Developer faces another fight over housing in historic East End

A developer is being slammed after plans for more housing in a historic part of the East End have once again been put forward despite the group being forced to scale down its project.

By Else Kvist

A developer is being slammed after plans for more housing in a historic part of the East End have once again been put forward despite the group being forced to scale down its project.

Parliamentary Respect candidate for Bethnal Green and Bow Abjol Miah today condemned Durkan over their proposals for Gun Wharf in Bow.

Residents along the Hertford Union Canal, off Old Ford Road, successfully campaigned against a housing block up to seven stories high within the Victoria Park conservation area

After Tower Hamlets council rejected the plans Durkan were forced to scale the development down to four storeys, which was then approved. But now Durkan Estates have put in a fresh planning application.

Campaigners accuse the developers of effectively seeking permission to either do away with the provision of affordable housing or add another storey, and more than halve their contribution to the local authority.

Cllr Miah said: "These plans are outrageous and socially irresponsible. Durkan's original plans attracted dozens of objections. Quite rightly they withdrew them and came back with a compromise plan that was acceptable to residents. Now they have reneged on this deal"

He said he had "little doubt" the council will throw out the new plans and said there will be a "huge row" if they don't. And if Durkan decides to take the plans to the London Mayor, who can override the council, he warned: "We will take this fight all the way to City Hall and beyond.