Andover Place Planning Decision

Last night, the Planning Committee at Westminster Council declined the planning application from Saatchi Synagogue on Andover Place.

The application, submitted to the council earlier this year, requested permission to increase the height of the building to four storeys to provide a new art room for the school and 8 new flats for teachers and staff.

I represented all three of us at the meeting earlier tonight. As a team, we opposed the planning application on the basis of parking provision in the area and the likely effect to Kilburn Park Road, Torridon House, Andover Place and Dibdin House residents from doubling the height of the builiding. The Council Officers also recommended a refusal, based on parking.

Major planning applications are often difficult for local residents and organisations. It is never easy when one neighbour disagrees with another. On balance, as Councillors, we did feel that the potential disruption to local residents was likely to be too great to support the application. However, we look forward to continuing to work the Synagogue to finding a compromise solution which supports all the wonderful work that they do in the local community.

Alastair