Inspector slams Lambeth

5.52.58pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 12th Apr 2007

Lib Dem councillors supported local residents over St George's Wharf

An independent planning inspector has blasted Lambeth Council for its conduct of a planning appeal on the last empty site at St George's Wharf at Vauxhall Bridge. Within the overall scheme the site was supposed to be a hotel, but the developers applied to change it to more flats. What should have been a mixed development including a business (and more chances for employment for local people) will now be more than 82% flats across the whole of this landmark area.

Local Lib Dem Oval Ward councillors backed residents at the planning committee hearing, where the committee turned down the developer's application. The planning committee is independent-minded and generally non-political, but the conduct of Planning Appeals is ultimately down to the Labour political bosses at the Town Hall - in this case the Cabinet member for planning.

At the St George's Planning Appeal against the committee's decision, the inspector said that not only was the council case so disgracefully presented that he had no alternative but to grant permission, but also that Lambeth made it clear in the way it presented the case that it supported the applicant not the planning committee, thereby wasting everyone's time. So he awarded costs, believed to be in six figures, against Lambeth (ie, us Council Tax payers).

This is another example of non-local Labour politicians fighting behind the scenes against decisions by the council's planning committee and views of local people.