Greenwich Council has been accused of “losing control” of its oversight of planning conditions after admitting it cannot follow-up with planning inspections.
Officials blamed budget issues for failing to check that conditions imposed during the planning application process were being adhered to.
The issue was brought to the fore when planners granted retrospective planning permission to turn a building into a homeless hostel despite local objections.
Lack of funding blamed
A council spokesperson admitted they "do not have the funding" to inspect planning applications.
A statement read: “The council sets out conditional planning permission. We expect owners to comply with the approved planning permissions. The permission granted was for supported accommodation for vulnerable individuals with low to medium support needs.
“Making sure people have access to safe and affordable housing is a priority for the Royal Borough of Greenwich, and the planning and development process is a crucial part of addressing the housing shortage we are facing.
“Unfortunately, we just do not have the funding available to follow-up with development inspections when a planning permission is implemented.”
What prompted this decision?
Greenwich Council granted retrospective permission late last year to divide a two-storey building into 26 studio flats to house 26 vulnerable adults and seven children. Construction Enquirer reported some were as small as 154 sq ft.
Locals objected about the plans but planners went ahead with permission on the grounds it would provide accommodation for homeless people, particularly women and single mothers.
The council has now confirmed it cannot meet the terms set by developer Grosvenor Hill Social Impact Group.
A spokesperson said: “The council has discussed this matter with the owners and after careful consideration are presently unable to provide housing for our clients at these premises.”
Council criticised for pursuing other planning issues
The council was recently criticised for ordering an unauthorised advertising mural featuring a Union Flag to be painted over because the chip ship owner behind it had not applied for planning permission.
The issue was picked up by the British media because some locals and visitors incorrectly thought the decision was made because of ‘wokeness’. The mural was even mentioned by far-right US conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
One told the Daily Mail: “It's a British flag. We are in Britain and it's celebrating Great British fish and chips. What's wrong with that? The council should concentrate and put their time and money into things that actually matter.”
A spokesperson for the Royal Borough of Greenwich said: “Whilst it’s not always appropriate to comment on individual cases, contrary to reports this has nothing to do with the Union Flag or any of the painting’s contents.
"The advert has been painted, without any permission, in a conservation area, close to a World Heritage Site. The council is acting according to Government planning laws, as it would with any unauthorised advert.
“Any suggestions this is because of the Union Flag are disingenuous and untrue. The business owner is welcome to apply for advert consent in line with the conservation area he is in."
