Letter to Graham Loveland/Michael Garvey - Hackney Homes Planning offcer/Assistant Director

Planning Application: 2010/1577 – Lockner Estate gates and fences

14 September 2010

Dear Mr Loveland,

In a telephone conversation on Friday 10 September, Mr Garvey, planning officer, informed me that he has “no choice” but to recommend planning application 2010/1577 for approval by the Planning Sub-Committee on 3 November 2010.

I regret this decision but accept that perhaps you are powerless, procedurally, to reach an alternative conclusion. Our members, however, are likely to be upset and confused by Mr Garvey’s recommendation that the proposal is approved. As you know, many residents have lodged objections and signed a petition protesting the proposal; indeed, an article outlining their objections recently appeared in the Hackney Gazette 9 September p.17.

It would be helpful, therefore, if you could supply me with a copy of the document detailing the grounds on which this decision to approve the application has been made. I can then pass this on, and explain your position, to our members and people concerned in the wider community. In particular, I assume this document, which must already exist, addresses the following three areas of concern:

1. Objections lodged: the number of objections lodged; the grounds on which these objections have been dismissed; and, how these objections will be presented to the members of the Planning Sub-Committee.
2. Issues relating to the Conservation Area and Protected London Square: how the proposal preserves and enhances the area, in particular how it will enhance the appearance of De Beauvoir Square (according to Hackney Local Plan Policies, the Council will ensure that any development of areas adjacent to the square will enhance its appearance: www.hackney.gov.uk/ep-conservation-design-trees-ls.htm); the response from the Hackney Council Conservation and Urban Design Team to the proposal or, if they have not responded, a copy of Mr Garvey’s letter to them requesting their input; the response of the local Conservation Area Advisory Committee to the proposal or, if they have not responded, a copy of your letter to them requesting their input; and, the response from English Heritage regarding Conservation Area consent since the proposal affects the appearance of an area greater than 1,000m² or, if they have not responded, a copy of your letter to them requesting their input (see p.43 Statement of Community Involvement, Nov 2006).
3. the Consultation process: the basis for determining that the consultation for this proposal has been adequate despite consisting of a single survey carried out over three years ago and in the face of current widespread objections; and, in connection with this, a copy of the consultation report Hackney Homes should have provided the Council (see s.5.31, p.15 Statement of Community Involvement Nov 2006).

I would grateful if you could send me the paperwork by the end of September because we have a Tenants and Residents’ Association (TRA) meeting on 6 October 2010 and I will need to copy and circulate the information. You would, of course, be most welcome to attend the meeting which will take place at the Lockner community Flat, 23 Blandford Court at 7pm.

Yours sincerely,

cc. M. Garvey, Planning Officer, Hackney Council

C. Graves, Chief Executive, Hackney Homes

Cllrs. R. Chapmen, T. Ebutt, G. Icoz

M. Hillier, MP

F. Derbyshire, Chairperson De Beauvoir Association