Sunday 27 September 2020

Local Plan - Site Allocation Consultation

 


The Local Plan is being updated and will be valid until 2035. The target that has been set is 27,000 new homes that is 1,800 per year. Only sites for 19,000 have been identified. The target comes from the Government via the GLA and needs to be questioned. There has to be a point when a built up area like Waltham Forest is full! The Victoria and Central lines are already at capacity, there are threats of a water shortage and everyone knows about the problems of interfacing with the NHS. Where will the additional school places be and what happens when the roads gridlock due to construction traffic, logistics delivering on-line goods, taxis transporting the disabled etc.

MAKE SURE YOU COMMENT ON THESE PROPOSALS 
The document is 208 pages long but actually each site is allocated a couple of pages outlining simply what is proposed. If you don't engage in the process you can be sure these plans will be implemented.

Draft Local Plan

Site Allocations Part 2

COMMENT HERE

Those in italics already underway either at planning stage or work has commenced. Development is moving so fast no guarantee this is accurate!

 SA01 Leyton Mills Retail Park 7

SA02 - New Spitalfields Market 10

SA03 - Bywaters, Leyton 13

SA04 - Osier Way 16

SA05 - The Score Centre 19

SA06 - Gas Holders 22

SA07 - Lea Bridge Station Sites 1, 2 and 3 25

SA08 - Former Leyton F.C. Football Ground 28

SA09 - Estate Way 31

SA10 - Low Hall Depot 34

SA11 - Leyton Leisure Lagoon 37

SA12 - Tesco, Bakers Arms 40

SA13 - Stanley Road Car Park 43

SA14 - 806 Community Place, High Road Leyton 46

SA15 - Leyton Bus Depot 49

SA16 - The Territorial Army Centre 52

SA17 - Whipps Cross University Hospital 55

SA18 - Joseph Ray Road 58

SA19 - Church Lane Car Park, Leytonstone 61

SA20 - Tesco, Leytonstone 64

SA21 - Matalan, Leytonstone 67

SA22 - Avenue Road Estate and Thorne Close 70

SA23 - Cathall Leisure Centre, The Epicentre Community Centre, Jubliee Centre,

(also known as Leytonstone Leisure Centre & West Community Centre)

SA24 - B&M Site 76

 SA25- Norlington Road Sites 79

SA26 - Walthamstow Central Bus Station 82

SA27 - The Mall 85

SA28 - St James Quarter 88

SA29 - High Street Sainsbury's 91

SA30- Wilkos, Walthamstow High Street 94

SA31- Osborne Grove 97

SA32 - Stow Car Wash & Valeting and Walthamstow Trades Hall 100

SA33 - 152-154 Blackhorse Road 103

SA34 - 1 Blackhorse Lane 106

SA35 - Webbs Site 109

SA36 - 59-69 Sutherland Road 112

SA37- Wood Street Library 115

SA38 - Fellowship Square (Town Hall Campus) 118

SA39 - Sterling House, Willow House and Homebase 121

SA40 - Hylands Road Phase 1 and 2 124

SA41 - Crown Lea 127

SA42 - Wood Street Station Site 130

SA43 - Travis Perkins 133

SA44 - Brandon Road Car Park 136

SA45 - Priory Court 139

SA46 - 234-240 Billet Road 142

SA47 - Sainsbury's Car Park and Adjacent Sites 145

SA48 - Cork Tree Retail Park 148

SA49 - Morrisons Supermarket and Car Park 151

SA50 - Sainsburys, Hall Lane 154

SA51 - Former South Chingford Library site 157

SA52 - Albert Corner 160

SA53 - Motorpoint, Sewardstone Road 163

SA54 - Lea Valley Motor Company 166

SA55 - 60-74 Sewardstone Road 169

SA56 - Budgens and Gresham Works, North Chingford 172

SA57 - UKPN Site 175

SA58 - Chingford Library and Assembly Hall 178

SA59 - North City Motors, North Chingford 181

SA60 - Royal Epping Forest Golf Club 184

SA61 - Chingford Station Car Park and Bus Terminal 187

SA62 - 472-510 Larkshall Road and James Yard 190

SA63 - Shell Garage, Highams Park 194

SA64 - Larkswood Leisure Centre, Nursery and land to rear of Larkswood Leisure Centre

SA65 - Pear Tree House 200


LBWF Families and Homes Hub Consultation



The council has published more details of their plan to use the old Wood Street Library site for their Families and Homes Hub. Nothing new here as they have been trying to get this site for redevelopment for years as Woodside School tried to get it for their increased numbers, but the council would not let them have it. 

