Planning - the Changing face of Waltham Forest

There is more building work and change going on in Waltham Forest than we have ever experienced in the 45 years of living in this Borough. Whether it is good or bad it is relentlessly rolling along with little or no interest from our Councillors. Below are some examples:

For better or worse

Architects view

Temporary Housing

Do Area Action Plans as developed by LBWF really reflect residents views?

Area Action Plans


29 Storey eyesore for the Town Centre

Walthamstow Town Centre


Replacement of commercial premises and jobs with another residential block

220 Wood Street


Have more mature trees been removed than will be replaced?

Marlowe Road

Traders in a Spin

Blackhorse Lane - more consultation

Dear Stakeholder

Development Proposals by the Watkin Jones Group for Forest Road, Walthamstow.

I am writing on behalf of the Watkin Jones Group regarding plans for redevelopment of the site adjacent to Blackhorse Road Underground Station on 4-10 Forest Road in Walthamstow – postcode E17 6JJ.

The site is bordered to the north by Forest Road, with Blackhorse Lane and Blackhorse Road to the east.

The proposed redevelopment will comprise approximately 440 bed spaces of purpose-built, managed student accommodation with associated communal and ancillary facilities and landscaping. Proposals will also contain commercial space at ground floor level. Sustainability in terms of student housing is enhanced by good local transport links, being on a major bus route and conveniently situated close to Blackhorse Road underground station.

Following initial pre-application discussions with the London Borough of Waltham Forest, the Watkin Jones Group would like to share the emerging proposals and obtain comments from key stakeholders and the local community, before preparing a planning application for submission later this year.

We invite you to attend a key stakeholder preview session at the exhibition on:

Wednesday 22 March 2017, 2-3pm at

Gnome House, 7 Blackhorse Lane, Walthamstow, London E17 6DS

At the preview session representatives from the Watkin Jones Group and their project team will be available to discuss the proposals, invite comment and talk through any questions or queries which you may have.

Following this session the exhibition will be open to the general public from 3.30 to 7pm which you are also most welcome to attend.

Background on the Watkin Jones Group

The Watkin Jones Group is a multi-disciplinary developer and constructor across a variety of development types. Its focus over recent years has been mixed-use developments including an element of purpose-built managed student accommodation. Nationally, the Watkin Jones Group has constructed approaching 35,000 student accommodation bedrooms to date, amongst other development types. Fresh Student Living is part of the Watkin Jones Group and manages approaching 15,000 bedrooms. Whilst the Group has a national coverage with schemes covering the UK from Aberdeen in the north, Belfast and Cardiff in the west Bournemouth in the south, the Group has also constructed or is constructing ten managed student accommodation schemes in London. This includes Mannequin House on Blackhorse Lane. 

If you would like any further information about the event or clarification on any aspect of the proposals please do not hesitate to contact us. In the meantime, to assist with arrangements on the day if you could indicate your preferences on the attached form or respond via email, this would be most helpful.

Yours faithfully,

Carolyn Jones

Consultation co-ordinator on behalf of the Watkin Jones Group

Avril Baker Consultancy

126 Somerset Road, Bristol, BS4 2JB

Email: info@abc-pr.co.uk

Tel: 0117 977 2002

Planning is frequently accused of delaying development. South Grove is a good example of developers delaying development. For years various ideas never came to fruition but last year the council gave permission for 473 new homes, but despite the developer putting up the hoardings work has not commenced. Instead a windfall has come their way by renting out the site for storage of the Gospel to Barking rail upgrade equipment! To avoid losing planning permission, which expires after 3 years, they have now come up with a new scheme allowing the clock to be reset - once again in favour of the developer!!

South Grove

50 More !

Having chased away 2 academies from the Metropolitan Open Land in Lea Bridge Road the LVRPA has decided to sell off the Waterworks Golf centre, also MOL, to fund the new Ice Centre. We now hear they have given notice to the Conservation Trust to clear the houses in Connaught Close - is this so they can develop this land as well?

Lea Valley East Side