Thank you for your support and for signing our petition. A few updates from Clement Close.

The Council has confirmed that they will be holding a public meeting in the near future. The date is still to be confirmed. We requested that the meeting be scheduled in September or later, since so many people will be away over the next few weeks. The Council has also extended the consultation period into August. If you haven't already, please make sure to make your views known by completing the survey here: https://haveyoursay.brent.gov.uk/en-GB/projects/clement-close-nw6-7al-brondesbury-park

Finally, the Council has provided the following responses to the concerns raised in the petition:

• Loss of privacy for many residents of Clement Close and neighbouring properties - The new buildings have been designed to avoid overlooking into existing homes and private gardens. The main windows of the new blocks either look into their own private patio garden or are planning policy compliant distance away from the primary windows of existing properties.  
• Overshadowing of adjoining buildings (daylight / sunlight issue) - A detailed Sunlight and Daylight Analysis has been undertaken as part of the design process. The report concludes that the scheme has been carefully developed to maintain good separation from the majority of the neighbours, with the proposed buildings either arranged adjacent to the existing housing units or including a sloped roof as a design response to the surrounding context. This is reflected, in the assessments, with the scheme affects mostly demonstrating full compliance with the BRE guidance. The Daylight Sunlight assessment will be included as part of the full planning application submission.
• Parking  - We take on board the concerns about the additional pressures that a new development is likely to have on existing parking. The site has good connections to local transport links and will be a car free development, therefore existing parking controls will be applied accordingly.
• Increased road traffic / loading/turning and concerns around access for emergency vehicles - The width of the road on the eastern side of Clement Close has been maintained, to the same dimension.  A transport assessment has been undertaken as part of the planning application submission, demonstrating compliance with both refuse and emergency vehicles.
  Please note an Acoustic Assessment and an Air Quality Assessment will form part of the planning application submission.
• Loss of trees – Whilst the loss of any mature trees is regrettable, in addition to the estate wide landscape improvements, there is a 1:1 proposed replacement strategy for any removed trees are part of the development. An arboriculture Impact assessment will form part of the detailed planning application submission.
• Impact on visual amenity resulting from the layout and density of building - The new blocks have been carefully designed to try to reduce their impact and sit comfortably within Clement Close. The buildings range in 01 – 03 storeys to respect the existing heights of the estate. Rather than being designed as a continuous block, the new terraces of homes (Blocks A and C) have patio “side” gardens” to allow light and views through, with a stepped profile in section to further reduce impact and meet local planning policy. The remaining blocks use a variety of means to reduce their impact, with a combination of balconies, terraces and set back roofs. The proposed materials have been considered to sit alongside the buildings of the existing estate, with brick and cast stone being the primary cladding materials.
• Loss of existing services (ground-floor storage cupboards, bicycle stores, recycling facilities. climbing frame/slide and a bench, which form a central part of community life for Clement Close children.) - Existing amenities such as the storage cupboards will be retained, but potentially relocated to another position. The bicycle storage capacity for existing residents will be increased by 18 spaces in secure lockers. The existing climbing frame, slide and bench will be integrated into the detailed wider landscape proposals.

We appreciate the Council providing this additional information, however we stand by our original statement that the current in-fill proposal would lead to overcrowding and have a major impact on the local environment as well as on the health and wellbeing of existing residents. As temperatures reach record highs, we also question the impact of replacing mature trees with more urban structures, which will increase the heat island effect in Clement Close and around.