Jenrick steps in to approve 441-home L&Q scheme rejected by council

The housing secretary’s decision will see 105,000-home landlord L&Q build five new residential towers of between 12 and 18 storeys, with 50% of the homes for affordable tenures.

Hounslow Council refused planning permission for the scheme in February 2018 over concerns about its impact on the world heritage site at Kew Gardens and other nearby listed buildings and conservation areas.

London mayor Sadiq Khan subsequently called in the application and granted approval in July 2018, then Mr Jenrick’s predecessor James Brokenshire decided in April last year to take the final say.

Following a local public inquiry held early this year, a planning inspector recommended that permission for the scheme be given.

A decision letter published yesterday said Mr Jenrick agreed with the inspector that the development would cause “less than substantial harm” to its protected surroundings.

“Against this he weighs the provision of housing, including affordable housing, which he considers carry substantial weight in favour of the scheme,” it added.

The housing secretary concluded that “the benefits of the scheme are collectively sufficient to outbalance the identified ‘less than substantial’ harm to heritage assets he has identified”.

However, he noted that any “positive aspects of the design” were “negated” by the fact that daylight levels in 75 of the habitable rooms – mostly living rooms – will fail to meet Building Research Establishment standards.