The Community wanted to run it as Community Centre like the Mill, but the council would not engage with the community. They opened the new library but did not invite the community to the opening ceremony so the Consultation starting now is just another "we know best and will ignore the community's views although we will tick the box to say we have consulted".

If the community wants the old iconic building kept it is too late as the council is demolishing it in October!!

Consultation Tickets

Tuesday 29th between 6pm and 7pm Families and Homes Consultation event - book your ticket now!


Save Wood Street Library


Families and Homes Hub


5 December 2019: Cabinet approved a project delivery budget of up to £3 million. For details, see page 331 in the 5 December Cabinet report 

10 August 2020: Hoarding artwork installed around the site

13 August 2020: Opening of the new Wood Street Library at Marlowe Road

29 September 2020: Start of public consultation

October 2020: Proposed demolition of the former Wood Street library building

October to December 2020: Public engagement

January 2021: Planning application submitted and, when validated, statutory consultation will take place

July 2021: Building contractor appointed

October 2021: Target date for start of works

October 2023: Target date for completion of works















Action 4 Whipps

 


A group has been formed to lobby for the best hospital and use of the spare land as we can get in negotiations with Barts Health Trust.










St Peter's in the Forest

 St Peter's


St. Peter's FB







Hylands - Update 27-9-20

 Hylands is adjacent to Epping Forest and is owned by the council and new flats are being built.

More Info





















The Collective Blackhorse Lane

 Standard Music Venue



Dear Waltham Forest Civic Society,

 

We would like to provide you with some updates on redevelopment proposals for The Collective Blackhorse Lane (the site of the former Standard Music Venue).

 

Since the last time we contacted you, we have been progressing on our design proposals. We also consulted the local community throughout June and July. Over 200 local residents have responded to the postal and online surveys with 73% agreeing that the new cultural venue will benefit the local community. More than 2,000 individuals visited our website during the consultation period. In addition, we met with numerous local groups and businesses leading up to this process and will continue to liaise with these groups during the application’s determination.

 

We have now submitted a planning application to the London Borough of Waltham Forest (application ID: 202561) and we are committed to continuing working with the local community and stakeholders.

 

Our proposals for a new mixed-use development will include:

 

  • 766 sqm cultural venue with a capacity of c.350 people
  • 362 sqm publicly accessible café/restaurant
  • 161 sqm publicly accessible bar
  • 300 privately rented and single occupancy co-living rooms
  • 164 long-stay cycle parking spaces and 20 short-stay cycle parking spaces
  • 45 new job opportunities supported by the building operation
  • 175 construction jobs
  • 9 storeys including basement level (ground + 8 storeys)

 

Our proposals for The Collective Blackhorse Lane will also include a dedicated Community Investment Programme. This programme, currently being drafted, has been informed by discussions with local groups and businesses, including Big Creative Education, The Blair Academy, Project Zero Waltham Forest and Blackhorse Arts.

 

The programme will include a range of initiatives and partnership ideas with local stakeholders. Some of our initial ideas include offering free performance space to local groups and providing working opportunities for local young people in the new cultural venue.

 

As always, we are particularly keen to speak with you to understand how our proposals could best align with local priorities. We would also welcome the opportunity for further discussions to help shape the details of our Community Investment Programme.

 

If you would like to discuss anything which has been raised above in more detail with us, please do not hesitate to contact us at thecollectiveblackhorse@kandaconsulting.co.uk or call 0203 900 3676.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Kind regards,

 

Timothy Chan

 

The Collective Blackhorse Lane

 

W | www.thecollectiveblackhorselane.com

E  | thecollectiveblackhorse@kandaconsulting.co.uk

T  |  0203 900 3676

 

A picture containing drawing, plate

Description automatically generated

Conservation Areas Review

 Conservation Areas Review

Conservation Areas


There are currently 14 Conservation Areas in Waltham Forest and each one is reviewed periodically in line with best practice.

