Priced out of homes?
RESIDENTS SAY LOCALS WILL LOSE OUT TO INVESTORS SNAPPING UP ‘AFFORDABLE HOMES’ AT CHAILEY INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
PLANS to redevelop the Chailey Industrial Estate in Hayes into 331 homes have been approved by Hillingdon Council, but residents say locals will not be able to afford them.
Some locals told the council’s July 19 Major Applications Planning Committee that the Pump Lane development’s flats would be snapped up by investors, leaving locals with the same overheated market.
The warning came despite 35% of the new homes planned set to be affordable housing, which will be almost evenly split between affordable rent, London living rent and shared-ownership properties.
The plans, which include buildings ranging from two to 10 storeys in height, would also provide 710msq of ground floor commercial floorspace.
Because of the size of the project, it will now go to the Mayor of London, who will issue a final decision, expected in September.
Three councillors on the committee voted against the project, saying the buildings were out of characters with the suburban area, and did not provide enough family-sized housing or car parks.
The developer said work could start in spring next year, if approved.
The first apartments will likely to be completed by spring 2021 and the whole project may be completed by mid-2023.
The development was originally presented to the committee in April, but members resolved to defer it over similar concerns including congestion and fire safety.
The two petitioners representing residents from nearby Chalfont Road and Little Road spoke to the committee, saying air quality was also a serious concern, especially with the proposed third runway at Heathrow.
They said the site density is well above the council’s recommendations, which they said sit at 110 units per hectare, with the plan set at 184 units per hectare.
The petitioners also complained about the lack of homes for families.
Representing the developer, Fairview New Homes, director of planning Mark Jackson said the residents’ concern over the height of the main building had seen it cut down from 11 storeys to ten, resulting in the loss of two units.
He also pointed out that the movement of buildings away from Little Road had meant the existing homes would not be overlooked.
In response to fire safety concerns, the buildings would be primarily made of flame-resistant brick.
He said the London Plan was now focused upon the quality of designs, not purely density.
Over concerns of lack of parking, Mr Jackson said there were plans for enabling bus routes and creating a pedestrian bridge to reduce the use of cars.
He also said there would be provisions for electric vehicle charging stations.
He said: “We are delivering 99 new affordable home and including 55 family homes across the scheme.”
Councillor Peter Curling said changes made since the planning committee deferred the decision previously were “quite superficial”.
The reduction of 333 units to 331 he said was still an over-development of the site, which is currently industrial land.
The proposal was criticised by more than one councillor for having 159 twobed and only 55 three-beds, when the identified need in Hayes and Harlington was for three and four bedroom apartments. Councillor John Oswell said: “I think it’s about time developers got a grip and started submitting applications that have more three-bedrooms and some four as well, and just calm down on these two bedroom units. “This is not meeting the need.” Although the proposal fulfilled current obligations for energy efficiency, there was a shortfall when compared to emerging energy policies, meaning the Greater London Authority could choose to object to the plans.
Councillor John Morse also pointed out the amenities spaces were shadowed by the build.
There were also discussions between the developer and the neighbour, Matalan, to create a pocket park or open area at the Pump Lane end of the site.
There were concerns raised about the southern boundary, which remains industrial land, and the applicant proposed to build taller acoustic blocking fencing.
I think it’s about time developers...just calm down on these two bedroom units Councillor John Oswell