Blocked development given go ahead after green tweak

In February, London’s Mayor had directed Ealing Council to refuse the planning application from Chancerygate Ltd for the brownfield site in Southall.

The design fell foul of the Mayor’s London Plan, after failing to encourage energy efficiency measures or allow for the inclusion of renewable energy technologies such as wind turbines or solar panels.

However, Ealing Council and the Greater London Authority’s planning and urban design team met with the developers in a bid to negotiate amendments and agreed to suspend the application instead of rejecting it.

The scheme has now been given the green light after Chancerygate improved the design and agreed to install five 15KW on-site wind turbines.

The changes mean the scheme is expected to meet the Mayor’s energy policy providing total carbon dioxide savings of more than 20%.

Mr Livingstone said: “This case shows how we can use the planning system to ensure that all new developments are built to the highest energy efficient standard and demonstrates how effective my London Plan policies are in leading the effort to tackle climate change.

“The buildings in our cities are responsible for much of the carbon dioxide that contributes to climate change and I am determined that, as London grows, energy efficiency and renewable energy will be at the heart of everything we build.”

One resident living near the development had written to Ealing Council raising concerns that the wind turbines would cause excessive noise, however the council said the turbines were more than 50 metres from the nearest houses and were not considered to be intrusive.

The development, on the site of a former can manufacturing plant, will consist of 59 business and industrial units.

Chancerygate were not available for comment.

Kate Martin