{"id":37809,"date":"2023-10-10T16:51:29","date_gmt":"2023-10-10T15:51:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsblogsnew.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=37809"},"modified":"2023-10-10T16:51:29","modified_gmt":"2023-10-10T15:51:29","slug":"ihbc-features-heritage-from-the-doorstep-planning-enforcement-notice-issued-for-substantial-variations-from-permissions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=37809","title":{"rendered":"IHBC features \u2018Heritage from the doorstep\u2019: Planning enforcement notice issued for substantial variations from permissions"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk\/images\/MAST_QUAY___as_built.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-37810\" src=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/RBG_Mast_Quay_as_built_101023.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"271\" \/><\/a>The Royal Borough of Greenwich has announced its decision, as the local planning authority, to progress with enforcement action against the Comer Homes Group\u2019s Mast Quay Phase II development.<\/h3>\n<h6><em>image: Royal Borough of Greenwich website<\/em><\/h6>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">\u2026built-to rent-development has been built without planning permission\u2026<\/span><\/em><\/h2>\n<p>The Royal Borough of Greenwich writes:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe\u00a0Royal Borough of Greenwich\u00a0has taken the\u00a0decision, as\u00a0the\u00a0local planning authority, to progress with\u00a0enforcement action\u00a0against\u00a0the\u00a0Comer Homes Group\u2019s\u00a0Mast\u00a0Quay\u00a0Phase II\u00a0development\u00a0of two residential towers, one of which is stepped, with 23, 11, nine and\u00a0six storeys, located on Woolwich Church Street,\u00a0London SE18.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Council\u2019s\u00a0extensive\u00a0investigation over the last year\u00a0has concluded that the\u00a0completed\u00a0Mast\u00a0Quay\u00a0Phase II\u00a0built-to rent-development\u00a0has been built without planning permission\u00a0and is\u00a0therefore\u00a0unlawful\u00a0because it is so\u00a0substantially different to the scheme that was originally\u00a0permitted\u00a0by the planning permission\u00a0given in 2012.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn total there are\u00a0at least\u00a026\u00a0main\u00a0deviations to the\u00a0original planning permission. These include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"?\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;?&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-listid=\"12\">visible\u00a0design\u00a0changes to\u00a0the\u00a0external appearance of the towers\u00a0\u2013 the\u00a0final towers\u00a0look more\u00a0solid and bulky because\u00a0of the\u00a0removal of\u00a0the\u00a0stepped back\u00a0top\u00a0floor and the\u00a0glazed\u00a0curtain wall\u00a0fa\u00e7ade to Block E that\u00a0would have given the appearance of a sail.<\/li>\n<li data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"?\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;?&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-listid=\"12\">visible changes to the materials\u00a0and windows\u00a0\u2013\u00a0different cladding,\u00a0less glazing,\u00a0smaller balconies, smaller\u00a0windows\u00a0and no wraparound balconies\u00a0resulting in a reduction of daylight and sunlight, and to a reduced outlook.<\/li>\n<li data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"?\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;?&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-listid=\"12\">increasing the\u00a0approved\u00a0size of the footprint of both towers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"?\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;?&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-listid=\"12\">not\u00a0providing\u00a0the roof gardens for residents and the public,\u00a0children\u2019s\u00a0play areas, green\u00a0roofs\u00a0or landscaped gardens<\/li>\n<li data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"?\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;?&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-listid=\"12\">lower quality residential accommodation<\/li>\n<li data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"?\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;?&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-listid=\"12\">non accessible \u2018accessible\u2019 apartments that have steps to the balconies\u00a0so that wheelchair users cannot use their outdoor\u00a0space.<\/li>\n<li data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"?\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;?&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-listid=\"12\">provision of a residents\u2019 gym in place of the approved commercial floorspace\u00a0which is also not accessible to anyone who uses a wheelchair<\/li>\n<li data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"5\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"?\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;?&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-listid=\"12\">a\u00a0reduction of\u00a0the amount of commercial floorspace for offices,\u00a0shops\u00a0and cafes at ground-level<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"?\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;?&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-listid=\"12\">failure to provide enough underground car parking so that car parking dominates at\u00a0ground level replacing what should have been a landscaped garden area with trees and plants\u00a0and less car parking overall that could place pressure on street parking<\/li>\n<li data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"?\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;?&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-listid=\"12\">a lack of disabled parking bays<\/li>\n<li data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"?\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;?&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-listid=\"12\">shared residential\/commercial basement access that could lead to conflicts<\/li>\n<li data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"?