After much deliberation and consultation, we have submitted our response to the planning application for the Corrib Rest. We believe that the Corrib plans will be considered by the Planning Committee at the meeting on 19 April (7pm start).
You can read our response here.
Residents may be aware that QPARA’s position on the redevelopment of the Corrib Rest on Salusbury Road has become a matter of concern, including on social media.
As the new chair of QPARA I think it will be helpful to provide the following brief account of developments and negotiations since The Corrib changed hands two years ago.
The latest position will be reported to our next monthly meeting on 9th February. All will be welcome to express concerns or ask questions.
Virginia Brand
QPARA – Chair
Since pub operators Greencoats sold the Corrib Rest to property developer Ashcross in early 2015 QPARA has been at the forefront of efforts to ensure that a viable pub and community room continue on the premises and that neighbouring residents are protected from any noise and nuisance arising.In particular we applied to Brent for the pub to be given ACV (Asset of Community Value) status. We were successful in spite of having to take on Ashcross’ high-powered lawyers. Without this it is highly likely that Ashcross would have applied for planning permission to turn the whole building into flats.We opposed the original planning application made in late 2015 mainly on the grounds that the proposed community room was too small, though there were other problems too. Nevertheless at their first hearing in February 2016 the Planning Committee were minded to approve. Due to poor communications from Brent QPARA were not present on this occasion. We made a big fuss, enlisted councillor support, spent a considerable amount of our funds on top legal advice and went in force to the second hearing in April when the Committee turned down the application decisively.In June/July Iceni, agents for Ashcross, approached us declaring a wish to co-operate and listen to our concerns before re-formulating a fresh application. Since then we have had a number of meetings with them as well as extensive correspondence. We have considered substantially revised physical plans and draft documentation in detail, spending many hours on this process.The Corrib Sub-Group made recommendations to the December 2016 and January 2017 QPARA monthly meetings and these were adopted after careful debate and by a substantial majority. They are based on documents we have seen as sent to Brent’s planners. They are currently being validated and until they are published QPARA does not plan to formalise its comments – not least in case anything changes. In principle we are intending to welcome changes in the community provision and protection for local residents that have been made in response to our representations but we are not supporting or opposing the development as a whole. As of 26 January there remains one substantial point of disagreement between QPARA and Ashcross. More details are available to members in the December and January monthly meeting minutes.
Brent Council has responded promptly to QPARA Chair, Janis Denselow’s 16th April letter: QPARA says planning service is suffering in Queen’s Park due to the loss of key personnel from Brent Planning Department.
Apologising for any drop in service, Lorraine Langham, Interim Strategic Director Regeneration and Environment has asked us to bear with the Council as they put the right team in place. Ms Langham explained the steps being taken to bring the planning team back to full strength. QPARA will be taking up her offer of an early meeting with the newly appointed interim Head of Planning, Transport and Licensing, Mike Kiely, after he takes up his role full-time on 16th May.
Read the reply in full here: Brent Response to QPARA re Planning Concerns.
QPARA members are worried that the departure from the council of the Head of Planning in Brent and the Area Planning Manager has resulted in a poorer planning service for the Queen’s Park area.
Following a discussion at our April monthly meeting, Janis Denselow, QPARA’s Chair, has written to Brent Council’s Chief Executive about our concerns:
Brent Planning Committee Councillors have turned down the developer’s plans for The Corrib Rest Pub. They accepted Brent Officers’ recommendation to reject the plans. QPARA spoke to object to the plans. We have consistently argued that any plan should provide for a well-managed pub with adequate community space and protection for local residents.