations and seven days’ notice to the public including publication of the agenda and case officer’s report.
- The Mayor will attend a site visit in advance of the hearing and will be accompanied by GLA officers, Transport for London two representatives of the Borough and two representatives of the developer.
- We understand from guidance, that local residents can speak at the Hearing if they wish to either object or support the applications.
- The Council will be allowed a max 5 minutes to address the hearing, the objectors 15 minutes, the supporters 15 minutes and the developers, 5 minutes.
- The Mayor will make a decision within 5 days of the date of the hearing.
What about consultation with the public?
The developers have already revised elements of their scheme to present to the Mayor and this would include an increase in units boosting affordable housing on the scheme. The Mayor will fully consult with the community on a revised scheme, prior to the public hearing.
We think this will be done in the normal way, with the scheme being posted on-line for comment. Unfortunately, if lockdown continues, it is unlikely that any face to face consultation meetings will take place. However, we will be pressing the Mayor’s office to ensure that consultation with the community will be widespread and fully take account of the views of residents both in Mortlake and neighbouring wards.
Questions MBCG will now be asking of the Mayor’s office:
- When we will see the Developer’s revised plans?
- When the consultation with the public will start?
- How long it will take the GLA to prepare the report for the Public Hearing?
- When the Mayor will visit the site?
- When the Public Hearing will take place?
Next steps
We will draw up a plan of action to respond to the revised scheme once it becomes public.
We will stay in touch with the Mayor’s office and the GLA to ensure that the voice of Mortlake residents and beyond is fully represented in the discussions that will now take place.
We will keep you informed by email when we know the timetable set by the Mayor.
We will keep the website updated.