LATEST NEWS RE: UXBRIDGE GOLF COURSE
March 2010

4601/APP/2009/2622 UXBRIDGE GOLF CLUB, THE DRIVE, ICKENHAM
Remodelling works to improve the quality and condition of Uxbridge Golf Course, consisting of reshaping works using imported inert soils and extensive landscaping to enhance visual and ecological amenity.

In a special well attended meeting of the North Planning Committee at the Civic Centre, Uxbridge, on Wednesday, 10.03.10, which heard the presentation of 8 petitions against the above proposals and for re-instatement of the golf course post NationalGrid pipe-laying from different interested parties (including Ickenham Residents’ Association) the above application has been REFUSED.

It will now be referred to the Mayor of London under Article 5 of the Town and Country Planning (Mayor of London) Order 2008 for determination.

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LATEST NEWS on SWAKELEYS HOUSE (please scroll down for full background)

 

Ickenham Residents' Association

'Swakeleys House'
(Variation to s52 Agreement)

The above variation will be considered by the
LBH's North Planning Committee at 7pm on the
6th April 2010 at the Civic Centre in
Committee Room 5

Please attend to show the importance of Swakeleys House to the village.

See the Spring Edition of Ickenham Calling for the latest update.

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RE: SWAKELEYS HOUSE, ICKENHAM

February 2010

The Association has been informed that the Council has now received a revised application to vary the Section 52 Agreement, dated 29th May 1984, in relation to the above site. This follows the meeting of North Planning Committee on 3rd December 2009, where the matter was deferred for "further information to be sought on marketing the property, and to enable further negotiations to take place regarding the feasibility of installing secure fencing to the perimeter path, appropriate landscaping improvements and to increase the level of access to the house".

The original Section 52 Agreement made provision for the following:

i. the carrying out of a comprehensive tree survey by the owner;
ii. permissive rights of access for members of the public to use a
footpath leading to the Bowling Club;
iii. access within Swakeleys House on three days per year to allow the public to view areas of special architectural or historic interest; access upon written request by representatives of recognised societies or other bodies
iv. access to the grounds of Swakeleys House to members of the public to coincide with the Ickenham Festival; and
v. an area of Swakeleys grounds to be leased for a term of 21 years at a peppercorn rent by the Applicant to Swakeleys Bowling Club for use as a bowling green.

Following further discussions with Council officers, the applicant is now proposing to vary the Section 52 Agreement as follows:

All clauses of the Section 52 Agreement to remain unchanged, including the retention
of the existing perimeter path, except (iii) as follows:

 

iii. Deletion of the obligation on the owner to allow access within Swakeleys House on three days per year to allow the public to view areas of special architectural or historic interest.

This will be replaced with access to members of the public on one day
per year
at the Open House Weekend (from 10 - 4 p.m.)

The area open to the public to comprise the ground floor entrance hall,
stairs to first floor and first floor landing, as shown hatched in blue on
Plan B.

The applicant to produce an illustrated leaflet providing a brief
architectural description and history of Swakeleys, to be made available
to those visiting during the Open House Weekend (the content to be
approved by the council in advance of distribution)

The maintenance of a standalone website with virtual tour.

NOTE:
March 2010
The Association has taken comprehensive soundings from members, local residents and groups, as well as history societies, and the majority view is to ask the owner to consider opening Swakeleys House on two days annually, to reflect the historical importance of the house and give sufficient time to visit for local residents and visitors from further afield. As regards the limitation of access to essentially the hall and staircase, local historians consider that the Great Chamber and other parts of the building should also be available for inspection by the public. If the owner is not minded to extend the viewing area then other than ensuring there is sufficient access on the landing area to reduce the risk of visitors viewing the staircase falling as they turn round at the head of the stairs, we do not make any further representations in this respect.
If access over 2 days is simply not tenable, for example, because of a proven difficulty in leasing the premises with 2 rather than 1 Open Day, the Association requests that LBH require the inclusion of a fall back position in any new agreement with the owner to ensure that this one day per annum access by the public continues even if the concept of the London Open House weekend should ever cease.
In all other respects we support and welcome the continued use of the grounds by the Ickenham Festival and the Bowls Club, and particularly the fact that the perimeter path has been retained, maintenance of which should be regulated from the start in any new agreement.

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SWAKELEYS HOUSE

 

(Variation to s52 Agreement)

 

NORTH PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING 3rd DECEMBER 2009:

 

The Association can confirm that the proposed Swakeleys House variation (to remove the perimeter path, limit public access etc.) was deferred at this planning committee meeting. The committee have asked the owner to discuss the feasibility of putting a secure fence around the perimeter path and provide more information on his attempts to market the property, and also to see whether increased public access (from the 1 morning proposed in the variation) can be given, eg. the whole Open House weekend.

 

We will be up-dating this page regularly to inform our members of any further developments.

 

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SWAKELEYS HOUSE

 

(Variation to s52 Agreement)

 

 

The proposal to close the perimeter footpath between The Avenue and Swakeleys Drive and reduce the number of Open Days from 3 to 1, and other related matters, will be decided by the North Planning Committee at a special public meeting on

Thursday 3 December 2009 at 7 pm

in the

Civic Centre, Uxbridge.

 

Please attend to show the importance of Swakeleys House to the village.

