• THANKS to all those who fought so valiantly for a better 100 Avenue Road construction management plan (CMP) to build Essential Living’s 24-storey tower.

Sadly the final decision has now been unilaterally taken by Camden’s chief planning officer to approve the amended CMP, without regard to the recommendation by the members’ briefing panel that the plan go to full a public hearing.

Nor has any regard been given to the substantial material increase in construction lorries using the open space side of the site (a stealthy 325 per cent increase since the original 2017 CMP) and to the gyratory, nor to the resultant increase in nitrogen dioxide levels in the green space – many families are taking their children elsewhere now.

The only concessions are an extra PM10 dust monitor; lowering the base-line for measuring PM10 and a £30,000 bond payable by the developers in the event of a CMP breach (but no on-site visits to check).

No significant concession has been made in the two-year history of the CMP. The reason for no longer using the Winchester Road and the market route is because, as we predicted, it is impractical to do so, not because of residents concerns.

The main justification for this hugely disruptive change is that it will shorten the programme by three months (initially pitched as 11) to bring giant articulated lorries into the open space to carry prefabricated units.

Of course, this is a huge blow to the CMP process because since unelected officials overturned the scrutiny of the public planning committee, no more consultation on any further amendments, however material, will be worth its salt, unless Camden revise their constitution to come in line with other council constitutions that have a more democratic decision-making process.

JANINE SACHS
Chair, Save Swiss Cottage