Vicar hints at future for playing field housing (From Harrow Times)

St George's Vicar hints at future for playing field housing project

5:30pm Wednesday 29th October 2008 in Search By Jack Royston

A VICAR has suggested controversial plans to build housing on a playing field may not have been ruled out by an appeal verdict.

St George's Church, in Headstone, wants to build 12 houses and 15 flats on its sports ground and tried to force Harrow Council to accept the proposals through an appeal in September.

On Monday a planning inspector ruled the scheme should not be passed but while the Reverend Stephen Keeble said he was disappointed he hinted the verdict could pave the way for a new planning application.

He said: “My reading would be that the only criticism he has of the scheme is that the future use of the proposed open space is not sufficiently spelled out.”

Harrow Council originally rejected the scheme but the church appealed its decision and Charles Hoile, Her Majesty's Inspector, held a public hearing to examine the project in September.

He dismissed the appeal because the playing field is considered “open land” by the council, meaning to develop it without good reason would be a breach of its existing policies.

But he ignored a number of other objections from residents and councillors and said building on the site would mean it was brought back into use.

He suggested this might “outweigh” the fact the project breached planning policy.