The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has used his planning powers to step in and take over a major Brentford development that proposes to deliver a high level of affordable housing. The plan includes five tower blocks near Capital Interchange Way, the tallest of which would be 18 storeys.

Sadiq Khan made a decision to intervene this Tuesday (27 February) after Hounslow Council refused permission to build 427 new homes on the current site of the Citroen garage.

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.

Mayor and his planning team, say that they will fully consider the impact on heritage sites 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.

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.