SE23.com - The Official Forum for Forest Hill & Honor Oak, London SE23
Online since 2002   11,000+ members   72,000+ posts

Home | SE23 Topics | Businesses & Services | Wider Topics | Offered/Wanted/Lost/Found | About SE23.com | Advertising | Contact | |
 Armstrong & Co Solicitors



Post Reply  Post Topic 
Pages (3): « First [1] 2 3 Next > Last »
Planning Application: 139 Sunderland Road
Author Message
RobF


Posts: 27
Joined: Oct 2008
Post: #1
27-10-2008 09:15 AM

Has anyone seen the planning application for 139 Sunderland Road? The want to pull down an existing Victorian house and replace it with a modern-style 4-storey apartment block with 11 flats!

The link to the application is http://acolnet.lewisham.gov.uk/LEWIS-XSL...mkey=54963

This seems to me to be totally out of keeping with the area. Any comments would be appreciated.

Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
brian


Posts: 2,002
Joined: Apr 2005
Post: #2
27-10-2008 09:57 AM

I am afraid this is typical of the planning applications that are being permitted. Look at Westbourne for example.
Seems to be current policy to fit as many units as possible into SE 23.
This is despite the fact that what employment we had is falling away.
Do you know if these 11 units are for sale or rent ?? If for sale surely wasting their time. If for rent they are saying thousands of Poles etc are going home so who is going to rent.
Sunderland Rd has some lovely Victorian properties and this is a real pity if it goes through. I suggest you write to your 3 councillors.

Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
RobF


Posts: 27
Joined: Oct 2008
Post: #3
27-10-2008 10:19 AM

On the application it says the properties will be available for sale or also to rent. I suspect rental is the real purpose - to the council.

As you say there are some lovely Victorian properties - it's criminal to destroy them - especially to replace them with modern multi-family buildings.

They cite the flats on the corner of Normanton Road, and the proposed development at the corner of Aylward Rd & Sunderland Rd as precendents, and yet neither of those properties was a period dwelling - the Normanton Rd site was previously a garage/service centre, and the Ayldward Rd site was a horrible, pre-fab, post-war bomb-damage-replacement 2-storey maisonette, which is being replaced by two 2-story 2 bedreoom houses. I.E., they are pretty much replacing like-with-like, and not destroying a large, period family house with 11 modern flats!

Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
brian


Posts: 2,002
Joined: Apr 2005
Post: #4
27-10-2008 11:19 AM

Good Luck with your protest. I doubt if you will suceed but you never know unless you try.
I am baffled who can afford the rental market in SE 23
1 bedroom flats about GBP 800.00 per month
3 bedroom houses about 1250.00 per month
Who can afford these rents , it is beyond me.

Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
RobF


Posts: 27
Joined: Oct 2008
Post: #5
27-10-2008 11:22 AM

Thanks.

Like I said, I suspect the intention is to rent them to the council - they can afford it as we read in the newspapers every day...

Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
RobF


Posts: 27
Joined: Oct 2008
Post: #6
27-10-2008 11:28 AM

Brian, I'm curious to know why you doubt we will succeed in our protest - is this just natural cynicism or do you have greater knowledge in these type of applications/protests. I'm new (as a poster) to this forum, and not really sure how thesd things work.

Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
brian


Posts: 2,002
Joined: Apr 2005
Post: #7
27-10-2008 11:40 AM

Hello Rob
Maybe I am a bit of a cynic having seem a number of simalar properties given the OK.
However please do protest and I wish you the best of luck. I do strongly suggest you get your local councillors on side.
Not sure how the council can afford to pay to house all these people.
If the council is the main customer of renting local properties why do they not use their buying power to drive down rental costs.
Why are the council obliged to house all and sundry who land up in Se 23 homeless.??

Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
RobF


Posts: 27
Joined: Oct 2008
Post: #8
27-10-2008 12:05 PM

Thanks Brian,
I will definitely get the local councillors involved. I'm in the process of collating as much information/comment etc as possible and I will then be writing to them. Hopefully other neighbours from all around will do the same.

Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
brian


Posts: 2,002
Joined: Apr 2005
Post: #9
27-10-2008 12:08 PM

Good Luck
I would protest but I think I am to far away and they would take no notice.
If you are in Perry Vale Ward suggest you google ( love Perry vale ) and local forum should come up. All 3 councillors seem to read that forum .

Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
RobF


Posts: 27
Joined: Oct 2008
Post: #10
27-10-2008 12:09 PM

ok thanks - will do.

Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
gingernuts


Posts: 505
Joined: Nov 2007
Post: #11
27-10-2008 12:42 PM

Another example of how these greedy poperty developers are destroying the face of Forest Hill. This is totally unacceptable and we should all object.

Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
brian


Posts: 2,002
Joined: Apr 2005
Post: #12
27-10-2008 01:49 PM

Perhaps I will then
Gingernuts I live in Dacres Rd , would they take any notice ???

Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
IWereAbsolutelyFuming


Posts: 531
Joined: Oct 2007
Post: #13
27-10-2008 03:25 PM

I think the key to this planning application, if the claim is legitimate, is the structural damage and cost of repair that the design and access statement details.

Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
RobF


Posts: 27
Joined: Oct 2008
Post: #14
27-10-2008 04:31 PM

It will certainly be a big factor.

