Forum Topic

Why doesn't Ealing Planning say to Developers,

go away, and come back with something that isn't a box, or stack of boxes. Brings us something that is functional, different, interesting and ADDS aesthetically to Ealing/Acton.Not difficult is it? I don't blame Ealing Planning per se, they want to keep their jobs and are only doing what they're told by the absolute inept cretins currently in power.Our Borough is being evicerated and destroyed day by day from outrageous & inappropriate developments which are total eyesores and have NO redeeming features.It doesn't have to be this way, and is very easily "fixed".So WHY is it happening?Someone's making ££££££s   😉

Rosco White ● 2195d9 Comments

Unless the clothing allowance only commenced in the last 18 months, I can guarantee that it didn't happen in the previous 10 years.

Donna Fraser ● 2188d

Paul, other than Julian bell, councillors don't attend MIPIM. Rather,it's very senior officers,especially regeneration,and they take a couple of admin staff with them.

Donna Fraser ● 2188d

Referring to the clothes allowance.

Simon Derbyshire ● 2189d

Are you able to tell us where this information comes from?

Simon Derbyshire ● 2189d

"Queen of the Suburbs", what a sick joke now. BellEnd and Co. are on a mission to make us "Ugly Towers of the Suburbs". I am completely unconvinced that our planning strategy is on the "advice of Officers", it is OBVIOUSLY driven by BellEnd and The Southall Posse, we are not fools.I have said before, one day there will be "revelations" which will reveal all, and no-one will be surprised at what's gone on.

Rosco White ● 2189d

Apparently the officers are also given a clothes allowance, not sure about the councillors.

Libby Kemp ● 2189d

And quite how the awful, cold, stark and uninviting area that is The Oaks "shopping centre" was passed by anyone is a mystery.  I can only imagine that the shops that are there will soon be gone as there is zero footfall.It was fun in the good old Netto days!

Sarah Vickers ● 2190d

What part do architects play in the whole process? There does appear to be a large scale lack of ambition and imagination.Re councillors' cajoling of developers at MIPIM in Cannes: it has been alleged that developers / construction companies pay everything for councillors to attend over the whole period. A further thought: could cajoling (good word) not be done in Britain, assuming councils want to support British businesses?

Paul Cronshaw ● 2190d

The power of local authorities to determine the look and shape of a community is very limited and the application and interpretation of planning regulations seems to be what matters.  I suspect it's more likely the planning officers who have to advise reluctant councillors that there are no technical grounds to refuse an unappealing project.  So even if they wanted to, I doubt if they can turn something down just because it 'looks horrible' or isn't what they'd rather see built on the site. Councils are also so financially and legally constrained that they can't build anything much for themselves either, and have to enter into 'constructive partnerships' ('dodgy deals' to some) with commercial developers to get anything built at all. Which is why I guess councillors go to Cannes each year to try and cajole the big developers into building some stuff in Ealing, rather than in Hounslow or Hammersmith.Of course, what people really want is something nicer and better, but the present system just doesn't seem to allow it. Anyone for changing the system?! Bit late now! We had our chance in December.

Peter Evans ● 2191d