Three of London's largest schemes are in line for the dubious title of "2010 Worst Planning Decision", in an annual competition run by the London Assembly chair, Darren Johnson.
But who will take the gong, or rather the inscribed breeze block that will no doubt remain uncollected by the winner, come March?
The runners are:
* Brent Cross Cricklewood in Barnet developed by Brookfield Europe, Hammerson and Standard Life Investments, which Johnson (that's Darren, not Boris) claims will "create a surge in traffic and air pollution".
* Commercial Estates Group's Columbus Tower in Tower Hamlets, which Boris consented "against the local council's wishes, apparently because Crossrail money was at stake".
* Or will it be Berkeley Homes' regeneration of the Ferrier Estate in Greenwich, which under the mayor's guidance will "slash the number of social rented homes from 1,730 to 730 in a London borough with 13,486 households on its waiting list".
Aside from the fact that all this is simply designed to embarrass the mayor and (sort of successfully) garner publicity for the Green Party, are these really the worst planning decisions that London has to offer? And what about the rest of the UK?
Thoughts please below the line...
Here's a bad planning decision (IMHO). Croydon Council effectively pulling the plug on Menta's Cherry Orchard Road development in East Croydon. A great design by Shuttleworth's MAKE architects was rejected because the council did not want the application made until their East Croydon Masterplan had been finished. All this after Jon Rouse, Chief Exec of Croydon said earlier this year that the council had missed out on a number of new developments in the past but that now the borough policy will be one driven by potential developer/occupier needs rather than the council.
I am looking forward to 'Prescott's erection' winning this award when it's built. Huge tower on a tiny site rejected by the planners but overruled by Prezza. Nice to see Vauxhall improving but this will be a pretty ugly addition to an already ugly spot
London City Airports Expansion Approval by Newham Council will be the winner. Building and expanding Airport slap bang in the middle of one of the most densely populated areas in the UK is pure madness. Who ever thought that this was a good idea should be sacked and never allowed to make a planning decision ever again.