Southall redevelopment gets green light
A controversial regeneration scheme in Southall has been given the go-ahead after it was called in by Mayor Boris Johnson.
An earlier decision to refuse permission by the London Boroughs of Ealing and Hillingdon was overturned.
The project - at the site of the old Gas works - will see the construction of a 'mini village' consisting of 3750 homes, as well as a hotel, cinema and leisure facililities.
Ealing cited congestion problems as a reason for refusing permission.
A section 106 agreement has been signed, including the ruling that only 2,500 homes can be built before road improvements are made.
The Mayor said that he was satisfied that all major concerns surrounding the development had been addressed and added:
"This application is clearly of major significance to London, with the homes it will deliver and the jobs it will create.
"West London is an important driver for the capital’s entire economy and within a decade it will become one of the best-connected regions in the UK with the arrival of Crossrail.
"Failure to give the Southall application the go-ahead and develop this key brownfield site could be detrimental to the future economic prosperity of the area."
Labour leaders in Southall are angry about the decision claiming the massive redevelopment will bring further traffic gridlock to the area and put severe strain on local public services.
They are holding a press conference on Monday to outline their concerns.
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March 26th, 2010
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