The Chingford Green Conservation Area’s appraisal and management plan are currently being reviewed, and work to finalise the documents is nearing completion.

Public engagement is planned for November this year so that residents and others can express their views.

There are no proposals to change the current boundaries of the Conservation Area.

If you wish to keep in touch with the Conservation Area proposals please sign up for the email newsletter.

Ice Centre and Lea Bridge Station

 Lea Bridge Station - Planning App waiting registration

Lea Bridge Station Presentation 29/9/20

Lea Bridge Station


Ice Centre

Planning Committee Approves Ice Centre

Ice Centre Update

Ice Centre

WF Streets for All

 

Streets for All


Hello again everyone

Thanks to those of you who responded to previous email volunteering to deliver leaflets ... much appreciated

However we are still looking for volunteer(s) to participate in the Pan London campaign. People willing to "attend" a fortnightly zoom meeting and/or to be on WhatsApp list. Please come forward :-)

Also we need to increase the number of objections to the Hilltop road closures in the next few weeks. We are aiming to get more than 180 0bjections in .... which is the number of people we think voted FOR the road closures.

So please

  1. Write your own objection if you live, work or visit the area. Guidance attached again
  2. Persuade neighbours and contacts to object also
New post on our website that may be of interest ....  https://wfstreets4all.wixsite.com/home/single-post/let-s-look-forward-not-backward    Press seem to be waking up to the problems at last

thanks all

Wendy


LONDON WIDE CAMPAIGN
LTNs  (Low Traffic Neighbourhoods) are being introduced without any consultation under Covid legislation across London.

This is provoking a London wide backlash as roads are being closed all over. 

New groups are springing up in nearly every borough violently opposed to the road closures. At present they are full of fire and enthusiasm and thinking that demonstrations and petitions will get the roads re-opened. Islington has managed to have big demonstrations every Saturday! This has not really worked for us so far in Waltham Forest. We have had the biggest demonstration ever seen in the borough. We have had a petition of over 6,000 signatures presented in the London Assembly. We have worked tirelessly to counter the proposals. Our Council has ignored everything. However WE FIGHT ON!!  Maybe having all these new groups springing up will start to change things! Also we are starting to see some of the emergency services coming forward and saying road closures cause delays. https://wfstreets4all.wixsite.com/home/single-post/2020/08/17/Paramedics-confirm-road-closures-cause-delays

It is VERY encouraging to see thousands more people joining in the argument and understanding that road closures do NOT help produce cleaner air, but on the contrary divert traffic onto adjoining roads which become even more polluted and congested. And air tends to move around! One of the key arguments the new groups are using is how the LTNs are discriminatory to roads immediately adjacent to the closures, where the tendency is for less wealthy communities to live. They are campaigning for social justice. They are setting up a Pan London group. This group is currently meeting on zoom every Wednesday, and each borough is allowed 2 reps. If anyone is keen to participate please email us. They are planning a London wide demonstration ... possibly on 12th September. Maybe we should prepare a banner ðŸ¤”  We still have the placards from previous demos. Again let us know if you are likely to want to participate.

OBJECT TO ETOs
Currently in Waltham Forest we are trying to get as many people in the borough as possible to make official objections to the Experimental Traffic Orders which the Council is using to implement road closures. We have leafletted / will leaflet everyone within the so-called Hilltop area.  We estimate that 183 voted in favour of road closures out of 1,221. It would be great to get more than 183 objections!!  Thanks so all those who have helped with the leafleting, and thanks to everyone who has already taken the time to object. Please keep up the good work!

Leaflet is attached. We also think it is reasonable for anyone living just outside the area to object, as presumably they are experiencing problems also.

Please make sure you object yourselves, and also encourage neighbours to do so. Please ask them to copy us in; we know that the Council often "mislays" objections. 

