Cap The Towers Outlines 'Disgust' at Friary Park Decision

Says planning process as be marked by a 'pattern of deceit'

Sean Fletcher described the process as corrupt in his presentation to the planning committe. Picture: Cap the Towers

May 15, 2025

Cap The Towers (CTT), the local residents’ group which has been campaigning against the proposals for the redevelopment of the Friary Park Estate has issued a strong response to the approval given to the final phase of the scheme.

A spokesperson for the group said, “Apart from the overarching issue that such a massively high, dense and overbearing development is totally out of character with the surrounding suburb of 2/3 storey Victorian, Edwardian and 1930s houses, there has been - over the last five years a pattern of deceit from the developers and the Planning Department in the way they have presented this project to the public. “

Sean Fletcher, the journalist and TV presenter, has been active with CTT for the last few years and it was he who presented the arguments against Mount Anvil and Peabody’s application at the borough planning meeting on 23 April.

He accused both the developer and the planning department of two specific examples of what the group describes as ‘deception and dishonesty’.

It is claimed that under the London Plan, homes in Friary Park which are classed as for social rent could be let out on London Affordable rent terms which costs more and gives tenants fewer rights. CTT contends that this flexibility will mean that over time fewer and fewer tenants will be on genuine social rent and that most of these will be returnees whose tenure was guaranteed due to residence in the former estate. It is claimed that these units will gradually be converted by tenants of London Affordable Rent as the existing occupants die or move away. Ealing Council has consistently asserted that all the units on the development classed as social rent will retain that tenure. CTT expressed disappointment that none of the councillors on the planning committee challenged the planning officer on this point.

Mr Fletcher also challenged the Planning Department claim that the expanded Phase 3 plan had been somehow part of the planning permission granted in 2023, but the final scheme is much taller and denser that what was in the original outline.

Finally, he told the committee that the scheme was far too dense for the site saying that allowed density is normally addressed is by reference to the GLA’s Population Yield Calculator but this was totally ignored in the Report to the Planning Committee leaving the development significantly short of the required public open space. Mount Anvil, the developer, is only offering 2.7 acres available on the site as public open space compared to the recommended 20 acres.

CTT says, “Clearly, this will result in slum-like levels of population density at Friary Park: from a health and safety point of view, the Council’s decision to approve this final application, with an even greater density of population on an already overdeveloped site, is a disaster. By way of ‘compensation’ or ‘mitigation’ the developer has offered to pay the Council the princely sum of £350,000 (half the price of just one of their luxury flats being sold to overseas investors) and the Council - to its shame - has accepted that derisory sum of money as somehow solving this major problem. “

Mr Fletcher described the process relating to Friary Park as corrupt at the end of his presentation to the meeting.

The 3-D model of Friary Park with last phase on the right. Picture: Cap the Towers

CTT continues, “The Council’s planning committee has done nothing but aid and abet an ambitious developer in transforming a social housing estate of 225 social rent flats into a towering, monstrous development of 875 luxury flats which have been marketed in the Far East and Middle East, whilst at the same time actually reducing the social housing capacity of Ealing Council to a level far below what was there in the first place. The Committee that made this approval decision has shown a shocking ignorance of planning law, as we have shown; and the end result - in terms of Government policy on more affordable housing and social housing in particular - has been cosmetic and tokenistic at best.”

It adds that it believes the decision makes a mockery of Peter Mason’s words on becoming Leader of Ealing Council in 2021, “Local communities need to lead the process of change in our Borough, not developers”.

The justification from the Ealing Council planning team for recommending approval despite the objections raised by Mr Fletcher highlighted the finite nature of land in London and the importance of utilising brownfield sites efficiently. By increasing building heights, the council aims to accommodate a higher number of homes, addressing housing shortages and meeting affordable housing targets. Improved amenities, such as communal green spaces, a community square, and a community kitchen are designed to foster social interaction and enhance the quality of life for residents to offset the lack of open space in the development. All new homes in the scheme, which is being marketed as The Verdean, are planned to have private outdoor spaces, such as gardens, balconies, or terraces. Additionally, semi-private green spaces are incorporated into the design to provide residents with accessible outdoor areas.

The grant of planning permission is conditional on the signing of legal agreements and is still subject to approval by the Mayor of London and CTT says it will continue to monitor its progress.