City Hall has issued a formal acknowledgment of the Harrow Monitoring Group’s recent submission to the Mayor of London, commending the organisation for its “important” and “constructive” contribution to the ongoing debate about accessible and inclusive public consultation in the planning system. In a detailed response (MGLA121125-8307), London Plan Manager Marissa Ryan-Hernandez thanked the GroupContinue reading “City Hall welcomes Harrow Monitoring Group’s call for more accessible planning documents and consultations”
Tag Archives: planning
Harrow impact as Planning and Infrastructure Bill 2025 nears finalisation
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill 2025, now at Report Stage in the House of Lords, raises continuing concerns about centralisation, weakened environmental safeguards, and reduced local accountability. These issues are particularly relevant to Harrow, where local planning capacity, green infrastructure, and community participation are central to shaping sustainable development.As the Bill is expected to completeContinue reading “Harrow impact as Planning and Infrastructure Bill 2025 nears finalisation”
Redevelopment of Travellers Rest refused – urban design in a suburban setting
Planning application PL/0378/25, for the redevelopment of the Travellers Rest, 134 Kenton Road, Harrow, into 109 residential units, 103 co-living units, and 62 Build-to-Rent units, was refused by the Planning Committee on 25 September 2025, despite a professional recommendation for approval. The refusal, carefully drafted and formally proposed by the Chairman of Planning, Cllr MarilynContinue reading “Redevelopment of Travellers Rest refused – urban design in a suburban setting”
Deficient Harrow Planning Report: Travellers Rest Redevelopment
The officer report presented to Harrow’s Planning Committee on 25 September 2025 recommending approval of application PL/0378/25 – redevelopment of the Travellers Rest, 134 Kenton Road, into 109 residential units, 103 co-living units and 62 Build-to-Rent units – is marked by two striking ambiguities. Silence on Sociocultural Implications of Co-living The report records compliance withContinue reading “Deficient Harrow Planning Report: Travellers Rest Redevelopment”
Quiet vehicles, big risks: safeguarding Harrow’s visually impaired
The increasing use of electric and hybrid vehicles – often referred to as “quiet vehicles” – is bringing new safety challenges for people with sight loss in Harrow. While these vehicles reduce air pollution, their reduced engine noise poses a risk for pedestrians who rely on sound to navigate safely. Research from the Royal NationalContinue reading “Quiet vehicles, big risks: safeguarding Harrow’s visually impaired”
Don’t let conservation divide Harrow
Since 2022 Conservative administration, Harrow Council has produced several Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) – including four* recent ones – that raise troubling questions about both process and purpose. Chief among them are doubts about the value of ‘consultation’ and the extent to which public input genuinely shaped the final policies. These SPDs are highly technicalContinue reading “Don’t let conservation divide Harrow”
Harrow council under fire despite big spending pledges
Harrow council – controlled by the Conservatives after bucking London’s Labour wave in 2022 – is facing mounting criticism over failing services, even as it unveils major new investments.The borough has committed £42 million over three years to upgrade roads and pavements, alongside a £900,000 boost for street cleansing and a £6 million injection intoContinue reading “Harrow council under fire despite big spending pledges”
Government’s revised NPPF helps Harrow planning regime
In arguing to grant retrospective application for the retention of a three-storey building at 79 Bessborough Road, Harrow (PL/0952/24), officer report says that the government revised National Planning Policy Framework [NPPF 2024] is a “material consideration in the determination of this application” [applications were refused in 2022 for a variety of reasons]. The revised NPPFContinue reading “Government’s revised NPPF helps Harrow planning regime”
Harrow council work improving but needs better consistency
Good to see recent improvements in the work of the Harrow council, like the street environment around the Harrow Town Centre, proactive planning regime, fewer complaints about the waste collection, and the council website, though not perfect, feels better. However, improvement across the board and the borough remains challenging, particularly as the consistency of theContinue reading “Harrow council work improving but needs better consistency”
Planning supremo Harrow councillor’s 25 years on the council recognised
Councillor Marilyn Ashton received a presentation marking her 25 years on the council at the council meeting on 28 November 2024.First elected to the council in 1998, Stanmore councillor Marilyn Ashton, deputy leader of the council and planning and regeneration executive at the Harrow cabinet, has served on various council committees and panels as wellContinue reading “Planning supremo Harrow councillor’s 25 years on the council recognised”
Harrow Monitoring Group 
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