Latest News

14th June 2008
The agenda and papers for the Isleworth and Brentford Area Committee meeting on 19th June have been published. The Linden Homes application to develop the Campion House site is on the agenda which therefore includes the officers' report on the application. We are more than a little surprised to find that our detailed representations about issues such as open space and the habitable rooms count (which impacts on density issues) have been completely ignored in that report. Copies of our response in the form of a "Green Book" have been sent to all the IBAC councillors, the Planning Department and to the Linden Homes (via John Thompson and Partners).

22nd May 2008
It has now been established that the Campion application will be going to the Isleworth and Brentford Area Committee on 19th June. We look forward to reading the officers' report on the application. We sent a detailed letter to the Planning Department so that prior to writing that report the officers are clear about our views on the application and of the case that we will be putting to the councillors.

19th May 2008
We were very disappointed to find out last week that the meeting of the Isleworth and Brentford Area Committee (Planning) planned for 22nd May had been cancelled. There was a very specific reason for our disappointment. The Campion application was validated as from 26th March. The thirteen weeks determination time takes us to the 25th June. The last Sustainable Development Committee meeting before that date is on 16th June. The last IBAC meeting before that would have been 22nd of May. As of now it seems clear that special measures would have to be taken to meet the 13-week deadline. If the Campion application is not decided at that meeting then, unless there has been a Planning Performance Agreement covering the application, Linden Homes will have an automatic right to appeal to the Government Inspectorate. This would take the matter out of the Council's hands. The company has done this on both previous occasions when the 13-week period was exceeded. There seems little reason to think that it will not do that for a third time.

Hounslow's success rate for completing major applications (those that are allowed 13 weeks) in time is 84%. this means that the chance of that a given application will miss the deadline is 16%. The chance of two applications for a given site both missing the deadline is 2.6%. The chance of three applications in a row missing the deadline is less than 0.5%. If the deadline is missed for a third time then we would want to know what is it about Campion that seems to make it especially difficult to handle applications in time.

14th May 2008
The upshot of all the residents' complaints about the lack of security on the site is that Nationwide Security has been taken on to look after site security. If you notice anything suspicious please to not hesitate to contact this company.

9th May 2008
More activity on the site. In the morning residents report men on the sight and the noise of work going on. Was it intruders? Was it work to increase security. We didn't know and the 'security' fence didn't help since we couldn't see what was going on or communicate with the people on the site.
    The problem was resolved in the afternoon. An email from Linden Homes told us "we are establishing a visiting security company to carry out security visits with immediate effect. We also have been in contact with a specialist security advisor and will be reviewing the arrangements on a regular basis." This didn't quite tell us about the activities heard on the site but it seems reasonable to assume that it was part of a part of the Linden Homes renewed interest in security.

8th May 2008
There was activity on the site yesterday which included repairing the fence. Whether or not it included closing Thornbury House, and implementing security measures for its protection, we wait to hear. Gary Taylor of Linden Homes undertook to inform us of the measures the firm intended to carry out. When we have news about this it will be posted here.

7th May 2008
Linden Homes promises to sort out security issue. Linden Homes replied prompty to our note of concern about security issues. They have undertaken to assess the problems today and then to provide a solution. They will also let us know the nature of that solution. We will keep you posted.

6th May 2008
Open House at Campion

29th April 2008
Consultation Period. Residents received a consultation letter dated 8th April telling them that they had 21 days to respond to the application to develop the Campion House site by Linden Homes. The application was also announced in the local press on 17th of April also giving 21 days to respond from that date. The later date would take us to 8th May. Planning officers have shown themselves to be very flexible on the matter of the date of receipt of letters and will include any correspondance that has come in prior to compiling their report on the application. The first report will be to the Isleworth and Brentford Area Committee. We have no official information but we guess that the meeting of IBAC which will consider the application will be on 22 May. The officers' report will probably be completed about 10/11 days before that meeting. This means that letters must be received by 11th May if they are to be considered by the officers when writing their report to IBAC. The best time to write your letters is now.

Developer's Exhibition. The archictectural and community consultation company John Thompson and Partners organised an exhibition to explain the application in St Mary's Church Hall on 22nd April. You can find information about this from the links on our homepage.

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