Richmond Park's MP Sarah Olney has written to Robert Jenrick, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, asking him to call in the Homebase, Manor Road application.

The Government is the premier planning authority in the country and Robert Jenrick has the power to call in applications that breach Government planning rules.

If he agrees to the request, Robert Jenrick will take over the role of planning authority from Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, who has scheduled October 1 for his own hearing on the application.

This is the first time a London MP has written to the Government asking it to take over the role of planning authority from the Mayor of London.

Sarah said: "I understand there is a pressing need for more homes to be built, and I am supportive of new flats being created at the site, in principle. However, I am deeply concerned by the proposals put forward by the developers because they will have a detrimental effect on the site and surrounding area that puts them into conflict with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Richmond's Local Plan (LP).

"Following Richmond Council's decision to refuse the application in June 2019, the Mayor of London called in the application, since when the scheme's proposed height, mass and consequent overbearing nature have grown, making it even more unreasonable and unacceptable.

"According to the NPPF, permission should be granted unless any adverse impacts of doing so would 'significantly and demonstrably' outweigh the benefits, when assessed against policy.

"In this instance, the harm identified above outweighs the benefits, so I have requested Mr Jenrick call in this application, so that it might be possible to make a decision to refuse."

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Many thanks to Sarah Olney MP who contributed this piece for Richmond Nub News.

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