We need full transparency over Westferry Printworks

Statement from Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs following the Urgent Question raised in Parliament today (11 June) about the Westferry Printworks planning decision:

Mayor John Biggs said:

“Not only did the Secretary of State try to force this oversized development upon our community, he did it a day before a new £50m infrastructure charge would have come into force and only weeks after discussing it with the developer at a political party fundraiser.

“Instead of sending a junior minister to respond to questions, the Secretary of State should come clean and publish all of the advice and documentation related to his Westferry decision.

“If the public are to have faith in the integrity of the planning process, we need full transparency about what happened with Westferry and assurance that donations to political parties played no role. I hope the HCLG Select Committee will seriously consider launching an inquiry into this matter.”|Statement from Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs following the Urgent Question raised in Parliament today (11 June) about the Westferry Printworks planning decision:

Mayor John Biggs said:

“Not only did the Secretary of State try to force this oversized development upon our community, he did it a day before a new £50m infrastructure charge would have come into force and only weeks after discussing it with the developer at a political party fundraiser.

“Instead of sending a junior minister to respond to questions, the Secretary of State should come clean and publish all of the advice and documentation related to his Westferry decision.

“If the public are to have faith in the integrity of the planning process, we need full transparency about what happened with Westferry and assurance that donations to political parties played no role. I hope the HCLG Select Committee will seriously consider launching an inquiry into this matter.”