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Spokesman claims increasing local support for development as residents blast anonymity of developers
The main block is a key element of the plan which isn't likely to be abandoned easily. His view of the exhibition was that even the objectors to the development acknowledged the aesthetics of the plans and he said these would be compromised without the main towers. Visitors to the exhibition completed 86 response forms of which 14 were wholly in favour of the development. These results will be presented to the Chiswick Area Committee which will be discussing the development on Monday 19th November. Marie Hawthorne, a local resident who has been organising opposition to the development, said that the fear of local people was that West Chiswick was becoming an extension of the Golden Mile and that the new society formed by local residents would press to have the area made a conservation area. She raised the issue of the identity of the developers who have acted through proxies so far. According to a spokesman, Clifton Cape is effectively a consortium of Far Eastern investors. They have been involved in funding other developments in Chiswick including the nearby Barrett Homes and Persimmon projects. He stated that they would not be selling on the development as soon as planning permission was granted. He refused to give full details on the names of the individuals or companies in the consortium. A spokesman for Hounslow Council said: "One of the anomalies regarding local planning laws is that the applicant for a planning application does not have to be the developer - planning application can be sought and approved and the land could then be sold to someone else to develop. Because of this, the developer's details aren't relevant to the planning application." This has caused some concern amongst local residents. One commented: "There could be any number of perfectly good reasons why the real identity of the developers hasn't been revealed thus far, but given the outcry it would seem reasonable for local people to know who is planning to change their environment so drastically. The character and corporate history of the people behind the development should be subject to public scrutiny just as much as the plans. An unscrupulous developer would know that planning enforcement is often lax in the area and be prepared to renege on some of the commitments made to get approval. The Area Committee meeting on 19th November at St. Michaels and All Angels Church will not be making the decision on this development but councillors will be allowed to pass comments to the Sustainable Development Committee of Hounslow Council. Minutes of Meeting of Local residents Opposition Grows to Chiswick West Full Text of Letter of Objection from Peter Eversden Sample Letter of Objection from local resident Spokesman for Developer Urges Residents to View Plans Before Deciding Comment on this issue on the Chiswick Discussion Forum Transport Plans for Chiswick Business Park Your local Council Representatives
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