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A DEVELOPMENT OF 1,600 HOMES AND A MASSIVE 60,000 SQUARE FT ASDA STORE HAS BEEN MET WITH OPPOSITION FROM THE METROPOLITAN POLICE WHICH CLAIMS THE EXTRA 4,000 RESIDENTS WILL ADD
'UNACCEPTABLE PRESSURE' 11:04, 16 Apr 2025 A giant new "town centre" development proposed by Asda in west London has been met with opposition from the Metropolitan
Police. The force is demanding hundreds of thousands of pounds in developer contributions so they can deal with the surge in population at the Park Royal site. The high street supermarket
brand is proposing a 1,600 new homes and a 60,000 square ft superstore to service all the new residents. However, the Met warned the project will put "unacceptable pressure" on its
staff and budget, making it hard to assure the "safety of the local community". In a letter to the planning authority, the Met said the development's size would
"seriously undermine" the force's ability to fulfil their policing objectives, reports the Telegraph. The development is expected to bring an extra 4,000 people to the area
and to cover the extra policing costs, the Met wants access to the funds developers give to the local authority, which are usually allocated to infrastructure works. Article continues below
The force are also asking for a new 1,600 square ft base at a "highly visible location in the heart of the new community” and nearly £310,000 more. The letter from the Met's
Jonathan Boulton read: "Without the necessary contribution the development will be unacceptable in planning terms and permission should not be granted. “The lack of capacity in existing
infrastructure to accommodate the population growth and associated demands occasioned by the development means that it is necessary for the developer of the site to provide a contribution
so the situation might be remedied. “Without the necessary contribution to meet police needs there is a formal objection to the development on sustainability grounds and because the
development is unacceptable without the necessary contribution.” Mr Boulton added that the Met had been "successful elsewhere in London in securing financial contributions”. The plans,
proposed by Asda and developers Barratt Redrow, include 35-storey apartment blocks. Article continues below Mr Boulton said in the letter: “Faced with unprecedented levels of growth being
proposed across London, the Metropolitan Police Service have resolved to seek developer contributions to ensure that existing levels of service can be maintained as this growth takes place.”
He is calling for a meeting with the planning authority before the application is filed. Last week, a man tried to start a fire at an Asda petrol station before being stopped by police in
shocking CCTV footage. _FOR THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS AND STORIES FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE FROM THE DAILY STAR, SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTERS._