Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

DEVELOPERS PROPOSE HUGE 140-DWELLING DEVELOPMENT to DOMINATE DOWNHILLS PARK

Keston Centre N17 is at the south east side of Downhills Park accessed via Keston Road and houses Haringey Council’s Childrens’ Services, West Green Nursery & the Goan Centre.

Pocket Living the developers propose to build a huge development of 140 flats /houses on the site some up to 4 storeys,dominating this precious green space . Its completely out of character with the area , and will have a detrimental impact on local residents . And developers plan to carve out an area of the Park for access and parking.

If you care about Downhills Park attend the CONSULTATION MEETING ON 20 JULY 2016

Downhills Park Friends’ and residents’ main objections are to:

--the huge development of up to 4 storeys which will dominate our award-winning park

- carving out part of this protected green space currently enjoyed by the public

--the development being completely out of character with the surrounding 2-storey buildings

--the development posing a detrimental impact on local residents’ parking, local services & family lives

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Attend the official Consultation meeting and make your voice heard on 20 July 2016, 7pm – Haringey Planning Development Management Forum

or talk to the developers 3.30 - 6.30 pm

Venue for both : West Green Baptist Church, 182/184 West Green Rd, N15 5AF

Write to local councillors and David Lammy local MP….via https://www.writetothem.com/

Join us to discuss further action and in making an objection to the planning application, due to be submitted to Haringey Council probably in September 2016 - for details contact Rod on 07584 253699 or rodwells1@hotmail.co.uk

Background In March 2015 Haringey Council’s Local Plan (Planning document) showed a proposed development on this site of 87 dwellings and up to 5 storeys high, and more than 60 residents objected to this.

Then Haringey council sold the land to developers, Pocket Living, despite total lack of consultation of local residents and their protests-which were not even allowed to be heard at the Councils Cabinet meeting . The plan allowed for a proposal of 102 residential units !.

Now Pocket Living are planning this huge development of 140 flats /houses is planned up to 4 storeys and dominating the Park !

BUT Planning permission still needs to be granted at the Council’s planning committee l –possibly in September 2016

Tags for Forum Posts: development, downhill, keston

1 member likes this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Justin Hinchcliffe on July 27, 2016 at 11:36

Absolutely correct, Andrew.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rod Wells on July 30, 2016 at 18:25

Hi all

I have watched these discussions nd they seem to skirt the main objections taht a growing number of residents have to this scheme. We (the Keston Action Group ) had a meeting and are raising many objections

-to the 5 Storey Mansion Blocks looming over the Park. Just because a pictiure of Lorship shows a tower bock does not park users at Downhills should accept our park ruined!

- fact that these are not affordable to many of Haringeys average earners The Pocket Scheme at Hackney stated that Pocket homes are for those on an average salary of £37k ;

few 2/3 bed homes are in plans -those desperately needed;

It is not NIMBYISM to defend a park thats been there for 100 years and object to a scheme that at 134 homes goes way above the councils own planning doc - Site Allocations DPD-recommendation of 70 units!

Rod

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Charlotte A on July 30, 2016 at 20:58

But they will be affordable to some of Haringey's residents, those in middle income jobs who can't afford to spend 400k on their first flat. There needs to be housing options for everyone, not just social rented housing and private sales for the rich. I'm sure there are local residents whose kids are in good jobs who don't have a hope in hell of buying a home close to their folks.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by 0n59eal4meshz on July 30, 2016 at 23:02

Rod

You're trying to have your cake and eat it! Objecting to new homes because they'll be close to the park yet also objecting because -in your view- they're 'unaffordable'! If they were 'affordable' would you drop your objection?

I'm just left with the view that you are just throwing everything into the mix and hoping you'll arrive at a genuine planning objection.

IMO a hopeless case!

By the way, are you still objecting to new homes at St Ann's?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rod Wells on August 1, 2016 at 1:40

Stuart

Just to be clear what the Keston Action Group are objecting to I include their objections sent to Pocket Living after the 20/7/16 Consultation:

Keston Action Group Objections to Keston Centre 29/7/16

"Keston Action Group is a group of residents from wide area who opposes the present development planned by Pocket Living for the Keston Centre on behalf of London Borough of Haringey.

We demand that the plans be reviewed and revised.

The development poses a detrimental impact on local residents, local services, family lives and parking. We want to see a plan that is compatible with the area and acceptable to people living in the surrounding streets, and to those eventually living on the development in the Keston Centre. We are not opposed to housing on the site but it needs to be appropriate.

We are totally opposed to any encroachment into the much loved 100 year old Downhills Park and to the building of 5 story blocks of flats overlooking the park.

Arising from the Action Group’s discussions we list below our objection and comments on the development:

5 Storeys Mansion Blocks are too high! We say no development should be higher than the 2 storey houses in the surrounding area. We understand that this part of scheme is against Council planning policies that state that the area surrounding Downhills Park should between 2-3 storeys
The proposed development dominates Downhills Park. Again we believe there are planning policies that protect the park that this proposal breaks.
Flats are too high and the representations at the Consultation meeting showed them visible high over trees. Pocket Living claimed that the flats would be shielded from the park by trees whilst at the same time their consultation document stated that it would “allow views of the park from deep within the site” .Pocket cannot have it both ways!
The number of proposed units has increased from 87 to 134 and we believe this density is too big for the site.
We say no development should be higher than the houses in the surrounding area.
What is needed are genuinely affordable family homes with at least two bedrooms.
There should be no carving off of Downhills Park -current laws presently in place to protect open spaces and must be observed.
There will be major disruption for three years to the community.
Despite Pocket Living saying that their developments are generally car free they intend to make 60 plus places available on the site. Car ownership will adversely impact on surrounding area.
It is unrealistic to suggest that more than 10% of flat owners won’t want to eventually own cars.
Likewise that flat owners won’t have families. When they do they will not be able to afford to move and so will squeezed into flats which Pocket concede are very small and will certainly not ‘be fit for purpose’
Current community group users must be given guarantees they will be provided with the same amount of space as they have now, and for the playgroup access to open secure space.

From Rod Wells on behalf of the Keston Action Group "

Permalink Reply by Antoinette on August 1, 2016 at 10:39

There is in fact a long established tradition in London and other major cities of having blocks over-looking park land. Just look at Park Lane. I just don't go along with this bizarre notion that having blocks over-looking the park "ruins" it. And trying to claim on the one hand that the housing should be both affordable but restricting the height of the building to 2 storeys just doesn't add up. How can you reduce the potential floor space by 60% and then say the resultant properties should be "affordable".

Permalink Reply by 0n59eal4meshz on August 1, 2016 at 12:03

I can't see the Reply button under Rod's recent post so will have to make do here.

Rod

I know what you and your action group want- fewer homes (and I suspect you'd be happy if there none)!

Once again, how would low-rise two-bedroom homes be more affordable to Haringey's average earners?

Permalink Reply by John D on August 1, 2016 at 13:05

Rod.

Apart from your bizarre idea that buildings overlooking an urban park somehow destroys the amenity, three of your bullet points say exactly the same thing - they are too high.

That rather dilutes the force of your arguments;.

Permalink Reply by Christopher Fowler on July 22, 2016 at 10:34

I've taken a look at the Google view, and there appears to be a large car park to the south of the building housing the West Green Playgroup. Is that part of the proposed development? If so, use for housing for single people would be a far better use than for parking cars. Also, I observe that there are mature trees lining the Eastern edge of Downhils Park, which would surely reduce the impact of any development.