| GLA confirms refusal of Springfield Planning Application |
| Friday, 14 January 2011 12:09 |
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The Greater London Authority’s Planning Department has confirmed the refusal of Springfield Hospital’s planning application, which was unanimously rejected by Wandsworth Council’s Planning Application Committee last month.
Springfield Hospital has so far spent £4 million on the failed planning application, which received over 4000 objections, and would lead to the loss of the Central London Golf Centre, and the construction of over 850 new residential units on the site, which will put huge pressure on local transport, highways, public services and infrastructure that are already strained to breaking point.
It is likely that Springfield Hospital will spend further public money appealing the decision, and attempt to overrule the views of thousands of local residents, local councillors, Wandsworth Borough Council, the GLA and local MP Sadiq Khan, who have all objected to the plans, which are seen as an overdevelopment of the site.
Sadiq Khan said, “I have always supported our local health services, and want to see Springfield Hospital rebuilt, and for the mental health services it provides to thrive.
“Springfield Hospital has twice presented plans that are seen as a massive overdevelopment of the existing site – and understandably the local community has been united against the plans on both occasions.
“There is no doubt that Springfield Hospital is in desperate need of regeneration, and I have worked hard with the Trust and local residents to try and reach a solution that is acceptable to all.
“Unfortunately, while improvements have been made to the most recent plans they do not go far enough, and Springfield Hospital has yet again failed to convince the local community, local councillors, Wandsworth Council, the Greater London Planning Authority and myself that the plans would not place undue stress on local transport, to the detriment of the area.
“Whilst I am sympathetic to the problem Springfield Hospital faces, I have said from the beginning that the plans must be developed in close consultation with the local community – Springfield Hospital have failed to do this, and are now further using public money to try and over-ride the objections of thousands of their neighbours and the local planning authorities.”
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