Millfields Road Toilets Block – Latest on Planning

This site, on the junction of Millfields and Mildenhall Road, was the subject of a post on this web-site, on 30 March, 2011. For full information on the application (No’s 2011/0062 & 2011/0094) see the post, and also Hackney Council’s planning section on their web-site – http://apps.hackney.gov.uk/servapps/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/generalsearch.aspx

In brief, a planning application was submitted in January 2011, to demolish the building and replace it with a block of 9 flats with a retail unit on the ground floor. This application has not been determined and the developer has made an appeal against the non-determination of this application.

The committee of CPNAG stated at the time our opposition to the application, on various grounds, based on planning issues and the site being in a conservation area.

Whilst we are surprised that the application was not rejected outright, the act of not determining an application is sometimes carried out in order to save the developer the trouble, and expense, of having to submit a new application, and is accompanied by advice on what would be required for the application to be successful. This reasoning may be what has happened here, but whatever the reasoning behind the non-determination of this application, the developer has chosen to appeal against it.

As part of the planning process, appeals, as with applications, are influenced by the public’s support, or objection – this is most effective, either way, basing it in planning guidance and law (saying that one does or doesn’t like the design, is probably not going to hold much sway).

The deadline for this appeal is approaching fast – 25th May 2012, and all submissions should be made to: