Developer ordered to pay Greenwich millions after housing estate built unlawfully
A property developer has been ordered to pay millions of pounds to a council after a housing estate was built unlawfully.
The Planning Inspectorate has granted retrospective planning permission to Comer Homes Group for their Mast Quay Phase II development in Woolwich, which was built unlawfully after deviating significantly from the approved planning permission given to the site's original owners in 2012.
However, the Planning Inspectorate has ordered Comer Homes Group to pay the Royal Borough of Greenwich £7.8 million, including £4.4 million for affordable housing in other areas of the borough, £318,970 for carbon offsetting, and £3.4 million for improvements in the local area.
(Image: The Royal Borough of Greenwich)
The developer has also been ordered to provide a children's play area, make the development accessible to people in wheelchairs, and remove the intrusive orange cladding.
The Planning Inspectorate has given Comer Homes Group 36 months to carry out these improvements, otherwise, an enforcement notice can be issued again requiring total demolition.
The Royal Borough of Greenwich has said this forms a "huge package of planning obligations and funding" to offset some of the harm that Mast Quay Phase II has caused.
The council said it stands by the decision it took to serve a planning enforcement notice last September against Comer Homes Group.
The council said it was "disappointing" that the inspector was not satisfied it constituted "intentional" unauthorised development, but, during the appeal Comer Homes Group accepted it had built unlawfully.
The council said it is "relieved" that the inspector's decision imposes strict planning conditions to improve the standard of the development.
Council leader Councillor Anthony Okereke said: "We love our borough, and we have little sympathy for multi-millionaire property developers who don't think the English planning rules apply to them, or that they can build what they feel like in Greenwich.
"You don't get to use the housing crisis to justify shoddy development because delivering what was originally given planning consent would have inconveniently cost you more money and reduced your profit.
"Everyone in our borough deserves access to a safe and secure home that meets their needs.
"New development can be high quality and deliver sufficient levels of affordable housing: Comer Homes Group's Mast Quay Phase II did neither.
"The inspector's decision means that Comer Homes Group will at least have to pay the council a total of £7.82m to offset Mast Quay Phase II's impact on the local area, provide affordable housing, and improve the look and safety of the building.
"These are real improvements that have only been won from taking tough action.
"If action had not been taken, we would not have secured any of this mitigation, funding or the conditions that require changes to be made."
Councillor Majid Rahman, cabinet member for planning, estate renewal and development, said: "Mast Quay Phase II, even with some external alterations, will remain a poor quality development that resembles stacked shipping containers and blights the landscape, local conservation area and protected views.
"It is simply not acceptable for Woolwich.
"When Comer Homes Group bought the site, it had the potential to deliver hundreds of beautiful riverside apartments in an exciting area of London with a rich maritime past.
"If a scheme matching what has been built at Mast Quay Phase II was submitted for planning permission today, it would be refused, and that is why we could not let what the Comer Homes Group had delivered at Mast Quay Phase II go unchallenged."
Councillor Rachel Taggart-Ryan, cabinet member for community safety and enforcement, said: "Thanks to our tough action we're pleased the inspector is forcing Comer Homes Group to make a huge number of modifications so that children will have a place to play, flats will be accessible for wheelchair users and the outside area will no longer be dominated by tarmac and cars instead of trees, grass and plants."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNBC
3 hours ago
- CNBC
North American airlines targeted by cyberattacks
At least two North American airlines have been victims of criminal hackers recently as cybersecurity companies warn that a notorious cybercriminal group has been targeting the aviation industry. Westjet and Hawaii Airlines both said in June statements that they are responding to cyberattacks. American Airlines also experienced a tech issue on Friday, though it's unclear if it was related or caused in any way by hackers. "A technology issue is affecting connectivity for some of our systems and we are working with our partners to fully resolve the issue," an American Airlines spokesperson said in a statement. "Though we are experiencing delays as a result, we have not canceled any flights at this time." Cybersecurity companies that work directly with companies hit by hackers usually refrain from talking about specific victims, citing nondisclosure agreements. But both Google and Palo Alto Networks said Friday that they have observed a particularly effective cybercriminal group, nicknamed Scattered Spider by the cybersecurity industry, that tries to hack companies involved in aviation. Scattered Spider is a loosely affiliated group of young, mostly English-speaking men who are extremely adept at sweet-talking their way into sensitive computer access at large companies. From there, they often hand that access to outside cybercriminals who install ransomware — malicious software that locks up computers, rendering them inoperable — and then demand an extortion payment. The group has been tied to attacks on Las Vegas casinos in 2023 and British department stores earlier this year. After Google warned that Scattered Spider was targeting American retailers, a cyberattack hobbled a top Whole Foods supplier, leading to empty shelves across the country. Charles Carmakal, the chief technology officer of Mandiant, Google's cloud security company, said in an emailed statement that it was tracking "multiple incidents in the airline and transportation sector" where Scattered Spider had broken in. "We are still working on attribution and analysis, but given the habit of this actor to focus on a single sector we suggest that the industry take steps immediately to harden systems," he said. Details on the effects of the attacks on airlines are still sparse. A WestJet spokesperson told NBC News in an email that the company first noticed it had been hacked on June 13 and has made "significant progress" to resolve it. Hawaiian Airlines said in a Friday filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it discovered on Monday that it had been hacked and that "Flights are currently operating safely and as scheduled." Neither company responded to questions about whether any flights had been canceled or delayed because of the attacks.
Axios
7 hours ago
- Axios
Oakland's airport is changing its name — again
After a year of legal disputes, officials at the Port of Oakland announced Friday that they will rename the city's airport — again — to Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport. Why it matters: San Francisco sued over trademark infringement after Oakland International Airport changed its name to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport in a bid to attract more passengers. The lawsuit resulted in a temporary court order blocking the plan. The latest: In a letter to SFO officials, Port of Oakland aviation director Craig Simon maintained that their initial proposal does not infringe on the trademark for SFO and that their goal is to "bring more awareness that OAK is located on the San Francisco Bay." "Research had uncovered a lack of awareness about OAK's geographic location ... as contributing to a depressed flight route demand," Simon wrote. The new name, a response to the court order, will be adopted "while we wait for final legal resolution," the letter reads. Reality check: Widely criticized by San Franciscans, the initial name change led to "evidence of confusion that we have not seen before," SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel told SFGATE last September, a few months after the Oakland airport rebrand. Reports included passengers showing up at SFO with tickets flying out of OAK. City attorney David Chiu argued in San Francisco's lawsuit that the renaming "would be particularly challenging for international travelers who may not speak or read English — an important segment of SFO's customer base."
Time Business News
9 hours ago
- Time Business News
AI Needs to Sound Human—Here's How We're Getting There
Artificial intelligence is transforming communication, information creation, and consumption as it develops further. However, one issue is still painfully obvious: AI still frequently sounds robotic, repetitive, and emotionally flat. The way machines speak is important, whether they are voice assistants, chatbots, or content tools. Because, let's be honest, people don't relate to sterile, impersonal language. The next big step in AI development will therefore focus on making it more human rather than just smarter. And this is precisely where the conversion from AI to humans(de ai a humano) occurs. We interact with AI daily—often without realizing it. But when we do notice it, it's usually because something feels… off. AI-generated content can be factually correct but emotionally hollow. It might answer a question, but it doesn't always get the user. Empathy in the tone Relevance in the choice of words Cultural awareness in expression Flow and nuance that feels natural These aren't just 'nice-to-haves.' They're essentials if AI is going to communicate meaningfully with real people. In a digital-first world, your brand's voice often is your first impression. And if your AI sounds stiff or artificial, users will notice—and disengage. Poorly humanized AI can lead to: Customer frustration Higher bounce rates Lower trust in automation Weak content engagement But when AI sounds human, it builds connection. It creates a seamless experience where people forget they're even interacting with a machine. Humanized AI is changing the game across industries: Customer Support : An understanding tone makes all the difference. : An understanding tone makes all the difference. Marketing : Relatable language increases conversions. : Relatable language increases conversions. Healthcare : Empathy and clarity are vital. : Empathy and clarity are vital. Education: Friendly guidance boosts learning. And as businesses expand globally, it's not just about sounding human—it's about sounding human in the right language and culture . One platform that's solving this problem head-on is CudekAI. It goes beyond simply generating content—it teaches AI how to communicate like a real person, in multiple languages and tones. CudekAI comprehends the subtleties of human expression rather than translating words for words. Whether in Spanish, English, Korean, or another language, it modifies tone, emotion, and phrasing to fit the rhythm and context of each one. Regardless of your desired tone—friendly, professional, humorous, or sympathetic—CudekAI adapts content to fit it, allowing your AI to embody the essence of your company. By assisting AI in identifying user intent and emotional cues, CudekAI produces responses that are thoughtful, organic, and not preprogrammed. Let's break down how this works in real life. Scenario: A customer is frustrated because their account access isn't working. Standard AI : 'Please reset your password and try again.' : 'Please reset your password and try again.' Humanized AI : 'Sorry about the trouble! Let's get this fixed quickly—I'll walk you through the steps.' Or for product copywriting: AI-only : 'This tool improves productivity.' : 'This tool improves productivity.' Humanized : 'Get more done in less time—with a tool that's built to work the way you do.' The second version always feels more relatable, personal, and human. This is what AI to Human (de ai a humano) content is all about—transforming stiff automation into meaningful interaction. It's not just about rewriting text. It's about reimagining how machines express themselves to build trust, connection, and comfort. By blending human tone with machine efficiency, businesses can create content that resonates on a real, emotional level. The goal isn't to pretend AI is human. It's to help it speak to humans more naturally and respectfully. That's what CudekAI is leading—an approach that bridges technology and empathy. By making AI sound more like us, we make digital experiences better for everyone. Because in the end, it's not just what AI says—it's how it says it that makes all the difference. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
