It's a planning wish list

With so many of the sites we've lobbied hard to change now moving forward, I paid a visit to the planning office - camera in tow - and can now show you what's proposed for some key sites. In all cases, please take a little time to feed in your views to the suggested contacts. We've seen the fruits of speaking out loudly.

123-125 Southampton Way (Bricklayer's Arms pub)

This disused pub has sat empty for a few years and now Hexagon Housing Association have submitted plans to demolish it and build 13 flats (the existing permission was for a restaurant/bar on the ground floor, but no more). The back gardens will be private to tenants and the design is for four floors to replace the existing three. On file is a study into 'reduced sunlight' for adjoining areas - it appears to say it will be minimal, save one groundfloor window to the rear of a Rainbow Street home. Here's a couple of drawings of the proposed new structure.

Note the top floor, which is new, though it does slope downward toward the back. It seems to not be terribly higher that the existing structure by taking advantage of dead loft space. Still it is higher. Also, note the front ground floor flats have semi-private courtyard gardens. Hexagon have been terribly unresponsive to our complaints that currently groups gather outside their site (and beside it), park their cars on the pavement and street drink. I do hope to the extent design, security and presence can help improve the situation, they will. I plan to ask what plans they have toward those ends.

The back garden - a longtime favourite of many who used to frequent the pub - is split into three: two private garden spaces for the two ground floor flats, and one larger 'communal' garden (for those living there, not the rest of us).

To make your views known on this development, quote ref: 06-AP-2280. You can email planning.applications@southwark.gov.uk

More information at the end of the post on how you can (and we plan to) make our views known.

149 Southampton Way

This abandoned house (35 years since it was lived in, though used for storage up till 20 years ago) here has been our longstanding image of degeneration. New plans for four 'luxury flats' (not my words) 3 one bedroom and 1 2 bedroom, are about to be decided (22 Dec 2006). The Council dropped the ball on getting this moving for years but finally issued compulsory purchased in June 2006 - the owner has until Dec 2007 to do something or face losing it. It remains unclear if getting planning permission will satisfy the compulsory purchase order. I hope not. The site should be 'reasonably' on its way to redevelopment (or even completed) before the pressure is lifted, in my opinion. We're hoping this matter is not decided by the officer (he says he will) and is referred to Community Council. Here's the plans with impression views from the front on Southampton Way, and the side (where there will be a new extension into the overgrown garden) from Bonsor Street.

149 Southampton Way is planning application ref 06-AP-1823. If recommended for approval, we can press local Councillors to request it comes to Community Council before final approval is granted. This could help us ensure they owner is 'forced' into finally doing what he says and doesn't sit on it for another three years. Why not email our local Councillors if you're keen? Details at the bottom.

4 Havil Street - Unite Phase 2

Unite Phase 1 brought 120 student units to Harris Street and now they want to build more - just like the first lot, that would stretch around Havil Street and Southampton Way (including a ground floor retail space on Southampton Way, which they've said would ideally be a nice coffee shop.

Here are various views from the plans: 100 more units (with balconies in some) - all (mostly art) students who do bring a fantastic buzz to the whole of our area.

The bottom picture (above) is the vew from Southampton Way, you'll note how it sits beside the existing Chinese takeaway, Crusty Loaf and Costcutters. Below is a artist impression of how it would look from Harris Street on the other side.

Planning reference number for 4 Havil Street is 06-AP-1302. Consultation has ended - we asked planners to please re-consider (they were about to reject) and they are now working with Unite to find a workable solution. We hope to have a ruling we're all happy with soon.

The slight issue here has been the students now living in Phase 1 have had issues with crime. We've made helping them via security and education a priority with our Safer Neighbourhood Team. Students are one of the unique bits of Camberwell worth fighting for.

14 Coleman Road - St Georges Tavern

Following a defeat, St Georges Tavern is trying again for demolishing buildings to the side/rear (where the garage is in photo opposite) and doing an extension. This time, it appears the plans are simply to build another terraced house on Coleman Road - not hostel accomodation. However, it is unclear what they plan to do with the house: live in it, sell it, rent it - or use it for short-term hostel accomodation. The plans themselves don't look controversial (or bad), but what they plan to do with it is the sticking point.

The consultation is open and the planning reference is 06-AP-2241. Below are some drawings to help give you context.

Elmington Estate

We're hearing that Elmington's re-development has stalled with Phase 1 because the cash has run out. Rumours are homes slated for demolition and rebuild have been told they'll simply get a coat of paint and have to make it for a few more years. Two planning applications are in, one for the much-promised community centre that was demolished and never rebuilt (artist impression in the photo), and the second is for Phase 2B of housing.

It seems outrageous to hear Southwark promote what WILL happen in the next 10 years for Aylesbury when they've never finished what IS happening in Elmington. They started a massive regeneration project and abandoned it leaving a number of housing units in the estate in very poor condition (and empty shells standing idle behind huge fences. No wonder you never, ever read about Elmington in the Council's regeneration glossy magazines.

Elim Pentecostal Church - Benhill Road

The church meets in an pre-war, Presbyterian Church Hall (the larger church was destroyed in the war) on Benhill Road and needs larger premises. They are financially sound and want to bring together their existing congregations for the area (they currently meet in various buildings in South London). They've identified an industrial site at 165 Southampton Way, which has sat empty for about three years. It will work well for them but the Planning Dept has said they would probably deny permission - as its zoned industrial.

The church rang me to see if we might consider supporting helping them override the denial. They plan to offer community services all week including computer classes, art classes, music, drama, etc. for kids. I have to say that despite not sharing their religious views, I'm inclined to want to help them - isn't it better to have them in the empty building than have it sit idle for another few years? They've not submitted their application, but I will let you know when they do. For now, I'm keen to hear your views. And I'm keen to find records (photos?) of the old Presbyterian Church that once stood on that site (now post-war Council housing). Anyone?

And finally - how to help

Overall, out petition and survey results, as well as hard work at various meetings by many of you, has been quite successful. We're now at a stage where a lot is in the works and we need to continue to keep up the pressure and influence the decisions made.

The best thing you can do is stay informed and make your views known - even if they differ from mine or other neighbours. We simply need to demonstrate that we really do love it 'round here and just want to see things improve, not de-generate.

Contact local Councillors, who are on our side. Contact Paul Evans, Head of Southwark Regeneration and make your views known paul.evans@southwark.gov.uk

If the deadline has not passed, contact planning for each of the applications. The more views the better.