CITYMATTERS.LONDON 15 - 21 November 2017 | Page 3 News <strong>Matters</strong> Developers in love with <strong>City</strong> CITY planners are a developers best friend according to a report highlighting the success rate of major applications in the Square Mile. A study from commercial finance brokers Pure Commercial Finance revealed that in the year a whole, rather than specific buildings, and ending March 2017 there currently fall under sections 69 and 70 of the were 18 destinations Planning Act. across England Of particular contention is the area between where 100% of major the two estates around Fann Street and development bids were Bridgewater Square, earmarked in an officers’ given the green light, the report presented to the planning committee <strong>City</strong> included. The report also as ‘Zone 2’. highlighted the Planners said it did not meet the criteria for <strong>City</strong>’s willingness to a conservation area, arguing that its inclusion consultation: Golden Lane is in line for rubberstamp bids of could weaken the overall importance of more protection Photo by Steve Cadman varying sizes, with conservation areas, which currently cover 98.53% of minor 35.8% of the Square Mile as 26 different zones. applications also signed off last year. Square Mile scores poorly in homelessness league table THE <strong>City</strong> of London has ranked among the worst 50 boroughs for homelessness. Charity Shelter reports that one in 125 of the Square Mile’s population are homeless, with around 75 sleeping rough. The <strong>City</strong> came in at 32nd in the study and suffered due to its comparatively small number of residents. In Newham, the worst performing borough in the standings, the ratio is close to one in 25. Shelter puts the total number of homeless people in Britain at 300,000. In July the <strong>City</strong> Corporation signed off on a £430,000 fund to finance a service development package to combat rough sleeping. But looking further afield London Assembly Member for the <strong>City</strong>, Unmesh Desai, said that more needs to be done at the top level to help prevent people falling through the gaps, and assist those who have to get back on their feet. “Recently the National Audit Office warned that government welfare policies are directly contributing to the homelessness crisis. “These appalling figures show that the government has wilfully turned its back on those who’ve had the misfortune to find themselves homeless.” 66,000 new homes are needed each year for the Capital to address its housing crises. Mr Desai said that the government “cannot miss the opportunity” at this year’s budget to hand Sadiq Khan the funding to make this a reality. “Right now we’ve got a Prime Minister who has prioritised pumping £10billion into Help to Buy, inflating house prices in the process, rather than committing the funding to build hundreds of thousands of much needed social houses,” he said. “The need to pave the way for longer tenancies doesn’t even appear to be on the government’s radar and they chose capping benefits over capping rent increases. “We know so much about the causes of homelessness, but if we don’t start applying the solutions this picture in places like <strong>City</strong> of London is only going to become more bleak.” CONSERVATION BID REACHES PUBLIC CONSULTATION GLERA backlash is on the cards THE Square Mile’s two largest residential estates could be placed under tighter planning controls if two new conservation zones get the green light, but locals say the plans still don’t go far enough to protect the area. The <strong>City</strong> Corporation’s planning committee voted to recommend two separate conservation areas for the Barbican and Golden Lane estates yesterday, adding an additional layer of protection for the Grade II-listed sites. The proposals will now go out for public consultation, but are likely to be met with strong opposition from the Golden Lane Estate Residents’ Association (GLERA), which wants the streets surrounding both estates included as one large conservation area. GLERA chair Tim Godsmark, who spearheaded the campaign and collected almost 780 signatures in support from local residents, says the redrawn zones have “emasculated the proposal”. “The aim of the conservation area was to include the land between the estates and to the south of the Barbican so that more consideration could be given to the surroundings of the listed buildings,” he said. Conservation areas were introduced in 1967 as a way to protect the quality and special interest of a neighbourhood or area as Councillor lands in hot water From Front Page has arisen due to my lack of experience as an elected member: my election on 23 March 2017, seven months ago, was the first time I was elected to public office. “Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the Corporation’s induction training on the members’ code of conduct for new members: I sincerely regret that.” In a separate letter to new Lord Mayor Charles Bowman, Mr Goyal said his apology was “sincere and unreserved”. He added: “I also undertake to the court that I will not at any time in the future use Corporation resources, including but not limited to, communication and printing facilities, meeting rooms, and hospitality and other privileges extended to me by the Corporation by virtue of my office for inappropriate purposes.” The committee decided that in light of Mr Goyal’s compliance it would not proceed with an investigation, but he was ordered to attend training and refund expenditure for the leaflets. A Corporation spokesperson said: “This matter has been dealt [with] and reported under our normal procedures and in a fully transparent matter.” Force joins gun amnesty CITY Police has appealed for people to hand over their illegal or unwanted guns during a fortnight-long amnesty of firearms and ammunition. The national surrender initiative is being co-ordinated by the National Ballistics Intelligence Service and will run until 26 November. During the two-week period, those handing over firearms will not face prosecution for illegal possession, and can remain anonymous. Commander Jane Gyford said Evidence The report said: “It is an area with historical associations from the 18th century; however the evidence that survives in the plan form is not of sufficiently high quality and defined character.” But Mr Godsmark said that the Fann Street/ Bridgewater Square area, which includes the Bernard Morgan House site, currently the subject of a controversial redevelopment into 99 luxury flats, is integral for the ongoing protection of the two estates. “Although planning policy says that the setting of listed buildings should be carefully controlled, developments around the Golden Lane Estate and the Barbican simply seem to ignore this,” he said. “Developments have been the force takes a zero-tolerance approach to gun crime, as well as to those in possession of firearms even if they don’t intend to use them. “I would encourage anyone who knows about, or owns, an illegal firearm, to surrender it at one of the designated police stations across the UK,” she said. “This can help keep dangerous weapons out of the wrong hands.” The previous surrender in 2014 resulted in more than 6,000 items being handed into police stations across the UK. Bishopsgate police station is the designated drop-off for the Square Mile. Old Street Barbican Goswell Rd Long Lane BARBICAN DENTAL CENTRE BARBICAN DENTAL CENTRE Fann St Old Street Golden Lane and are being built which overshadow and overlook people’s flats and, to make matters worse, the <strong>City</strong> seems very lax in applying the rules concerning provision of social housing and payments in lieu.” Several members of the planning committee spoke out in favour of making Zone 2 part of the council’s recommended conservation area, with Mark Bostock calling the decision to leave “a hole” in the middle of the two protected estates “totally irrational”. Thomas Anderson proposed an amendment to include Fann Street and surrounds in the proposal for public consultation, but it was ultimately thrown out with 11 committee members voting in favour and 14 against. Residents will be able to have their say on the proposals once the public consultation is launched in the coming months. Fortune St Beech St General Dentistry Cosmetic Treatment Orthodontics Dental Implants Sedation Tooth Whitening Hygienist Service Providing NHS and Private Dental Care in the <strong>City</strong> Call to make an appointment 0207 253 3232 16 – 18 Goswell Road, London, EC1M 7AA www.barbicandentalcentre.com info@barbicandentalcentre.com Bishopsgate vote verdict to be announced VOTERS in the Bishopsgate Ward were going to the polls as <strong>City</strong> <strong>Matters</strong> went to press this week. Patrick Streeter, Benjamin Murphy and Timothy Becker were all in the running on Tuesday. Head to citymatters.london for the results and reaction.