St Georges Church loses appeal over playing field development (From Harrow Times)

St Georges Church loses appeal over playing field development

7:10am Tuesday 28th October 2008

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PLANS to turn a Headstone playing field into housing lie in tatters after an appeal was quashed yesterday.

St George's Church, in Pinner View, wants to build 12 houses and 15 flats on a private sports ground but the proposals look like they have been sunk by a planning inspector's ruling.

Permission for the project was originally rejected by a Harrow Council committee but the people who run the church challenged the decision.

A public hearing was held by Charles Hoile, Her Majesty's Inspector, who has now dismissed the appeal on the basis the church cannot build on “open space”, which has not been developed before.

The news will please a large group of residents who live in nearby streets and have voiced fierce opposition since the proposals first arose.

Gareth Thomas, MP for Harrow West, said: “I'm delighted the views of local people have been taken into account and this vital public open space is going to be protected.”

Some residents had opposed the development because they wanted to keep the land free for young people to play sport, while others felt the blocks of flats and houses would have a negative impact on the surrounding area.

But Mr Hoile dismissed both these points, saying what would remain of the sports ground might be improved if the plans went ahead.

He also said “residential amenities” would not be affected.

Councillor Bill Stephenson, who has backed residents fighting the plans, said: “We are delighted it was turned down and we live to fight another day.

“We are absolutely determined to see this land put to good use for the community.”

The committee of councillors responsible for giving developers permission to build in the borough can only reject a planning application if it does not fit in with existing policies.

If changes are made to bring the project in line with those policies then councillors would not be able to reject it without risking a successful appeal against the decision.

But councillor Marilyn Ashton, responsible for planning, said she thought Mr Hoile seemed to have a “fundamental problem with the concept” of the scheme.

She said: “I don't think the church could take much heart from the decision. We don't always get very far at appeals and I'm just so pleased that we got this completely right. I'm delighted.”

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