Leaf Revisions Don't Cut it With CABE

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But developers defend their position

 

The Leaf project has suffered yet another blow, with the release of a government advisory body report maintaining its objections to the proposal.

The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) has released a report recommending councillors to reject Glenkerrin's Arcadia development because it is not "of the standard that Ealing deserves".

The Glenkerrin proposals, which include a 40-storey tower, had been adapted to take into account earlier criticisms from CABE.

But they didn't go far enough. The report says: "We feel that this proposal has had the opportunity to resolve the concerns we have consistently raised and are disappointed to see that they have not been addressed.

"We do not think that this scheme is of the standard that Ealing deserves and are unable to offer it our support."

Problems highlighted by CABE include the relationship between finger blocks in the development and Haven Green, as well as the lack of light for north facing apartments and narrow alleyways running between buildings.

Responding to the report, the developers said they

have had to deal with a number of very real demands and constraints. These include maintaining retail street frontages; preserving views of the parish church; addressing the conservation area; and confronting the not insubstantial engineering challenge of building over the railway tracks.

They said a 'lesser developer would be unable to take on this Herculean task.

"Most of the points CABE now raises are of a subjective rather than of a fundamental nature and Glenkerrin and its team of architects, planners and experts feel each of these points have been satisfactorily answered," said a Glenkerrin spokesperson.

"The Ealing Broadway Leaf development, offers a major regeneration opportunity for the town – the best chance in over a generation for Ealing to stem its decline and offer its residents a 21st Century shopping experience, create Ealing’s greenest ever development, provide 1,300 jobs and make a significant contribution to the town’s transport integration."

Ealing Council also comes under fire from the CABE report."We are aware that Ealing is a town on the verge of significant development pressure but there seems to be no vision in place for this transformation."

The planning meeting to discuss the project due to take place on Thursday, February 28 was cancelled yesterday.

A new date for the meeting, at which councillors will decide whether to grant planning permission for the scheme, has yet to be set.

 

February 14, 2008