London Mayor Boris Johnson has delayed a key decision on Brentford’s planned stadium at Lionel Road.
Councillors gave the club the go-ahead for the 20,000-seater stadium last month, with the plans requiring final approval from the Mayor and Communities Secretary Eric Pickles.
However, Johnson has delayed an announcement on whether he will ‘call-in’ the application for further scrutiny by his office due to the number of objections received.
Brentford have asked supporters to write to the Mayor expressing their support for the scheme.
Leaving Griffin Park, the club’s home since 1904, for a new state-of-the-art stadium is seen as a crucial development in safeguarding Brentford’s future.
The club has argued it is currently losing about £500,000 per year and does not have a sustainable future without the move to the proposed site near Kew Bridge, where Brentford hope to be playing by 2016.
The first hurdle was passed in December when Hounslow councillors, after a meeting lasting four hours, gave the stadium their blessing.
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This post was last modified on 29/01/2014
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Dear Sir,
Your report "Mayor has delayed key decision" does not help the many supporters of the Brentford Football Club to understand why this application
which was approved by the Planning Committee of the London Borough of Hounslow had to go to the Mayor.
The reason is that development in London is governed by the London Plan which was adopted by the Greater London Authority after extensive consultation. The plan sets standards for development which ensures that
new buildings are fit for purpose and fit in well with their neighbours.
As the Hounslow Planning Officers made clear this appplication jam too much on the site and is a "departure" from the London Plan.
Normally a scheme which is a "departure" would be refused consent by Hounslow council.
But as they did not the scheme has to be cleared by the Mayor. Fans should not be surprised if he does not support the present scheme and asks for modifications so that a stadium which does accord with the London Plan can be brought forward and agreed.