SEC has informed Ealing Council that it is considering an application for judicial review of the Council’s decision to grant planning permission for the proposed redevelopment of the Council owned Dickens Yard site behind the Town Hall.

This permission was finally given at the end of November 2009, in the face of strong opposition from SEC which believes that the scheme will overdevelop the site and undermine the character and appearance of some of central Ealing’s most important historic buildings.

In many respects this development is worse than the Arcadia proposals that the Inspector and Secretary of State rejected. SEC has taken legal advice and believes that steps need to be taken to assess the validity of the procedure by which the tendering process was conducted and the planning application was handled.

In order to meet the requirement for a judicial challenge, a move has to be made within a short time after the final grant of permission. SEC has sent an initial letter to the Council asking it to rescind its decision and advising of its intention to pursue the matter further.

When the Council has responded, SEC will be able to decide its next steps. We shall be very interested in hearing the views of SEC supporters.

6 January 2010