You need to include:-


For Hilltop this is T26(20)   

The Council has just published MORE road closure plans ....for Coppermill Lane area and for Leytonstone. The Notices are attached, and can be accessed at https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/content/road-traffic-schemes-and-consultations  Thanks to Steve for keeping a watchful eye on this for us.  If you would like us to produce HOW TO OBJECT leaflets for your area let us know .... we cannot afford to have any more printed, but you can circulate them on social media or print them yourselves.

Thanks everyone!

Wendy 

--

Sunday 20 September 2020

Homebase Update 7

 

Closing Date for Objections 17th October 2020.

Planning Application as displayed on council's web site defaults to TITTLE DESCENDING - if you change it to TITTLE ASCENDING the documents come in to some sort of order. There are 192 files and to make matters worse the large sections have been broken into smaller files, but the system the council use does not allow each section to be properly named or a number used to create an index and then the index to match each section of the reports - they have never been done like that and it is not likely to start any time soon! The only way is to get it sorted to ASCENDING and then count the files or jump around with this guide to find a particular report!!

Alternatively download all the files and rename to suit your needs (best of luck with that!!).

If you are not happy with the way the council presents this information let the Director of Strategic Planning know -    jane.custance@walthamforest.gov.uk 

202512

By changing the FILTER you can get it in to the following sections:

DESIGN and ACCESS STATEMENT  (Files 2 to 12)

ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT (Files 13 to 94)

LANDSCAPING (Files 95 to 100)

PLANNING STATEMENT  (File 101)

WASTE MANAGEMENT (File 102)

STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY INTEREST (File 103)

TRANSPORT ASSESSMENT (Files 104 to 109)

CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PLAN (Files 110)

FIRE STRATEGY (File 111)

PHASE II SITE APPRAISAL (File 112)

VARIOUS (Files 114 to 148) - Most of these are single sheet plans

ELEVATIONS (Files 150 to 151)

CATCHMENT PLAN (Files 152 to 153)

DRAINAGE (Files 154 to 163)

ELEVATIONS FOR BLOCKS A to F (Files 164 to 170)

FACADES (Files 170 to 175)

HUB ELEVATIONS (File 176)

SCHEDULE OF ACCOMMODATION ((File 177)

SECTIONS (Files 178 to 187)

SITE LOCATION PLAN (File 188)

STREET ELEVATION (File 189 to 190)

TREE SURVEY (File 192)



Email to:

dmconsultations@walthamforest.gov.uk

cllr.rosalind.dore@walthamforest.gov.uk

Cllr.Louise.Mitchell@walthamforest.gov.uk 

cllr.zia-ur.rehman@walthamforest.gov.uk 

cllr.tony.bell@walthamforest.gov.uk 

cllr.sally.littlejohn@walthamforest.gov.uk 

cllr.clare.coghill@walthamforest.gov.uk 

cllr.clyde.loakes@walthamforest.gov.uk 

iain.duncansmith.mp@parliament.uk

Dear Planning Committee

Re: Fulbourne Road development planning proposal (ref no: 202512)

As a local resident (Ulverston Road) I am writing to you to share my concerns and objections to the planning application for the proposed development “Patchworks” at 2C Fulbourne Road.

After following the consultation period and observing the minimal changes to the proposed plans, my concerns remain. They are as follows:

Height and density of the proposed plans will loom over nearby residents impacting privacy, blocking light and creating light pollution.

As a local resident, the proposed plans mean that mine and many of my neighbours’ homes will be overlooked by the developments.

The scale and height of the flats proposed along the NE (Hale End Road) border are extremely dense, with the highest buildings being proposed here -  an 18 storey, a 16 storey, and a nine storey building (with no space between). However, Hale End Road is arguably the most residential border of the development site and is populated with two storey houses, as are the roads parallel (Woodstock Road, Ulverston Road etc) and the houses on Forest Road.

All of these houses will be in the shadow of this development and the density and height will impact privacy, block light to those houses and their gardens, and create light pollution.

In the planning material, the developers acknowledge they have reduced some of the heights on the northern border from nine to four stories, to reflect sensitive nearby areas (which I assume is local schools).  The tallest building is at the top of the hill, creating even more significant and negative impact on surrounding areas. In the planning materials, it states that the tallest building will be “by the railway line” as if that is not a residential area - when in actual fact the railway line here is surrounded by houses or low rise flats. No consideration appears to have been made to the residents whose homes border the site.

