Asda’s ‘transformational’ London redevelopment faces Met Police objection

Asda’s “transformational” plans for a new superstore and housing development in Park Royal, west London, faces opposition from the Metropolitan Police, which has warned it will block the project unless developer contributions are made to fund policing resources.

The supermarket chain’s proposal for a 60,000sq ft superstore, along with the construction of 1,600 homes, is set to increase the local population by 4,000 residents.

However the Telegraph reports that the police have raised concerns that the development will put “unacceptable pressure” on officers and resources.

In a letter to the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC), the planning authority for the area, the Met outlined its concerns about the strain the proposed development would place on local law enforcement. The force is requesting hundreds of thousands of pounds in developer contributions to address the potential surge in demand for policing services and ensure the “safety of the local community.”

Jonathan Boulton, representing the Metropolitan Police said: “Without the necessary contribution, the development will be unacceptable in planning terms, and permission should not be granted.”

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The police are calling for a new 1,600sq ft base in a “highly visible location” within the proposed development, additional parking spaces for police use, and an extra £310,000 to “mitigate impacts” on police infrastructure.

Asda is developing the site alongside Barratt Redrow, one of the UK’s leading housebuilders, with plans to build five blocks of flats, some up to 35 storeys high. The project aims to create a “new town centre” for the capital, but concerns have been raised about the ability of emergency services to cope with the growing demands of new developments across London.

In his letter, Boulton added that the Met had “been successful elsewhere in London in securing financial contributions” from developers to support policing. He also highlighted the unprecedented growth across the city, with the police pushing for more developer contributions to ensure that services can keep up with housing expansion.

The OPDC’s pre-planning report, which includes the police’s objections, also raised concerns over the availability of local childcare facilities, which could struggle to meet the demands of the increasing population.

Asda’s plans come amid wider fears that emergency services nationwide may be unable to cope with the rapid pace of housing development. A recent survey revealed that police and other emergency services in England have received minimal financial support for infrastructure improvements, despite the significant sums raised through developer agreements.

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