• FRAN Heron questions the developer-planner role of Camden Council (Look at the developer-planner roles, October 12).

It seems to me that the balance at Camden planning is far from satisfactory as it heavily leans towards the building aspect while minimising the checking aspect. Transparency is also far from satisfactory.

In correspondence recently Camden planning wrote to me that: “When we deal with planning applications we are required by the National Planning Policy Framework to work with the applicant in a positive and proactive way. If an issue can be easily overcome by a variation to a scheme it would not be appropriate to simply refuse it.”

Arguably this sounds fair and sensible. But in a current application (to put an extra floor on the top of a building standing over a railway tunnel) Camden planning all but ignored a large number of serious concerns by a large number of residents in/near the block and recommended that the application be approved.

Eventually one of these concerns was noted by Camden and apparently they are now working with the applicant on a variation of the application regarding this one aspect. All other concerns seem to have been swept under the carpet by Camden.

I am also wondering whether affordable housing is taken seriously. Sixteen new flats are built on our roofs but Camden is evidently happy with a financial contribution of £182,850 by the developer.

My figures may not be entirely accurate but, according to my understanding, flats in our block sell for minimum £500,000 or more; flats are rented out for minimum £35,000-a-year or more.

None of the new flats will be affordable, whether for purchase or renting; £182,850 paid to the council by the developer seems to me an inadequate compensation.

AGNES KORY
Finchley Road, NW3