\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;?&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-listid=\"12\">a poorer quality footbridge to Woolwich Church Street<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cThe Council\u00a0believes\u00a0that the\u00a0only reasonable and proportionate way\u00a0to\u00a0rectify the harm created by the finished\u00a0Mast\u00a0Quay\u00a0Phase II development to the local area,\u00a0and the tenants living there,\u00a0because of the\u00a0changes made during its construction\u00a0is the\u00a0complete demolition and the restoration of the land to its former condition.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTherefore, the\u00a0Council\u00a0issued an\u00a0enforcement notice\u00a0on Monday 25\u00a0September\u00a0which\u00a0is subject to appeal rights for a period of at least 28 days\u00a0following the date of issue.\u00a0To support the residents currently living in the development\u00a0the Council has written to\u00a0them directly to\u00a0provide them with support,\u00a0assistance\u00a0and\u00a0advice.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cllr Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis decision is not one that the Royal Borough of Greenwich has taken lightly, but I believe it is reasonable and proportionate to the scale and seriousness of the situation. Mast Quay Phase II represents two prominent high-rise buildings on Woolwich\u2019s riverside that just are not good enough, and the reason that they are not good enough is because the development that was given planning permission is not the one that we can all see before us today.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn Our Greenwich, our vision for the borough by 2030, I committed to development that delivers positive change to the area for existing and new communities, and this is simply not the case with Mast Quay Phase II.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe right thing to do is not usually the easy thing to do. That is why we will not standby and allow poor quality and unlawful development anywhere in our borough and we are not afraid of taking difficult decisions when we believe it\u2019s the right thing to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cllr Aidan Smith, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Mast Quay Phase II development had the potential to deliver hundreds of beautiful riverside apartments in an exciting area of London with a rich maritime past. Instead, what we have is a mutant development that is a blight on the landscape, local conservation zone and heritage assets and views.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHigh quality, beautiful and sustainable buildings and places are fundamental to what the planning and development process should achieve. Good design is a key aspect of sustainable development, creating better places in which to live and work. As a borough we work with many responsible property developers who deliver schemes that we can be proud of and we will always work with responsible developers to unlock sites and deliver the new homes that our borough needs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf a scheme matching what has been built at Mast Quay Phase II was submitted for planning permission today, it would be refused, and we cannot let what has been delivered at Mast Quay Phase II go unchallenged.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cllr Ann-Marie Cousins, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Enforcement,\u00a0said:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFollowing a complex, lengthy and detailed investigation, including complaints from local residents, we are taking this unprecedented step because of the magnitude of the number of significant deviations that we have discovered from what was approved by the original planning permission. We believe Mast Quay Phase II represents significant harm to the area and harm to present and future occupiers of the buildings.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe developer has had plenty of opportunities to apply for planning permission to vary what they had permission to build before they carried out the work, instead of applying after they had already done it. For example, since starting work on site in 2015 they have had many years to engage with us regarding the amendments they claim it was necessary to make, due to changes in building regulations, yet there was no contact or application made, and an attempt was only made retrospectively as a consequence of the enforcement investigation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy should children have no place to play because it was cheaper not to include it? Why should disabled tenants be prisoners in their own homes because step free access to the balconies wasn\u2019t included? Why should the outside areas be dominated by tarmac and cars instead of trees and grass and plants?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWithout enforcement our planning system can have no integrity and that is why we will not shy away from property developers exploiting the system for their own gain, to the detriment of residents and other responsible developers who do the right thing.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk\/mast_quay\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read more&#8230;.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Royal Borough of Greenwich has announced its decision, as the local planning authority, to progress with enforcement action against the Comer Homes Group\u2019s Mast Quay Phase II development. image: Royal Borough of Greenwich website<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-37809","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ihbc-newsblog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37809","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=37809"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37809\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37811,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37809\/revisions\/37811"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=37809"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=37809"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=37809"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}