5 Years Ago Today LBE Said YES to Dickens Yard
Bonfire Night 2008 was the the fateful day that Councillor Potts' Planning Committee said YES to St George's Dickens Yard proposal to build 698 homes behind the Town Hall. How ironic it is that exactly five year later the current Planning Committee will decide tonight whether St George's 'inducement' of £3.65 million to LBE will persuade elected Members to remove the 2008 planning requirement for St George to build 59 Affordable Homes at Dickens Yard. After five years a quick assessment of where we are with Dickens Yard might be useful.+ 50% of flat sales have been to international buyers+ Still bargains to be had. 12, three bedded flats at £1.1+ million each are still on the market+ No retail occupation of the ground floors of the residential tower blocks already built. Retail experts predict these retail sites will never be occupied.+ The latest block under construction is huge. 13 storeys and still growing. You can now see it as you approach from Ealing Common around about Silom Village restaurant.+ The hole that is being dug now is vast. It looks like the result of an asteroid strike. Go and park in the never full Springbridge Road car park and marvel at the depth.The key questions asked in 2008 still remain. Exactly which local housing problem does Dickens Yard address? Why has a private company been given control of 4.4 acres of public land till then year 2258?Drag out the dynamite.....
Eric Alan Leach ● 4530d1 Comments