Ballymore's Brentford brouhaha

Ballymore says it's "not at war" but in "constant dialogue"

The following article was printed in the Irish Times on November 22nd:

Ballymore's Brentford brouhaha

A spokesman for Seán Mulryan’s Ballymore Properties has responded to recent criticism of its dealings with local residents in the Hounslow area of London by saying it is not “at war” over its plans to build 929 apartments in Brentford High Street, but rather in “constant dialogue” with residents.

The temperature was raised by Andrew Dakers, chairman of the High Street Steering Group and former Lib-Dem councillor in Hounslow, when he went public in characterising Ballymore’s planned five- to 11-storey blocks as “aggressive, overbearing and underwhelming”.

“Ballymore always prides itself on open and frank dialogue,” a Ballymore spokesman said.

And despite “blog bursts”, he added, “very healthy dialogue . . . has been taking place”. This included partaking in a public meeting this week, convened by Hounslow Borough Council, at which Ballymore explained how it was responding to residents’ concerns.

The Brentford High Street scheme, designed by three different firms of architects – Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, Glenn Howells and Maccreanor Lavington – has been the subject of two public exhibitions in the area, most recently in October after Ballymore made its planning application to the borough council.

November 26, 2012