Sir,-The comprehensive regeneration and redevelopment of land south of high street, Brentford, to provide a mix of uses including retail (class A1 and A3), leisure (class D2), residential (class C3) and employment (class B1) and ancillary uses ancillary there to.

Together with associated car parking, servicing and access, landscaping and improvements to canal and waterside areas.

The First Secretary of State has decided not to call-in the above mentioned planning application for public inquiry and his own decision.

The Secretary of State's policy on call-ins is to be very selective.

It is right that in almost all cases the initial decision on whether a development should proceed should be taken by the local planning authority.

Therefore, planning applications are in general only called-in if planning issues of more than local importance are involved, and if those issues need to be decided by the Secretary of State rather than at local level.Each case is considered on its individual merits.

After very careful consideration of this case, the Secretary of State has concluded that it is right to leave the decision to be taken by the local authority.-Kathleen Holman, Government office for London.

July 9, 2002 11:30