In refusing, the London council said the interest in withholding the information “outweighed” the public interest in disclosing it, Local Democracy reporter Sebastian Mann reported.
London City Council is refusing to reveal the list of sites it is considering for a secure children’s home it is aiming to build in Leigh Bridge.
Authorities representing London’s 32 borough councils have submitted proposals to build children’s rooms at the former Thames water station on Leigh Bridge Road.
The move has been criticized by local residents who say it could jeopardize plans for East London Waterworks Park (ELWP), a wild swimming park for which campaigners have raised £500,000 through crowdfunding. .
ELWP has sent an Environmental Information Request (EIR) to London City Council asking for a list of other sites it was considering building houses on.
However, their request was rejected, with the London Council stating that it was a “draft” and “still in development”.
In refusing, the London Council cited ‘Rule 12(4)(D)’ of the EIR regarding unfinished documents.
The London council further said that responding to the request would be reviewed without “the context of an ongoing detailed analysis” and would therefore “lead to misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the information being requested”. The authority said the analysis was being used to finalize a rolling assessment of the planning application.
The London council added: “It is considered that the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing it.”
In design documents for the proposed housing, London City Council said there was a “severe shortage” of safe housing for vulnerable children and that children in welfare care were being “sold out” from London. They are often sent “hundreds of miles” away, he said.
But ELWP activists said they were frustrated by the lack of transparency shown by the London council. They also question whether the 14-acre site is the best location for professional housing.
In a statement to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), ELWP chairwoman Abigail Woodman said: “The Thames Water Station site is truly the only place where we can build a safe facility for London’s children. If so, why is our construction being hindered?” Are you looking at site selection analysis?
“And why is the definitive site selection analysis still in draft stage? Is it complete and ready for scrutiny, or is it incomplete and Thames Water Station is the only safe facility for children in London? No one knows whether it is or not.”
Abigail added: “We believe that the only possible use for this land is East London Waterworks Park, which is co-designed, led and financed by and for the community. It is a unique space rich in nature that has been supported by many people.”
The land in question is Metropolitan Open Land (MOL). Land with this designation receives protection similar to that of the Metropolitan Green Belt.
The council is required to ensure that MOL sites within its jurisdiction are protected from inappropriate development, except in “very special circumstances”. Developers wishing to build on MOL would also need to show that there was no other suitable site available, neither MOL nor part of the Greenbelt.
In 2019, Waltham Forest Council’s planning committee rejected the government’s application to build a primary and secondary school on the same site.
In refusing, the committee said the size of the proposed school building was “excessive” and would cause “significant damage” to surrounding open space.
The council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for housing and regeneration, Ahsan Khan, previously said the 2019 school proposals were rejected “mainly” because there was no local need for additional schools.
Secretary Khan added: “Proposals to build on metropolitan vacant land will only be approved in very specific circumstances, in line with the requirements of Waltham Forest and wider London planning policy.
“Planning applications submitted will be carefully assessed to ensure that the impact on the surrounding environment has been fully considered.”
If approved, the facility will provide specialist care to some of London’s most vulnerable children. Currently, there are no such facilities in the metropolitan area.
In a statement provided to LDRS, a London council spokesperson said around 450 sites were initially identified, of which 70 were shortlisted for further consideration.
They further added: “In addition to the site selection process, a rolling assessment is being developed, which is a requirement for the planning application for this site.
“The final follow-on assessment will include details of other sites considered as part of the site selection process and further confirms that Thames Reservoir at Lea Bridge Road is the only suitable site for this facility. It will be confirmed.”
These details will be included in the formal planning application.
The spokesperson added that the current custodian of the site, the Department of Education, is obliged to consider alternative uses for the site in the education or public sector before considering commercial disposal.
Since 2018, hundreds of residents have supported proposals for a community-run wild swimming park.
But while some residents are determined to move forward with the park’s construction, others are less optimistic.
A spokesperson for Waltham Forest Citizens’ Association said there was “no real chance of scrapping” the planning permission application.
He added: “It is clear that Waltham Forest Council intends to grant permission.” [and] I can’t imagine the Mayor of London refusing to approve it. [it]. Although we would be very happy to be proven wrong, we believe it is inevitable that planning permission will be granted. ”