Westminster council has asked the DOE to call in the Neale House/Co-operative Insurance Society’s application for the development of a shopping arcade on the site between Avery Row and New Bond Street in the heart of London’s West End.
Earlier plans for the site, including one from the Co-op team, have been turned down by the council. The council’s decision was upheld at appeal, but the inspector accepted the concept put forward by the applicants.
The Co-op’s new application takes into account the inspector’s criticisms of their previous proposal, including the replacement of office space with restaurants. As a result, the council feels constrained in its consideration of the proposals.
“We are not trying to sidestep our planning responsibilities, nor are we swayed by the considerable and vociferous opposition to the proposal — although we agree with that opposition,” said Alan Bradley, chairman of Westminster’s planning and development-committee.
“We feel that the previous decision on appeal has constrained Westminster in the decision it can now make — so much so that it would be better if the DOE deals with the proposals themselves,” he continued.
James Ede, chairman of local opposition group SLABB, welcomed the move. If the DOE refuses to call in the application, Mr Ede feels that Westminster will be in a much stronger position to refuse it, and if it is called in he hopes that there will be a public inquiry. “It is time that this very out-of-date plan was finally shelved and they started again,” he said.
Ken Ovenden, joint managing director of Neale House Investments, told Estates Gazette that Westminster council should have to adjudicate and the company will be making representations to the DOE to that effect in the near future.
