Development Forums

What are development forums?

Development Forums are designed to increase the transparency of the planning application process to secure maximum community benefit. 

For developers, it is an opportunity to present their plans and garner inputs before a planning application is submitted to increase its likelihood of success.

For residents and other local stakeholders, it is an opportunity to comment on and discuss proposals at a time when developers can consider their inputs and make any necessary changes.

The Chairman of the Planning Committee discussed the introduction of Development Forums with amenity societies ahead of their launch and this has helped inform the format.
In the FAQs (Frequently asked questions) below you can find more information about what happens at a Development Forum session.

Development Forums will be held in person or online if social distancing measures are in place due to the coronavirus pandemic. On this page you will find details of upcoming and past events. 

Previous meetings

Kensal Canalside Opportunity Area (North)

• When: Wednesday 24 November 2021, 6pm to 8pm
• Where: Barlby Primary School (Hall), Treverton Street, London, W10 6DW
• Developers: Ballymore (London Arena) Ltd and Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd, and St. William
• Agenda: The meeting will start with developers presenting their proposals to redevelop the area along the Grand Union Canal currently occupied by the Ladbroke Grove Sainsbury’s Superstore and the remains of former gasholders. After the presentations there will be at least one hour for questions and answers. Everyone is welcome to ask questions and no previous knowledge of planning is necessary. The Council’s Director of Planning and Place will facilitate the session.

FAQs

Why have Development Forums?

To improve the success of planning applications by ensuring proposals better reflect community aspirations. Government guidance highlights the benefits for all parties in reaching a shared understanding of aims and constraints as early in the planning process as possible. For a full list of benefits read the value of pre-application engagement.

The Council already provides a pre-application advice service to developers to ensure proposals comply with our Local Plan and the London Plan and to secure the maximum community benefit. For more information visit submit a planning advice request.

However, we believe local people should have a pivotal role in shaping their environment and we are committed to involving more of the community in the planning process, making it easier and more transparent. 

The Development Forum aims to capture the full breadth of local opinion including organisations that usually interact with planning processes and those that don’t. Therefore, we intend to reach out to amenity societies and resident associations as well as other voluntary and community groups, residents, businesses and young people.

It is normally expected that proposals are discussed at the Development Forum prior to being put before the Council’s Quality Review Panel so that the outcomes of the Forum can be taken into account.

What sort of proposals will be discussed at a Development Forum?

The Development Forum will be used for the most complex and sensitive proposals in the borough. It is at the discretion of the Director of Planning and Place in liaison with applicants. However, we will require Development Forums to be a milestone in all Planning Performance Agreements where we consider it necessary.

The following schemes will qualify:

• Large scale developments that include significant social, community, health or education facilities. 
• Proposals for any large-scale infrastructure.
• Large scale developments on site allocations in the Local Plan.
• Developments of 50 or more homes.
• Developments of 10,000 sqm of commercial floorspace (office, industrial or retail).
• Developments including one or more tall buildings (i.e. 1.5x or more the surrounding context as defined in our Building Height Supplementary Planning Document)
• Substantial proposals directly related to any London Underground Stations in the borough.
• The Council’s own development proposals provided they are of a significant scale.

What won’t be considered at a Development Forum?

• Any proposal where a valid application has already been made.
• Straightforward major application.
• Locally controversial minor applications, such as loss of a restaurant or public house.
• Locally controversial householder applications, such as basements or listed building refurbishments.
• Any proposals for adverts.
• Amendments to proposals which have already been discussed at a Development Forum.
• Controversial applications where the issues are principally not planning related.

When and where will the Development Forum be held?

A Development Forum will be held in person or online if social distancing measures are in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic. They will be in the evenings from 6.00pm.

We will give at least 21 days’ notice of any upcoming Development Forum.

Who can attend?

Everyone is welcome to attend. Whether you are a local resident, a local business, work in the borough or just visit us regularly we would like to hear from you. No prior experience or knowledge of planning is necessary. We will create an environment where you can listen and participate if you wish to.

Ward Councillors can attend as can Planning Councillors (Councillors who sit on the Planning Applications Committee or Planning Committee). However, Planning Councillors can only attend as observers and cannot participate in discussions or ask questions.

The press can attend as observers.

What happens at a Development Forum?

The Development Forum is an informal meeting and will be chaired by the Director of Planning and Place or a manager in the department.

Only one proposal will be considered at each Forum meeting. Meetings will be limited to a maximum of two hours, including presentations and at least one hour for questions and answers. An agenda and short briefing note will be published one week before the meeting.

Everyone attending should be respectful of others including fellow residents, applicants and Council employees. The chairperson will assist in the effective running of the meeting and ensure a range of matters arising from the proposal are discussed. 

Attendees will be invited to ask questions and submit questions in writing during the session.

What a Development Forum does not do

A Development Forum is not a decision-making meeting. The purpose is to raise awareness, answer questions and highlight any issues that may need resolving. The relative merits of the proposal will not be discussed.

It does not place a legal or binding duty on the Council to require the developer to make changes resulting from the discussion.

It cannot be used for lobbying members of the Planning Committee.

Who can I contact for more information?

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]