Even at Blackhorse Road or further afield at large scale previously deserted areas like Stratford, the developments are not that dense. The Homebase site is right in the middle of a residential area - with the most residential being where the tallest buildings are being proposed -  yet that does not appear to be taken into consideration despite a large volume of concerns being raised in earlier stages of the consultation. A development of this density and scale is not in keeping with the local area - even with other developments planned, and will have significant negative impact on many local residents and the surrounding environment.

Overdevelopment combined with scarcity of local resources, with no consideration to pressure on local amenities and infrastructure

I also have significant concerns with the lack of proposed amenities and the impact on local resources. Much has been made of the fact that these flats will not have parking to encourage more environmentally friendly behaviour. However, it is already nigh on impossible to get on a train at Wood Street at rush hour, and as a mother I know how difficult it already is to get on a bus in the area - especially with a pram.

There also appears to be no additional plans to increase capacity of doctors, dentists or school places. This development, plus what’s being proposed for the old Library, the council building, and the Town Hall, and many developments further down by Wood Street station, will lead to significant over development in this small area and put increasing pressure on already stretched local services.

In addition, the build itself is likely to lead to increased congestion and pollution on Forest Road - which is all residential at this end. It's also not clear how much commercial space will be provided as part of the development, with little consideration given to extra services like food shops.

Consultation process itself

The consultation process from the developer, Inland Homes, has been particularly poor. In their latest correspondence they claim that “Patchworks has been co-designed and developed

with the benefit of significant community and stakeholder engagement.” This is at best disingenuous, at worst a totally false representation of their engagement:

  • They have held two Zoom calls, one of which was broadcast, with no opportunity for questions.
  • Their initial materials were shown from an aerial view to avoid highlighting the height of the buildings.
  • They have made minimal or no changes to the development in response to local concerns.
  • They have been deliberately misleading - originally proposing an 18 storey development, which they then said could be “up to 20”, and then positioned the final 18 storey as a concession. However, no reference was made to the fact that this would be stacked against a 16 storey and a nine storey development.
  • They have ignored the feedback from local residents who are overwhelmingly opposed to this development.

I am not opposed to flats much lower in height being built on the site. But the scale of this proposed development, and the layout and design is out of step with the rest of the area, and is going to have a significant negative impact on the residents who already  live in this area.

For these reasons I would like to formally object to the development as it currently stands.

Kind regards,

Laura Clare





Friday 18 September 2020

Homebase Update 6


Planning Application 202512  for the 583 flats (down from the EIA suggesting 700) has now been released. Click on link above to go to Planning Apps site and search for 202512.

For further background see earlier posts Homebase or use the search box for Homebase.

This has been the fastest planning application I can remember. It was only in January there was a mention in the Cabinet minutes that the Homebase site could be developed and then it turned out in January the site had been sold for £28m by Homebase to Inland Homes. By July all the plans were ready to be submitted so they went through the farce of "consultation" which is just a euphemism for telling the public what is planned. At various Zoom meetings they pretended to listen to the public while at the same time the plans were sent off to the Planners who have now checked them and released them for "public consultation" for 21 days! A total abuse of the democratic process.

The only way to stop this over development is to get the Planners to recommend there should not be a change of use from Commercial to Residential so make sure you raise that point in your objection. Apparently the planner is prepared to receive objections up to the date of the Planning Committee rubber stamping process which is scheduled for the end of the year.

For the official line follows these links:

Inland Homes


LBWF




Aerial View



Attempt to justify the over development!




Timeline





View from surrounding streets

Before and after views below












Thursday 10 September 2020

Be a Tourist for the day


Central London is the quietest I have ever known it as the tourists can't visit so why not take their place as it is on our doorstep and there are many gems to find. It will also help their finances! For many years I have avoided the really busy attractions but now they are marvellous places to explore.

Tower of London







St. Paul's Cathedral












Whipps Cross Hospital - Update 1

Barts NHS Health Trust

LBWF Whipps Redevelopment

CIVIC SOCIETY VISION