• CAMDEN has granted planning permission for a “test case” development opposed by the Redington Frognal Association, the Heath and Hampstead Society, Conservative councillors and residents.

The proposal sought to reduce the number of homes at 5 Templewood Avenue, resulting in a cumulative loss of two homes since 2008.

The application was in clear breach of Camden’s new Local Plan, which has a policy which specifically restricts the cumulative loss of homes. However, the application was approved, because Camden’s officers (supported by its planning committee) applied a narrow interpretation of this policy, stripping it of its effectiveness.

Even though the plan itself did not say so, Camden argued that it allowed cumulative losses of homes where some homes had already been lost before the adoption of the Local Plan. This watered down interpretation of the plan will harm our ward, and is yet another confusing planning decision made by the council.

Since March 2008 approximately 50 dwellings a year have been lost in Camden through development proposals involving a net loss of homes. Every existing home in our area should normally be protected, to avoid the need for inappropriate overdevelopment elsewhere in the ward.

The Local Plan has widespread community support. Camden must have the courage to apply its own policies for the benefit of the community, and not weaken them in the face of aggressive developers.

SIOBHAN BAILLIE
HENRY NEWMAN
ANDREW PARKINSON
GIO SPINELLA
Frognal & Fitzjohns Conservatives