Sadiq made a decision to intervene after Hounslow Council refused permission to build 427 new homes on the Citroen Site on Capital Interchange Way, Brentford.
The plans include 40 per cent affordable homes – 107 for shared ownership and 61 based on social rent levels – together with a nursery, and retail and office space that will lead to the creation of 43 new jobs.
The development also sits in a new Opportunity Area, which has been identified as having the capacity to accommodate at least 7,500 new homes and 14,000 new jobs.
Hounslow Council decided to refuse permission on the underutilised site on 16 February, over concerns the development would negatively impact on local heritage sites including Kew Gardens.
The impact on all heritage sites will be fully considered by the Mayor and his planning team, and City Hall will now work closely with the applicant, housing association L&Q, to try and boost the amount of affordable housing even further than the current levels of 40 per cent.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I have been clear that I will use the full range of my planning powers to help get London building the new and genuinely affordable housing we so desperately need. This rejected application in Brentford already delivers a good number of affordable homes, but by taking it over, it gives me the opportunity to work with the housing association, L&Q, to increase the levels even further.
“I will, of course, weigh up concerns raised about the impact on nearby heritage sites with the pressing need for more new and affordable homes in London.”
The Mayor will consider the application at a representation hearing at City Hall later in the year.
This is the fifth time the Mayor has used the full range of his planning powers to take over applications to boost affordable housing. His decisions to take over applications have already resulted in 572 more affordable homes for Londoners.
Notes to editors
Details of four other call-ins:
National Institute of Medical Research
- Doubled on-site affordable housing from 20 per cent to 40 per cent
- More than 100 trees (119) saved from removal and more new trees planted
- 448 residential units, 185 affordable
Swandon Way, Battersea
- Increased the affordable housing from 23 per cent to 35 per cent
- More than half the affordable homes to be delivered in first phase
- 385 residential units, 136 affordable
Hale Wharf, Tottenham
- Increased the affordable housing from 9 per cent to 35 per cent
- 505 residential units, 177 affordable
Palmerston Road, Wealdstone
- Ensured a scheme with 41 per cent affordable housing offer was approved after borough refusal. This equated to 31 per cent of the London Plan annual monitoring target for Harrow
- Harrow was 93 per cent under target for their affordable homes completions
- 186 residential units, 74 affordable