 

 

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Urgent                      

22.07.09

  

SWAKELEYS HOUSE   -   P/A 23202/F/81/1435

APPLICATION TO REMOVE PUBLIC ACCESS RIGHTS

 

The 08.07.09 Agenda for the London Borough of Hillingdon’s North Planning Committee Meeting scheduled for 16.07.09, included an application for the variation of a 1981 Section 52 agreement which required the owners to allow public access to parts of Swakeleys House on 3 days each year. The applicant wishes to remove this right and also alter the access to the Swakeleys Bowling Club. The permission granted to the Ickenham Festival to use the grounds for 1 day appears to remain intact, but this is not clear.

 

Although LBH do not have to hold a public consultation, the Association was concerned that 8 days was insufficient time for ourselves, other interested parties (Ickenham Festival, bowling club, local history societies etc) and local residents to consider the variation, given that the House is a central part of any key village activities. The Association immediately contacted the LBH, who at our request withdrew the report officially on 15.07.09 from the Agenda for 16.07.09 to grant a time for public consultation. 

 

The application is now scheduled to be reported at the North Planning Committee Meeting at 7pm on 27.08.09 at the Civic Centre.

 

We received a letter from the LBH dated 17.07.09 explaining the details and aims of the variation of section 52 as copied (with LBH permission) below.

 

There is also a link to the North Planning Committee Report for 16.07.09 with all relevant details of the above planning application plus copies of original deeds and draft of variation of section 52.  http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=5553&action=view_doc&cid=71&year=2009

 

There are currently 2 other planning applications for Swakeleys House  (23202/APP/2006/1164 and 23202/APP/2008/53) with the owners seeking to increase the number of vehicles permitted to use the ceremonial access road from Swakeleys Drive and to resurface/make some alterations to the ceremonial access road (both of which the Association has objected to as the rear entrance from Milton Road is perfectly acceptable).

 

We would ask you, our members, to study this matter urgently and let us know your thoughts and assessments, so that we can send the Association comments to the LBH by 07.08.09.

 

Please email to:

ickenhamresidents@hotmail.com or telephone Chairman, Rachel Moore, on 613534 or 07710 209272

 

or write to:

Ickenham Residents Association,

106 Copthall Road West, Ickenham, UB10  8HT

 

 

Thank you for your support.

Maps associated with plans (opens as PDF File)

 

 

LETTER FROM LONDON BOROUGH OF HILLINGDON    to

 

To Mrs. Joan Sollis,

General Secretary,

17th July 2009

 

Dear Mrs. Sollis,

 

RE:  SWAKELEYS  HOUSE,  ICKENHAM

 

I write to inform you that the Council has received an application to vary a Section 52 Agreement in relation to the above site.

 

The Section 52 Agreement dated 29 May 1984, relates to a planning permission (APP/R55/10/A/83/004491) granted on appeal to erect 25,092 square feet of offices to provide further funds to restore the buildings and grounds of Swakeleys House.  The owner implemented this planning permission some time ago.

The intention of the deed of variation is to restrict access to Swakeleys House due to issues surrounding privacy and security on the site to which the applicant has provided evidence. The owner suggests that the property has been empty for five years, because the public access arrangements granted through the Section 52 Agreement have deterred prospective purchasers and tenants from occupying the site. Additionally, the applicant has provided evidence that, in recent years, the open days have not been well attended and there have been no requests for entry to Swakeleys House during the last four years.

The original Section 52 Agreement made provision for the following:

 

i.                     the carrying out of a comprehensive tree survey by the owner;

ii.                   permissive rights of access for members of the public to use a footpath leading to the Bowling Club;

iii.                  access within Swakeleys House on three days per year to allow the public to view areas of special architectural or historic interest;

iv.                 access within Swakeleys House for the inspection of areas of special architectural or historical interest by representatives of recognised societies or other bodies;

v.                   access to the grounds of Swakeleys House to members of the public to coincide with the Ickenham Festival; and

vi.                 an area of  Swakeleys House to be leased for a term of 21 years at a peppercorn rent by the Applicant to Swakeleys Bowling Club for use as a bowling green.

 

Following discussions with Council officers, the applicant is now proposing to vary the Section 52 Agreement as follows:

i.          deletion of the obligation on the owner to allow permissive rights of access for members of the public to use a footpath leading to the Bowling Club;

ii.          deletion of the obligation on the owner to allow access within Swakeleys House on three days per year to allow the public to view areas of special architectural or historic interest. This will be replaced with exterior access to members of the public on one or both of the Open House Weekend (see area shaded in blue on Plan B attached) and the applicant will produce a leaflet which provides brief architectural description and history of Swakeleys together with illustrations to be made available to those visiting during the Open House Weekend (the content to be approved by the council in advance of distribution); and

iii.         deletion of the obligation on the owner to provide access within Swakeleys House for the inspection of areas of special architectural or historical interest by representatives of recognised societies or other bodies. Instead the applicant will launch a virtual tour on a standalone website to be provided for members of the public to view 365 days per year (the contents, format and design to be approved by the Council);

iv.         an obligation on the owner to allow public access daily from 9.00am until one hour before sunset to the area as indicated in yellow on Plan A attached for informal recreational use (the specified purposes are not confined to a bowling club); and

v.         an obligation on the owner to allow public access and access to the bowling club via a different access route as indicated in yellow on Plan A attached.

I would be pleased to receive your views on the proposed Deed of Variation within 21 days of the date of this letter. Alternatively, should you prefer to meet with me to discuss this matter please contact me on the above number.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Charmian Baker

Planning Specialists Manager

Planning and Community Services