Master Brewer plans are ‘overdevelopment’

AS A RESIDENT of Hillingdon for the last 25 years I felt I must write about the proposed building of substantial residential properties on the Master Brewer site, opposite Hillingdon tube station.

This plan was rejected by residents and Hillingdon Council but given the green light by Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Did the government Housing Minister, Robert Jenrick, ever visit the site to see the obvious unsuitability of the venture? If he did, the traffic would have been considerably quieter with the Covid virus restrictions curtailing traffic jams, flow and actual gridlock that is experienced around Long Lane and the A40 surrounding the Master Brewer site.

Pollution levels are very high in a borough noted for its green policies and award winning parks. The statistics of deaths which are attributable to pollution in the London boroughs is very high.

We need social housing in the UK and, indeed, in Hillingdon. But at what cost?

The council has agreed with local residents who have campaigned and demonstrated ‘overdevelopment’ in the borough.

Why then was this public denunciation of the Master Brewer project overturned? A very small percentage of the planned development is ‘affordable housing’ so why was this development ever considered?

There are poor access points in the plan. It hardly enhances Hillingdon’s aim to be a very green and carbon neutral borough either.

The aesthetic implications of such a development in terms of its height compared to the other properties in the borough must be cause for concern. If so much social housing is needed in the borough can the residents and the council and the individuals that will live in this property have confidence in the health and safety aspects of the property.

Will the parking issues have minimum impact on local residents? What benefit will it have for construction workers that live in the borough? Will they form the core of the construction team?

Many of the residents in the borough are very angry at this development taking place and their democratic right being overturned by powers outside the borough.

The effects of overdevelopment on public health should not be played down. At present Hillingdon Council is mounting a legal challenge to the development.

But I would ask all householders who feel the development is wrong to contact their ward councillors. The various email addresses / contact numbers are readily available on the Hillingdon.gov.uk website.

Ian Herne

Hillingdon