How Planning Matters Are Decided For Chiswick

Councillor Michael Denniss writes about his work on the planning committee

Since my last blog I’ve joined the council’s planning committee. This committee reviews planning applications for large or smaller developments where there have been a significant number of objections. Interestingly, it has the right to determine any planning application or related matter which has been delegated to an officer for a decision, and to call-in an application if the decision is contentious. It sounds more complicated than it is.

Each Friday, the council publishes a list of applications that have been reviewed alongside the officer’s recommendation – either for refusal or approval - and the reasons for that recommendation. If an applicant, or objector, is unhappy with the recommended decision, they can ask for it to be 'called in'. This is done through one of the councillors for the ward where the application site lies, although councillors on the planning committee cannot do so. Applications that are called in are either considered at the next planning committee, or at the area forum, whichever comes first.

Applications range from small household extensions to large blocks of flats to business extensions such as that planned for the Mercedes-Benz dealership in Brentford. Any of them could have a tangible effect on the local area or the borough and therefore attract significant interest, particularly from those in neighbouring properties.

One example of this was the application to extend and refurbish the existing boat house and construct a new one at the Quentin Boat Club and Rugby Pavilion, next to Chiswick Bridge, which was considered and approved by the committee on 1st August. The application represented a chance to make a key Chiswick recreational asset operate more effectively and to offer greater value to local residents and schools. However, some residents had raised issues related to traffic and noise, particularly on the neighbouring road. It was interesting to see how the officers responded to these concerns and what the applicant had done to mitigate these effects.

When deciding each application, we consider policy issues outlined in The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), the London Plan and Hounslow’s local plan. Comments might be made by the Greater London Assembly and, if relevant, the Environment Agency and Transport for London as well as on highway safety and parking. Where there are points of concern, we take into account where applicants have taken mitigating action. Due to the importance of this role, all members of the planning committee attend specialist training.

I am keen to see applications that are sensible and that add value to their areas, but I also look out for where they might put residents at a disadvantage. Where possible I visit the site in person to get a real feel for the area, which is not always apparent on the official papers and plans. Members of the committee are often lobbied but must maintain a neutral position until they have received all relevant information, including at the committee itself. If you are concerned about any application, please get in touch. You can view applications on the council website but documents prepared for the committee, with a recommendation to approve or refuse, are only viewable a week before they are heard:

Stop CS9 petition still open

I have continued to petition against TfL’s proposed Cycle Superhighway 9 (CS9) on which the council will make a decision at its cabinet meeting on 3rd September. The petition will close that evening so you can still sign it here. The system only allows for one name for each email address so, if you share an email address, contact the council’s democratic services department which will add your name to the total.

Asking questions at Borough Council meetings

Since my last blog I have raised questions at Borough Council, where all the councillors meet to make key decisions. I asked Councillor Steve Curran, leader of Hounslow Council, to confirm the council’s official position on the issue of Heathrow's Third Runway. I was also concerned about the environmental impact of such a large workforce using cars to drive to work and whether the council could take effective action on this now. Councillor Curran responded that the council opposed the third runway and was in favour of a “Better not Bigger” approach.

I also raised an issue concerning a company that had been granted a licence to run the Junction2 Festival in Boston Manor Park. The company had used a large diesel engine to provide power to the festival and had physically damaged the park, so much so that a local residents’ group had attended the council to protest. I asked the council not to grant the licence to the company in future, unless the company could show that it had addressed these issues.

If you have any issues you would like me to raise at Borough Council please email me. Residents are also more than welcome to attend Borough Council meetings and, courtesy of the mayor, to join us for a drink and snack afterwards.

Dates for diaries

Cabinet meeting to consider CS9: Tuesday, 3rd September at 7pm at Hounslow House (papers will be published a week before)

Chiswick Area Forum:Tuesday, 17th September at 7.00pm at Chiswick Town Hall (find the papers here, published a week before the meeting -

Surgeries

Chiswick: Every Saturday from 9.30am to 10.30am at Chiswick library, upstairs in a private room.

Gunnersbury: First Saturday of the month from 10am to 11am at The Triangle Club, The Ridgeway, W3 8LN, usually a group discussion but privacy can be arranged.

Councillor Michael Denniss
Email: michael.denniss@hounslow.gov.uk
Phone: 07976 703274

August 27, 2019