Remember the saga of the tree? Well, the developers have re-submitted their proof that they won't deliberately kill it. We think. But they may have withdrawn it, too.

Why exactly they are bothering at this late stage is not clear as the site can not be developed until they have met all of the inspector's conditions, of which the construction methodology (ibid.) remains the show-stopper, so we are assuming that its either tactical in a way that seems worthwhile to them, or just the latest example of their class-leading incompetence.

Anyway, it needs to be resisted, but they're playing a funny game as it appears to be submitted and withdrawn more often than an anxious teenager stalking the condom rack at Superdrug. We're currently trying to find out if its on or off. You're welcome to join in and talk to Camden's tree man, Kevin Fisher on 020 7974 5616.

Developers have also filed the critical (this is sarcasm, sorry) 'building materials' condition application which is the usual over-bulky 'other people's brochures' affair, presumably hoping to bore officers into agreement.

Camden are really trying to keep quiet about all of this, not posting the public notification anywhere near Little Green Street, but one street away.

 If you'd like to talk to a real person at Camden, Joanna Ecclestone is the case officer. The switchboard number is 020 7278 4444.

Perhaps the developers are hoping to secure approval of these relatively minor conditions to help to to pull the wool over the eyes of prospective purchaser ("Yes, only one minor condition left to secure - bargain prime site, as you can see - look at the cobbles... etc") they can only hope will do even less due diligence than they did when they first bought the site more than seven years ago.

You can't blame them. Who wouldn't want to be off-loading it, with onerous mortgage repayments like theirs? A whole new class of sub-prime this. A D'oh! mortgage. (Doomed, or hopeless). 

Well, if you're thinking of taking it on, caveat emptor.

Carry on harrying!