Forum Topic

development on Dorset & Gloucester roads W5

I walked down Gloucester road this week to see a corner house on the corner of Dorset road has been widened full height to the edge of the footway.This has completely damaged the lightline of both Dorset and Gloucester roads and whilst the development is in keeping with the rest of the structure one wonders how on earth planning permission was granted for such a damaging profile.Less than 10 years ago the same property was widened at first floor level and I was told by LBE planning that this was a breach of permitted development and would be looked into.I'm told that no underpinning has taken place for this full sized wall and there is no evidence of the pavement being lifted to do such.Does make one wonder how some things get passed and others far less damaging get refused

Michael Brandt ● 5706d9 Comments

If no-one received the consultation letters, then clearly there needs to be an investigation, and I would hope that councillors would pick this up and pursue it.The development itself is still being built, so it's not entirely clear what impact it will have, but I would have thought that only one or two houses would actually lose any light, if at all. If those immediate neighbours didn't receive consultation letters, that is indeed disgraceful.

Richard Jennings ● 5700d

This is why I thought that this sort of thing has occured before in Ealing.

Peter Chadburn ● 5701d

It's very telling that no response was heard, especially as there is a great deal of consternation about this development.Simple fact is, one in five is a normal low response and there would normally be at least one respondent opposed to even a popular proposal in that five.The fact there were no responses speaks volumes. Indeed there were no responses because there were no recipients of said letter. Because the notice wes never sent in the first place and not one officer went out and checked to see if anyone had received a letter.Hounslow send out an officer to investigate if there is no response at all because it indicates a problem may exist.

Oliver Gregan ● 5701d

i have to disagree with Mark. Ealing would be horrendous if anything of 3 storeys was nodded through. As it is the recent story of planning enforcement being allowed to get a result is very welcome as too much goes on knowing the battle to stop it is rarely won.Why was the planning committee not suspicious that not a single response had been received from 21 letters

Colin Izzard ● 5701d

This is an interesting and recurring issue. I have heard a stories of letters not being recieved when a contentious development is in train!! I am sure that there was a story last year about this issue

Peter Chadburn ● 5702d

I needed planning permission for a front porch, the application for this, including my name and address, was laminated and tied to the lampost outside my house for everyone to read (and object to if they wished). I thought this was council policy, and my nieghbours recieved letters asking if they objected. I'd have thought you'd be able to find out exactly who were sent notices, and if it was displayed outside the property through the coucil records, they should be able to prove this, if not well...you could be right!

Marie Shelly ● 5702d

I've never posted here before but this is the biscuit!I have to say that as a resident of said road I am incensed to hear that there were consultation notices sent to over 20 properties. Which ones? certainly not mine and we have lost light and part of a view.I had been working abroad but had no idea of this and we would most certainly have objected had we known.So far not one neighbour has seen or can produce a letter from Ealing.I've been in contact with the local residents association and the acting chair tells me that he has had a wad of complaints about the info conflicting with the councils planning decision and no-one seeming to know.He also had had no idea but did say he was at the wrong end of Gloucester road. But added that it was patchy as to whether notices were sent to the RA.I think Mr Brant is right, some quite modest modifications seem to get stopped and some obscene developments get passed.This one is visually OK but nonetheless does affect the environs and also affects other peoples property in terms of light and consequently value of ones property.What I am furious about after delving into this today is the fact no-one directly around seems to have known and that the residents assoc,. had no notification either.There is a pattern though. Almost all the 20 applications I have looked at that have been passed are via architects and design and build firms and, most refused are by individuals.I will go further than Mr Brandt. It echoes the well trodden formula of palms being greased.I will be seeking advice tomorrow and leaflet residents affected. Many who I spoke to were already rather concerned and had been fobbed off.

Oliver Gregan ● 5702d

"Does make one wonder how some things get passed"I assume you're referring to 10 Dorset Road and planning application P/2009/3667.  If you had looked on the Ealing website, you would have seen exactly how and why it got passed.  There is a very full appraisal of the proposed development by a planning officer which results in a recommendation for approval.  The side extension is only 1.6 metres wide, so I find it difficult to understand how it could have "completely damaged the lightline", whatever that really means.The officer's report says that 21 consultation letters were sent to neighbours last November, and no responses were received.

Richard Jennings ● 5703d

If its safe let it be. If not it should be looked into. Our planning regime is far too strict and I believe that if it is three stories or less then build it regardless of building lines etc. Ealing has to be a living breathing place; too much of England is being turned into a museum by people with too much time on their hands.Christ's teachings about living in the present (not in the past or future) are germaine to all this. I must be one of the few people who would like to see the folly boathouse and the old polo riding stables demolished in Gunnersbury Park and some multi-user games areas (MUGAs) put in there instead so that people actually use the park.The same with Dorset Road: far better that someone lives there and uses it than not!

Mark Maytree ● 5706d