Boris Johnson’s go-ahead for a plan to build luxury homes on a section of Crystal Palace Park has awarded the dubious accolade of worst planning decision of the year by London Assembly Member Darren Johnson.
The Green Party Assembly Member (pictured above) makes the Dodgy Planning Award each year for the planning decision he considers to be the most damaging to London.
The Crystal Palace development would see 180 homes built on an edge of the park as part of a major redevelopment of the site.
Johnson commented: “By allowing the partial sell-off of Crystal Palace Park to raise funds for regeneration, the mayor has ignored strong local opposition and set a precedent that could threaten all of London’s open spaces. It looks like he has chosen to ignore the contradiction of running a competition to enhance London’s parks whilst at the same time giving the go ahead to build over a section of one.”
In January Communities Secretary Hazel Blears called in the plans and signalled her intention to hold a public inquiry.
