Welsh Harp petition presented but still (just) time to object

Outside the Town Hall this morning

Supporters of Save Our Welsh Harp including residents and councillors from Brent and Barnet, and environmentalists and community activists, presented a petition of more than 850 signatories to Barnet Council this morning, opposing the proposed 'skyscraper city' on the banks of the Welsh Harp at West Hendon.

There is still time to put in a submission by tomorrow's 4.30pm deadline:(NB amended from previous posting in light of further infromation)

See the Brent Planners' submission (right) for ideas on what to say but also make it personal - what does this development mean to YOU? You need to give planning reasons  for why you object so do read the plans yourself. Also see pages on the left for additional information.
 

You should get an acknowledgement in the post from Barnet Planning. If nothing arrives after 14 days, please chase them!

ONLINE
Go to the Barnet Planning site LINK and type H/01054/13 into the Search Box. Make sure you give a name and postal address and email address to get an acknowledgement.

E-MAIL
email the Barnet Planning Officer dealing with this application quoting the above reference number:

tom.wyld@barnet.gov.uk  Make sure you give your name and postal address and email address to get an acknowledgement. 

The petition steps all the way to the Town Hall door

Cllr Roxanne Mashari (Brent lead member for Environment)hands in the petition

Summing it up

The bank of the Welsh Harp at West Hendon

Save Our Welsh Harp in Kilburn Times

Save Our Welsh Harp in Barnet Press

The West Hendon Barratt development in telling pictures

Barratt Homes' brochure for the 'Hendon Waterside' development casually obliterates the present West Hendon Estate - you can just see it submerged under the green 'open space':

 

 This is the Estate now:

This is 'Hendon Waterside' after development. The private development will be beside the water with uninterrupted views across the Welsh Harp to the undeveloped west bank. The social housing will be close to the  traffic and pollution of the A5.

Barratt homes are selling the view to prospective buyers for the 2 bedroomed £340,000 apartments in the present new block:

 

 

This is the existing block walkers on the west side of the Welsh Harp can  see. The next phase of the development will see four tower blocks of up to 29 storeys in addition.

To conclude here is the view of the development site  from Cool Oak Bridge taken yesterday with the above block on the far right. The proposed tower blocks are at least twice as high as this block.

A view of the proposed development:

It is likely that Barratt Homes have deliberately 'over-pitched' their planning application and have costed in a reduction in the height of the towers in response to planning feedback. By pitching high and allowing for a reduction of a few storeys they will still get very tall blocks in what is essentially a rural landscape. In the light of what we can see with the present 12 storey new build we should consider carefully what height and density would be appropriate.

Brent Council's objection to Welsh Harp over-development

Brent Council Planning Department has submitted an objection to the West Hendon development. The full document is available below:

West Hendon development background information

The information below provides background to our opposition to the West Hendon development and may be useful for those making objections to Barnet Planning Committee:

• There already is an approved Planning Application dating from 2008 for a development of ~2000 homes on the site. The recent development on Cool Oak Lane is part of that. This had lower towers and they were placed back from the water much further. I believe the tallest tower was almost on the West Hendon Broadway. It also included outline approval for two footbridges. This approval for the balance of the development and the two bridges is still extant.
• Barratts claim that this was not financially viable and have come up with the current proposal.
• The potentially damaging Northern Footbridge is shown on the plans by a wide swathe through the West Woodland of the SSSI. In the already approved plan it is shown immediately behind Halfords which is on the Edgware Road. To mitigate the effect of this bridge we need the following.

           To build it as close to Halfords as the new envelope allows

 To make it a throughway only with no access possible to the wet woodland

To have minimal lighting to preserve the site as a dark site

It should be locked overnight

It should be constructed to prevent fly-tipping into the river and the SSSI

• The Cool Oak Lane Bridge needs to be sited as close as possible to the road bridge. The road bridge is grade II listed and must be preserved.
• The reduction of the tree screen to allow views down from West Hendon Broadway is also damaging as this is exactly where the largest winter flocks are frequently found.

This all focuses the mind on the things to argue about. The height and location of the Towers. The layout of the whole Estate, The siting and construction of the bridges. The provision of adequate screening. The estate is too large and too dense in its new form.

Welsh Harp: Fear for Wildlife

Finchley and Hendon Times

Concern over Barratt's development from Canal and River Trust

From the Kilburn Times LINK

A national charity which looks after and protects waterways across the country has expressed concern over a major housing development on the edge of a popular reservoir.

The Canal and River Trust (CRT), which is responsible for maintaining around 2,000 miles of rivers and waterways across England and Wales, has said it is important to protect the Brent Reservoir.

The reservoir, which borders Barnet and Brent and is popularly known as the Welsh Harp, is currently under threat from a development which could see around 2,000 new homes including four tower blocks dumped on its borders.

In Brent, a campaign has been launched to stall the application amid fears it will spoil the unique view, have an adverse affect on the area’s natural wildlife and cause an increase in traffic.

Leela O’Dea, environment manager at the CRT told the Times: “The Welsh Harp is a haven for a wide range of birds, bats and other wildlife, and it’s important that it retains its special ecological status.”

Earmarked as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) the area is home to both birds and other wildlife and is a popular destination for residents both in Brent and beyond.

Ms O’Dea added: “We’ve raised our concerns with the developers to ensure that they can demonstrate there’ll be no adverse impact on the environment.”

According to CRT’s official website they pledge to; inspire more people to enjoy waterways, Ensuring they are open, accessible and safe and Minimising the impact made on scarce resources.

The application, from Barrett Homes will be considered by Barnet Council.

A Barratt Metropolitan LLP spokesman said they shared campaigners’ wish to preserve and maintain the reservoir and its wildlife.

He said: “A strong green buffer will run along the entire length of the eastern shore of the reservoir with buildings a minimum of 20 metres from the SSSI boundary and, typically, 40 metres from the reservoir.

“There will be new areas of tree planting, wetland and grassland, and species-specific bird habitats will be created within the parks and gardens, and the buildings will also have a range of green and brown roofs.

“A full environmental assessment - which looks at the potential impact the development could have on views, wildlife, recreation and traffic - has now been submitted to Barnet Council.”

Welsh Harp Campaign launched in local press

Kilburn Times April 25th 2013

Willesden and Wembley Observer April 25th