GRA boss Clive Feltham thinks it is wrong to assume that Sadiq Khan’s intimation that he will let Merton Council decide the future of Wimbledon Stadium is a fait accompli writes Floyd Amphlett.
The new London Major appeared to take a ‘Pontius Pilate view’ on the fate of the greyhound stadium by allowing Merton Council – who have already ripped up their own policy on affordable housing – to push through the AFC Wimbledon plan for the Plough Lane site.
However Feltham said: “If you read what the statement actually says, it notes that the Mayor is ‘minded to’ send the decision back to Merton and there is a consultation period before that decision is met. Clearly, it would save a lot of time and money if there is no objection. But that would presumably take a different route if there was a strong argument against it with a robust response from Paschal (Taggart), Diane (McLane) and Mr Simpson who has led a vociferous campaign on behalf of the local residents.
“Given Sadiq Khan’s previous stance on affordable housing, it would seem quite strange if he was to just ignore it at this stage.”
The Wimbledon development comes within days of Hall Green planners reversing an initial decision to prevent housing on the Hall Green site.
Feltham said: “It has certainly been a double whammy. I thought it was perhaps interesting that the planning officer dealt with seven different councillors to those who rejected the first application. But you can kind of understand it. Why shouldn’t someone build on land that they own providing they adhere to planning policy. And the planning officer believed that they did.
“Of course the people who own Hall Green are not house builders and they may not wish to build straight away. They would need to work with a developer and with the market as it is, there is no guarantee that now is the best time to build houses. In the meantime, they are being paid a commercial rent for the site so there is no rush.”
