Ocado has put in a new bid to use a controversial north London site for “storage and distribution”, despite previously having had its certificate revoked and a further application refused.
The food delivery firm has applied for a certificate of lawfulness of existing use for its Bush Industrial Estate, Tufnell Park location. It had been allowed to use the site in 2019 before Islington Council reversed its approval due to backlash and campaigning by residents and families from a neighbouring primary school.
Last summer, the online supermarket lost a High Court bid to overturn the revocation of its certificate, before making another application in September 2021 which was also rejected by the council this February.
In the most recent application, Ocado argues the previous rejection was due to a technicality concerning Unit E, which has now been excluded from the documents.
A spokesperson said: “Ocado is committed to having a positive impact on the local community. This would be the greenest and quietest grocery facility in the UK, and we would commit to using a 100% electric delivery van fleet – replacing the vans that currently deliver in the area – and install a green ‘living wall’ along the boundary. It would also create around 300 new jobs for the local economy.”
This latest application follows calls from local councillors for Ocado to submit a full planning application rather than “exploring further loopholes.” A decision on the matter must be take by Islington Council by September 8.
