Brent Cross Cricklewood scheme up for discussion at planning meeting tonight (From Times Series)

Brent Cross Cricklewood scheme up for discussion at planning meeting tonight

9:10am Thursday 29th July 2010

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THE highly contentious Brent Cross Cricklewood plans come back in front of Barnet councillors tonight.

Detailed plans for the £6.5bn redevelopment, including a redrafted planning agreement, are set to be rubber stamped despite hostile opposition from some residents.

David Howard, chairman of the Federation of Residents Associations in Barnet (FORAB) which is a member of the Coalition for a Sustainable Brent Cross Cricklewood said the plans are being pushed through too quickly.

He said: “Barnet Council’s decision to rubberstamp plans for the Brent Cross Cricklewood redevelopment at the end of an ordinary planning meeting this week is suspicious, but not surprising.

“The scheme has been inadequately negotiated between the council and developers, and reneges on conditions applied in November.

“Given that section 106 documents have largely been rewritten, it is completely unclear what the council is being asked to approve at this week’s meeting.”

Mr Hopward said campaigners would be urging councillors on the environment and planning committee to put the decision back for three months to allow scrutiny of the documents.

He added: “We would like to know why Barnet have brought the Brent Cross report to committee this week, with barely a week’s notice and at the end of July, when it could have been more fully considered in October.

“We believe that documents sneaked through without proper scrutiny now will become more difficult to challenge at the October meeting - or at least, that is the Council's intention. ”

Other plans up for discusion are the materials to be used for redeveloping the Finchley Memorial Hospital and extending the time allowed for development of the Zenith House development in The Hyde, Hendon.

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