Brent Cross Cricklewood

Introduction
Brent FoE have concerns about various aspects of the 4.5 billion Brent Cross Cricklewood development in Barnet, particularly the combined heat and power (CHP)/incinerator plant and transport issues, besides overall sustainability.

Waste and incineration

The proposed CHP, using gasification or pyrolysis, has been portrayed by the developers as an ‘environmentally favourable’ way of dealing with waste. The lack of detail on the technology makes it impossible to assess its energy efficiency or full environmental impact. It is actually an incinerator which must comply with strict EU waste incineration regulations, and will require waste from a far wider area to feed it from Boroughs in North London and beyond, bringing hundreds more dustcarts to the area each week through Brent.

To help prevent climate change, we should be reducing our consumption and maximising recycling, instead of burning our resources.

See http://www.storyofstuff.com/

Highly toxic dioxins, and unregulated nano particles produced by incineration are also of concern.See FoE leaflet.

Transport

The transport assessment for the Brent Cross development was only submitted in November 08, despite the planning application being registered in March 2008. This left little time for full consideration of the plans on 5th January 2009. It was clear at Barnet's exhibition that no amendments or improvements to public transport were made, proving that the 2007 consultation, held by a PR company, was just a gesture. The prediction of 29,000 extra cars a day has not changed, many of which would be on the roads of Brent.

We also have concerns about the sustainability of the transport facilities proposed in the plan. Facilities for cyclists have already been criticized by Brent Cyclists, and an alternative light-rail system, using hardly-used freight lines, seems preferable to what has been put forward by the developers. The first phase of the “North West London Light Railway” could be financed for the same cost as the proposed main-line station.

The Coalition for a Sustainable Brent Cross Plan, set up by Brent FoE members, has largely taken over the campaigning work of Brent FoE alone.

For the latest news and press see the Coalition blog

Press

September 2009-Times online: if it can't be carbon neutral should they build it

26th January 2009 Incinerator press release

20th Dec 2008 Brent Residents United Against Barnet Dump

17 Dec 2008 - Public meeting press release

What you can do

URGENT ACTION Write the Secretary of State to get a public inquiry. Details here.

March 2010 Read our letter to the Secretary of State here

May 2009 Read our latest response to Barnet here.

Jan 2009 Read our earler response to the application here.