THE planned delay of the consideration of the £4.5bn Brent Cross Cricklewood regeneration plans has been welcomed by the developers.

Barnet Council announced yesterday it intends to delay the public hearing into the plans again to stage a planing committee meeting over two nights in November (see links at bottom).

They say it is to allow any members of the public who want to have their say on the issue to speak.

Jonathan Joseph, from the Brent Cross Cricklewood development partners, said: “We welcome the council's decision and it is right that people have the opportunity to express their views.

“A huge amount of careful work has been done to create a truly exemplary scheme that sets pioneering standards of environmental sustainability and will achieve the lasting regeneration of the Brent Cross Cricklewood area.

“We look forward to explaining the huge and many benefits for local people in Barnet and North West London.”

Yesterday a coalition of community groups opposed to the current plans said they wanted a public inquiry rather than a committee meeting.

They claim the current scheme will bring 29,000 extra cars to the roads, create an incinerator and create high-density living space.

However, the developers say it will only see an increase of 9,000 cars on the road, and the waste disposal plant will be a gasification facility, not an incinerator.

About £1bn of investment in public amenities is also factored into the proposals, including new schools, parks and a new high street for Cricklewood.

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