Welcome to your local community website...
Plans for Feltham gravel pits site fail to excite
Plans to redevelop former gravel pits in Feltham and build up to 1,000 new homes on Green Belt land have received a mixed response from residents.
The results of a public consultation into the ambitious proposals for the Lower Feltham Lakes site, in Chertsey Road, have finally been released.
Of the 59 people who by December responded to a questionnaire provided by landowner DLP:
- 41 per cent did not agree with the 'vision' of the scheme, 32 per cent agreed, and 20 per cent were undecided.
- 44 per cent did not agree with the 'objectives' of the scheme, 39 per cent agreed, and 10 per cent were undecided.
- 83 per cent of people said 'Concept 1' made best use of the land, nine per cent preferred 'Concept 2', and just two opted for 'Concept 3'.
DLP also revealed most people preferred development on the western half of the site furthest from Chertsey Road.
However, the company admitted many respondents had reservations about developing Green Belt land, while other key issues raised included traffic congestion and whether the local infrastructure, sewage and schools in particular, could cope.
DLP said it was now commissioning more detailed studies into traffic and transport plans, what to do with the open space and the design of the site boundaries.
The company's planning director Neil Osborn insisted the public response 'largely positive'. "The status quo is not an indefinite option," he added. "The land amounts to 122 acres, or half a square kilometre, and keeping it largely overgrown and inaccessible except for anglers and a few horses is not realistic or sustainable. It deserves a long-term future, one which opens attractive green space to local people."
THE THREE DRAFT PROPOSALS
'Concept 1' would see 850 dwellings built on 40 per cent of the site. All fishing lakes would remain and the other 60 per cent would be turned over to community use, including 15 per cent for a dedicated wildlife area.
'Concept 2' would offer the same number of homes but see a further 10 per cent of the site used for an employment area.
'Concept 3' increases the amount dedicated to residential use rise to 45 per cent, creating 1,000 dwellings, and the employment area rise to 15 per cent. For this to happen at least two of the lakes would have to be drained.
For more information visit www.planningconsultation.com
We'd like to hear from you. Send your stories, pics and videos
5 Comments
Leave a comment
Keep up to date
Book an Ad
Book an Ad Save time and book online! Try our new service to book your advertising online.
How about a fourth concept ?
DLP forgets about developing Green Belt land and hands the Green Belt land to Hounslow Council?
From reading the web on Feltham Lakes development it would seem to be only a cynical attempt to extract money from naive land investors.
Dohan
You might want to view the Hounslow Chronicle Forum thread on Feltham Lakes / Concorde Village here. This development does seem to be completely against Green Belt policies defined by both Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson mentioned in the forums.
Also see the comments made previously on this subject when the survey was announced last September here.
It is interesting that it apparently took 6 months to assemble 50 replies.
Oh yes. That would be the same Hounslow Council which in 1999 published its own policy called CPA1, identifying a chain of continuous green belt areas where it would give priority to improving public access and recreational facilities, and enhancing or protecting nature conservation. In 10 years the amount of improving can be found on the fingers of one hand - just join the tips of the thumb and index finger. So, with the council's priorities clearly elsewhere, what would it actually DO when handed 120 acres of derelict and contaminated land, currently fenced off? Use the other hand to answer that. Here, we have an offer that would open up half the site to keep the very same promises the council has not and can not. At the same time as asking local people for our opinions as to what kind of open space we want. Sure, it needs partial development to fund it. But the balance of benefits is clear, and it's the best offer our families will get for a generation.
Oh yes. That would be the same Hounslow Council which in 1999 published its own policy called CPA1, identifying a chain of continuous green belt areas where it would give priority to improving public access and recreational facilities, and enhancing or protecting nature conservation. In 10 years the amount of improving can be found on the fingers of one hand - just join the tips of the thumb and index finger. So, with the council's priorities clearly elsewhere, what would it actually DO when handed 120 acres of derelict and contaminated land, currently fenced off? Use the other hand to answer that. Here, we have an offer that would open up half the site to keep the very same promises the council has not and can not. At the same time as asking local people for our opinions as to what kind of open space we want. Sure, it needs partial development to fund it. But the balance of benefits is clear, and it's the best offer our families will get for a generation.
There is no offer to develop. A land banking company purchased this greenbelt land for £3.2M in 2006 and are selling the land as 9000 small plots. Each plot currently sells for £8000. Do the maths on how much profit the Land Banking company is making.
The company advertise to investors that the intent is to gain planning permission and sell to a developer in the very near future for at least £180M giving each investor at least 250% returns.
These stories are just noise designed to convince potential investors that this is a good investment. The Hounslow Chronicle is supporting Land Banking by running these stories.