Meadow Residential has been refused planning consent for a major residential scheme on the Isle of Dogs, E14.
It follows a flurry of recent refusals from Tower Hamlets planning committee, reported by EG just six weeks ago.
Meadow Residential planned 319 homes in buildings of 26 and 30 storeys.
The application was originally refused in October, against the recommendation of planning officers, due to concerns over height, overdevelopment and the bulk/massing of the proposal.
Meadow made a number of amendments in an attempt to address concerns. These included increasing the affordable housing offer from 35% to 40%, as well as the inclusion of a 5,000 sq ft doctors’ surgery.
Officers again recommended the scheme for approval, but still councillors turned it down due to “excessive scale and height.”
Conservative councillor Andrew Wood, speaking to local paper The Docklands & East London Advertiser said: “People power is just part of the reason all these massive schemes are tumbling.”
He added “Councillors now realise we can say no to the big developers. We have suddenly realised what we can achieve through cumulative experience and are more willing to challenge these schemes.”
With regards to the 113 affordable homes, Meadow confirmed nine housing associations have been formally tendered to take the units, from which a shortlist has been selected. Had the scheme been approved, Meadow would have been “well placed to exchange contracts early in the New Year”.
With the London Plan published last week, the scheme ticks a lot of boxes for the Greater London Authority. It will be interesting to see whether mayor Sadiq Khan and his team see fit to use their muscle and ‘call-in’ this scheme and others like it, that are turned down against officers’ recommendations. With local elections in May, he may have to wait a little longer to flex his authoritative powers.
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