THE DEVELOPERS of the rejected multi-million pound project in South Ruislip have today said “we are not going to go away on this.”
Toby Baines, chairman of Citygrove, developers of the proposed Arla Foods scheme which was last night refused planning permission by Hillingdon Council, is hopeful that a new application will be submitted in the coming months.
The site in Victoria Road has been derelict since 2005.
Mr Baines said: “What is very upsetting is that this scheme would have brought £100million worth of investment into South Ruislip, and 650 jobs for local people.
“I'm hoping to put all of this behind us and build a relationship with the Hillingdon Council planning department where we can work together to develop this derelict site and bring jobs and amenities that everyone can be proud of.”
A major stumbling block in the projects application was the size of its proposed Asda supermarket at more than 8,000sq/m.
Mr Baines said Citygrove is looking to reduce the size of the supermarket and 11-screen Cineworld cinema in its next application.
“We are listening to the council and we are waiting to hear what level of reduction is needed to see if the scheme will work or not.”
But he added: “If the supermarket is reduced too much Asda will pull out because they need to be able to be in competition with Sainsbury's.
“Without Asda's funding this scheme will not go ahead and South Ruislip people will lose out.”
One of the reasons for refusing the site based on the size of the supermarket was that Sainsbury's, down the road in Long Drive, has already been granted permission to increase the size of its store.
Mr Baines is sceptical of the store's intention to re-build.
“They have had two applications to re-build the store – one in 2006 and one last year and though both were given planning permission nothing has been done,” he said.
“It's really interesting that one day before the committee meeting they announced plans for a temporary store,” he said.
Many people shared council planners' concerns about an increase in traffic and air pollution in roads already congested due to the nearby A40 junction at the Polish War Memorial in West End Road.
South Ruislip Residents' Association and South Ruislip ward councillors Shirley Harper-O'Neill and Judy Kelly supported Citygrove's application.
“What do the local people of South Ruislip want? Not a rat infested derelict site on their doorstep,” Mr Baines said.
£85million development refused planning permission by council
Councillors to decide on future of South Ruislip's £85m redevelopment plan
