CHINESE WANTED TO ACQUIRE ENTIRE TOP HALF OF CRYSTAL PALACE PARK – Bromley’s bombshell letter
CHINESE DEVELOPER Zhong Rong wanted to acquire the entire top half of Crystal Palace park as part of their agreement with Bromley council.
The revelation comes in a bombshell letter from Bromley’s director of regeneration and transformation Marc Hume to a Zhong Rong representative.
Mr Hume’s letter reveals that:
- Only ZhongRong needed to be satisfied with the – still unsubmitted – business plan and “the council has no say as to whether or not it is acceptable”
- All reference to planning has been deleted from the documentation so it is no longer a condition of the grant of the lease and is therefore effectively a matter for ZRG’s discretion.
- The council has incurred significant costs in pursuing this matter at your instigation – yet the provision has been deleted.
- ZhongRong wanted a FIVE HUNDRED YEAR lease on the park but Bromley was only prepared to grant a maximum of 250 years
“Having considered the amendments you have made to the draft agreement and lease, it is clear that you have taken no account of the council’s concerns and have ignored our requirements” says Mr Hume.
“The result is that we have made no discernible progress over the last 16 months.
“You are fully aware that there are a number of fundamental terms that are non-negotiable so far as the council is concerned and we have made these plain to you on repeated occasions over the last 16 months.
“These terms are fundamental to the council because of its obligations as a public body to safeguard the historic and sensitive nature of the site, and to preserve the rights of the public at large in respect of the site, as well as ensuring that the various statutory limitations on its future development – in respect of planning and the obligation to obtain best consideration for council owned land, as well as the requirements of Crystal Palace Acts –can be satisfied.
“In the circumstances, it appears that there is no realistic prospect of us reaching a satisfactory agreement on these and other matters and, consequently, no point in renewing the exclusivity agreement or continuing discussions any further. “Yours sincerely Marc Hume”
EDITOR’S NOTE To access the documents go to Bromley.gov meetings March 24th 7pm executive. The main report to members is included as an agenda item; the letter from Marc Hume and the trust proposal are under ‘attachments’.
