Will the Council learn from past mistakes?

11.07.18pm GMT Tue 12th Jan 2010

Hammersmith and Fulham Council's Planning Department is apparently going forward on Leader Stephen Greenhalgh's promise last November to learn from the mistakes made in the Goldhawk Industrial Estate planning application (now "called in" by the Minister, but sadly too late to prevent Innocent Drinks finding a new home outside the Borough). .

In a letter to Residents and Amenity Groups Cllrs Greenhalgh and Botterill explain the proposed change to the way the public are consulted about planning applications.

" Openness and an opportunity to influence decision-making are fundamental requirements of a sound planning process. We have been concerned for some time that, too often, some of our residents appear to believe that the planning process is not operating in an open and transparent way."

They are therefore proposing to organise more Planning Forum meetings where ideas can be debated at an early stage before firm plans are submitted as planning applications; create a design panel where schemes can be scrutinised by independent architects; and improve the planning department website so that residents find it more useful.

H&F Liberal Democrats welcome moves that make the Council more responsive to the needs and priorities of its existing residents and businesses, and regrets that these changes were not implemented before the 282 Goldhawk Road application was decided.