THE plans for the controversial redevelopment at Brent Cross Cricklewood should go to the next stage of the planning process by the end of the month.

Outline plans for the £5bn project to extend the shopping centre and redevelop 7,500 homes south of the the A406 were given the approval by Barnet Council's planning committee on November 19.

Before the Brent Cross Cricklewood Partners can put in detailed applications for each stage of the project the plans have to be approved by Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

A spokesman for Barnet Council said the application was due to be referred up by the end of the month.

He added the delay was due to the size of the £1bn planning agreement, the largest ever in the UK, which will see a host of road improvements.

Campaigners against the plans, which will include a new power station and refuse centre, have asked why it has taken three months to refer the application.

Lia Colacicco, who co-ordinates the Coalition for a sustainable Brent Cross Cricklewood, which comprises residents' and action groups from across north-west London, vowed to fight the plans.

She said: “We're curious as to why it has taken so long for them to be referred to Boris Johnson.

“The councillors at the committee had a Section 106 agreement in front of them, so what has taken so long? Have there been changes made to it? We will be writing to object to Mayor Johnson.”

She added the coalition was still calling for the plans to be subject to a public inquiry before being allowed to proceed.

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