IN response to the government’s announcement today (Monday March 5) that councils will have to hand over control of their provision of new housing in the borough to the government if they don’t build enough new homes, I have an excellent solution – albeit a despairing and cynical one – forged in years of participation in futile planning consultations, deciphering official documents, writing letters of objection, gathering signatures, raising funds and preparing for the courts – all to fight planning applications for ludicrously inappropriate developments like 100 Avenue Road that can not be won. The solution: stop the public planning application process.

Stop consulting with the public. Stop the time-wasting charade of pretending that local residents can have a meaningful say in their community. Just let councils get on with their cosy and lucrative discussions with developers and extract the highest possible CIL and Section106 bribes/payments from them that they can as compensation for whatever harm the council is about to allow the developer to inflict on the local community and however many fewer than legally required “affordable” homes they claim they can viably provide while retaining their profit margins.

Let the developers get on with whatever they want. They do, anyway, in the end. And for sure, without the pesky input of the local community, more homes will get built and a lot sooner. And the developer, the council and local residents will all save time, money and effort.

It’s a win win win solution!

EDIE RAFF
Chair, Cresta House Residents Association
Former Chair, Save Swiss Cottage