Labour has vowed to end Westminster Council’s “cosy relationship with developers” after taking control of the borough in yesterday’s local elections.
Labour has taken control of several key London boroughs including Westminster, Wandsworth and Barnet as yesterday’s votes continue to be counted.
As the final results for the boroughs were counted, Labour had gained 16 seats in Westminster, taking its total to 31, while the Conservatives lost 18 seats, slimming down to just 23. In Wandsworth it gained nine seats, taking its total to 35 against the Conservatives’ 22. In Barnet, Labour gained 16 seats, rising to 41, while the Conservatives fell to 22.
The Labour election manifesto for Westminster said the party would “create a fairer and more accessible planning system for residents” if it won control of the council, which has been Conservative controlled since its creation 50 years ago.
It said: “For decades the priorities of the planning system in Westminster had become dominated by the power of property developers who often set the agenda at the expense of residents. It’s come at the cost of the social and truly affordable housing we need, with local communities left frustrated when their concerns are ignored. Poorly designed, high-carbon developments are too common, and community and cultural venues are vulnerable.”
Labour has also taken aim at recent developments, such as Marks & Spencer’s 650,000 sq ft redevelopment of its Oxford Street, W1, flagship, saying it will “introduce a retrofit-first policy” across all development in the borough.
The party added that it would focus on “putting the needs of residents before developers in the planning system” and create a “jargon-busting guide” to make it easier for residents to object to proposed developments.
A feeling that planning officers looked too favourably on developers was echoed in another policy. Under Labour, design and conservation officers will be treated as internal consultants, with powers to recommend the approval or rejection of planning applications, independently of the planning officers’ recommendations.
It also intends to publish a database of private developable land holdings and developments that have not proceeded, and says it will examine ways to intervene where the council has the power to do so if delays are unreasonable.
Labour also drew attention the much-mocked Marble Arch Mound, and other attempts by the council to reinvigorate the streets. Labour’s manifesto said the Conservatives had “become tired, out-of-touch and incompetent, wasting £6m on the Marble Arch Mound while local people struggle with rising bills”.
It added that developers and landowners would be expected to stump up to get the Oxford Street District plans “back on track” after the Mound “debacle” and its stalled plans for “temporary” piazzas at Oxford Circus. “We will ensure that major landowners, such as Grosvenor and Crown Estates pay their fair share, matching or exceeding the council’s contribution to the scheme, otherwise funding for the scheme will be redirected to other priorities.”
Other policies put forward by the new leader, Adam Hug, include opposing government plans to deregulate the conversion of shops to residential. He said Westminster under Labour would use the council’s capital funding to “strategically acquire shuttered shops at key locations on core high streets”.
A new cabinet member with responsibility for will also be appointed.
Affordable housing requirements will be increased for new developments, while Hug said Labour would set up a Westminster housing review, comprising senior figures from housing, planning and homelessness organisations to lead a “root-and-branch review of the housing crisis in Westminster”. It has also made guarantees not to transfer control of the council housing stock to any outside organisation.
Despite its attack on the cosy relationship with developers, the new Labour leader has stressed the party is not anti-development. Among its manifesto pledges is a commitment to “assemble new development sites, including where there are underused brownfield sites and low-rise commercial buildings”.
It also wants to create more low-cost flexible workspace “which can be easily booked by local start-up businesses and individuals”, look into planning policies to revive the West End retail climate and encourage more “experience retailing” by reducing the amount of “chain retail”.
Notably, one of the wards to swing to Labour from Conservative was the West End, which includes Mayfair.
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