The application claims that the current house needs considerable structural repairs (estimated at ?200,000 incl. VAT) because of subsidence. This seems excessive (a builder acquaintance tells me a whole new house could be built for less than that), and does not strike me as an adequate reason to knock the property down, and even less reason to then build something entirely different and out of character. The application states that this cost beacme came clear when the owner applied for a grant for repairs to the house, which I assume implies that he can?t afford the repairs himself (he has been told by the council that his contribution to the grant would be nil). If this is the case, how can he afford to demolish and rebuild?

Typically, buildings insurance covers the cost of subsidence repair (I myself had a subsidence problem a couple of years ago, which was repaired via my buildings insurance - and a subsequent increase to my premium), and if he doesn?t have adequate cover then that?s no reason to just knock the place down.

Even if the place is structurally unsound, replacing a single (albeit fairly large) family house with 11 flats housing 33 people is totally out of keeping with the area!

Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Baboonery


Posts: 581
Joined: Sep 2007
Post: #15
27-10-2008 04:44 PM

Why are the council obliged to house all and sundry who land up in Se 23 homeless.??

Because the bylaw by which SE23 has to be different from anywhere else only exists in your head?

Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
RobF


Posts: 27
Joined: Oct 2008
Post: #16
27-10-2008 05:44 PM

thanks gingernuts and brian, your support would be appreciated.

Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Sherwood


Posts: 1,412
Joined: Mar 2005
Post: #17
27-10-2008 09:21 PM

When houses opposite me were demolished because they were damaged I discussed the situation with the case officer. He required the developer to replace them with similar buildings (even with similar windows) in order to preserve the characteristics of the neighbourhood.
I suggest you speak to the planning officer to ask about regulations concerning what can be done.

Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
RobF


Posts: 27
Joined: Oct 2008
Post: #18
27-10-2008 11:20 PM

Thanks Sherwood, I'll investigate with the planning officer, although maybe I've misread it but it seems the council have already been involved in the proposal, which is worrying.

Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
baggydave


Posts: 390
Joined: May 2004
Post: #19
27-10-2008 11:42 PM

Contact the Forest Hill Society, speak to your neighbours, speak to the ward councillors. From recent experience if this is a truly awful development then the more you do the better. FHS can also point you in the right direction and if haven't joined then do it now. And PM me if you want to learn of other planning difficulties. Don't make any assumptions on how this will be dealt with by the local authority, planning law does not necessarily favour existing residents. See the Tewkesbury Avenue thread.

Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
grasshopper


Posts: 22
Joined: Jul 2008
Post: #20
28-10-2008 09:38 AM

RobF - you should also contact the Forest Hill Society.

Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Pages (3): « First [1] 2 3 Next > Last »

Friends of Blythe Hill Fields


Possibly Related Topics ...
Topic: Author Replies: Views: Last Post
  Lewisham Council approve "controversial" planning application samuelsen 1 4,337 10-11-2022 03:43 PM
Last Post: taymountgrange
  Taymount Grange | Planning Application | DC/22/127431 taymountgrange 6 5,063 10-11-2022 03:38 PM
Last Post: HannahM
  Planning application to convert Home Accessories Extra to a coffee shop hillview 8 11,226 22-04-2018 12:35 PM
Last Post: hillview
  Planning application to convert Forest Hill Co-op to a hotel hillview 12 12,961 10-03-2018 01:34 PM
Last Post: Uhuru
  Pheasant loose on Sunderland Road??? Mr_Numbers 28 25,413 16-03-2017 11:56 AM
Last Post: michael
  Mugging in the alley between Sunderland and Trilby Road Dan77 2 5,187 14-11-2016 10:01 AM
Last Post: BigED
  Planning application to change Honor Oak Supermarket to a bar nitoda 10 18,652 03-07-2016 07:42 PM
Last Post: HannahD
  New nursery on Sunderland Road? chezbubbles 1 4,308 06-06-2016 12:49 PM
Last Post: mrwandle
  Planning Application: 1 Manor Mount Mrjamon 50 56,250 14-12-2015 10:46 AM
Last Post: Londondrz
  The 4 Redberry Grove Planning Application robertlondon 21 32,361 15-09-2015 06:16 AM
Last Post: JRW
  Planning Application: M&Co to become a Morrisons Local? edpaff 141 160,450 09-09-2015 03:42 PM
Last Post: michael
  Crime Alert Message - robbery between Sunderland Road and Trilby Road Tim Lund 28 33,387 02-12-2014 04:33 PM
Last Post: Snazy
  Planning Application: 51-53 Canonbie Road penfold 88 115,879 02-05-2014 01:04 PM
Last Post: Hunter
  Planning Application - Hindsley Place and Westbourne Drive michael 124 133,482 09-01-2014 12:46 PM
Last Post: Perryman
  Planning Application: 120 Stanstead Road michael 67 78,950 11-12-2013 02:50 PM
Last Post: Mr_Numbers
  Planning Application: 6 Church Rise ForestGump 58 72,388 02-04-2013 04:53 PM
Last Post: Snazy
  Planning Application: 6 Church Rise NewForester 30 42,848 02-08-2012 04:00 PM
Last Post: Snazy
  Planning Application: Land to the rear of 107 Honor Oak Park alethius 5 10,072 25-06-2012 11:02 AM
Last Post: alethius
  Planning Application: 27 Shipman Road theirpuppet 50 58,128 07-06-2012 09:25 AM
Last Post: emma
  Codrington Hill - planning application? blushingsnail 1 5,975 24-05-2012 10:02 PM
Last Post: megan