The best of the worst?

By , Wednesday, 13 January 2010, 6 Comments

This year’s ‘worst London planning decision’ shortlist has been published…

The list, by London Assembly member Darren Johnson, is designed to coincide with the annual London Planning Awards bash, to be held in March.

This year Johnson has shortlisted:

London City Airport, Newham:
Johnson said: “Doubling the number of flights will mean huge increases in noise for residents and increasing carbon emissions from a Mayor who claims to lead the fight against climate change.”

Brent Cross Cricklewood: controversial

Brent Cross Cricklewood, Barnet:
“By waving through a development that will create a surge in traffic and air pollution, the mayor has undermined city-wide efforts to improve air quality, and has done nothing to help severely affected centres in neighbouring boroughs.”

 
Columbus Tower, Tower Hamlets:

 

Columbus Tower: Mayor overruled local objections

“The mayor intervened to help this 63 storey tower go ahead on the edge of Canary Wharf against the local council’s wishes, apparently because Crossrail money was at stake.”

 

 

Ferrier Estate, Greenwich:

“The mayor gave no objections to this regeneration project, which will slash the number of social rented homes from 1,730 to 730 in a London borough with 13,486 households on its waiting list.”

Obviously we’d be interested to hear your thoughts on the list. Let us know.

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  • D Gu

    LCY expansion is in line with national, regional and local policy. The affluent city dwellers who have moved to the area post the arrival of LCY are late comers to the area, moving in following the regeneration that has arisen as a result of the benefits brought to the area by the airport. The indigenous people of Silvertown, who benefit from jobs associated with the airport, would probably beg to differ with Mr Johnson’s analysis of the situation.

    • Al

      The Heathrow Ruling today rips up the Aviation policy. Silvertown people are completely against London City Airport ironically. They were happy until the arrival of the jets.

    • W.L.

      D Gu – do you work for the airport? Because it sounds like the sort of spin that comes from out of there.

      North Woolwich and Silvertown are a SLUM, they have missed out on regeneration because of the aircraft noise from London City Airport.

      There are some new appartment, but people are unhappy with aircraft noise. Certainly, the restrictions on noise that were there when the airport was built has been eroded away over the years. They are flying JET PLANES, which were NEVER ALLOWED when the airport was built. But the constant lobbying by the airport meant that JET planes have been operating, but what is worse is that they are getting bigger and noisier.

      The airport has a cheek to say that it is residents fault for living by the airport even though it opened in 1987 and people have lived in the area for generations . As for Mr D. Gu saying residents of Silvertown should be grateful for jobs, perhaps he is not aware that the airport has never met its employment target of 35% from the local area. Newham Council was aware of this when it allowed them to expand from 76,000 to 120,000 on the basis of jobs! – but what can you do when your councillors are backing airport expansion.

      Even Mayor Boris Johnson, who hates aircraft noise at Heathrow, did nothing to stop expansion at London City Airport.

  • Michael Donnelly

    Not according to the campaigners who are taking Newham Council to court. http://www.planningresource.co.uk/news/ByDiscipline/Transport/976821/London-City-Airport-case-go-High-Court/ Over a thousand hits on this post and one reply!

  • Michael Bach

    This is a reasonable top four – but then there is a string of tall buildings along the South Bank.

  • Al

    Oh and the other thing is that Columbus Tower is smack bang in the middle of the London City Airport flight path. The strongly objected on safety grounds then quickly withdrew when Boris suddenly got involved. Funny that.

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