WELCOME

DICKENS YARD
The application for a judicial review was heard at a preliminary High Court hearing in early July. Unfortunately, the judge found that there were no grounds for a review, although he did grant leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal. He did not accept that insufficient account had been taken by the planning committee of the impact of the development upon conservation areas or on the listed Town Hall. Nor did he consider that the departures of the development from the original design brief for the site were sufficient to justify judicial review. In doing so, he accepted the council's argument that subsequent changes to the London Plan justified the departures. Although the applicant (Tony Elley - a member of Save Ealing’s Centre) is entitled to appeal, he has decided not to pursue his case further and SEC has insufficient resources to take it over.
     We still think that the plans represent too dense a development which could potentially harm both the setting of the listed Town Hall and Christ the Saviour Church - a view shared by English Heritage. But now that the legal hurdles have been cleared St George are free to move forward with the development. Already there are signs of renewed activity with the recent closure of the main car park. We and SEC will be checking closely the way in which the scheme proceeds to ensure that it is built in accordance with the permitted plans.