Havering councillors have, for the moment, refused plans for the huge 2,900-home Beam Park development in Rainham, RM13.
The GLA-owned site, being developed jointly by Countryside and L&Q, had originally been granted planning consent at Barking & Dagenham’s planning committee last month.
Due to the size and scope of the site straddling both local authorities, it also has to pass Havering’s planning committee, as 733 of the 2,900 homes fall within the borough.
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Planning officers had recommended the project for approval. However, committee members voted to refuse consent, citing reasons of height and the impact on character. Heights will reach a maximum of nine storeys in places, with much of the site taken up with three-storey town houses.
A new train station at Beam Park, a 16,000 sq ft health centre and community facilities were also planned within the Havering boundary.
Across the entire scheme 50% of the homes will be affordable. The original application proposed 35%, however this has been increased due to the site being on GLA land, and the new London Plan requirements.
A spokesperson from Countryside and L&Q said: “We remain fully committed to Beam Park, which we believe would bring many benefits to the London Borough of Havering as well as the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, who approved the application.
“Our proposals would deliver up to 2,900 much-needed homes, of which 50% are affordable, surrounded by 17.9 hectares of green space across both boroughs, which equates to 56% of the site.
“In addition, there will be a new Beam Park railway station framed by a high-quality public square with retail and community space as well as a medical centre serving over 20,000 people, more than four times the number of people who would live on the new development. Moreover, our proposals would deliver two primary schools, a gym, nursery and a multi-faith space.
“We are currently awaiting the outcome of the stage 2 referral to the GLA.”
The refusal comes at a time with local elections on the horizon, and a general increasing amount of refusals across London.
Just last month Havering councillors voted to create a new Strategic Planning Committee, in order to focus on major applications, with the existing committee handling all other planning matters.
The government has warned local authorities that lose more than 10% of planning appeals over a two-year period will face “special measure”, with applications for major schemes able to go straight to the Planning Inspectorate and in doing so, bypass the council’s planning committee.
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