Child poverty in Merton - papering over the cracks
Cllr Anthony Fairclough, Cllr Simon McGrath and Cllr Paul Kohler MP: Working hard for Wimbledon, Raynes Park & Wimbledon Chase. Learn more
by Wimbledon Town & Dundonald Lib Dems on 19 March, 2011
Before Christmas, the Dundonald Focus Team reported that the new owners of the Emma Hamilton pub site had applied for permission to put shops on the derelict site, instead of a pub.
This week the owners, Stadium Capital Holdings, held a public exhibition to showcase their plans for a five storey development, containing 56 flats, and up to four retail units. Martin Lewis Crosby and Anthony Fairclough from the Dundonald Lib Dem team attended the exhibition, to look at the plans and to quiz the owners’ agents about key issues.
The flats are one, two and three bedroom. Martin and Anthony were told that a portion of them will be ‘affordable housing’, but the developers are willing to be guided by the Council on how many this should be.
When Anthony asked why their site would succeed in getting tenants (or buyers) for the retail units and flats, when similar developments nearby – like St George’s Court at Wimbledon Chase Station – had failed to attract much interest, they claimed that the poor architecture of St George’s Court was the issue. However, residents have suggested that the reason those shops have remained empty is the serious lack of unloading bays – something also missing from the plans for the Emma Hamilton site. The agents were keen to explain that no fast food outlets would be allowed in the development.
Residents were also pressing hard about parking. There were 46 spaces on the plans – fewer than even the number of flats. Understandably, people were concerned that shoppers and guests would end up parking on other nearby roads like Oxford and Chase Side Avenues. The agents told us that the number of one bedroom properties would keep the need for parking down, as couples and single people were unlikely to have cars – but to commute instead.
At 5 storeys, the building is taller than other nearby buildings, and is not set back particularly far from the pavement (this is because parking is behind). The building is “stepped” at the back, away from the houses behind the development.
Local news site, WimbledonSW19.com has a story on the development and the architects’ drawings, which you can see here.
Please let us know what you think about the plans, any concerns and what you would like to see on the site in the comments section below.
Underground parking for the flats and the surrounding ares permit parking for local residents.
Bridge and flats above shops need an uplift so that more up market and businesses selling local produces are encouraged to the area. We are very near to the A3 and local farms
Anything parking to the front of the proposed building will reduce roadway to one lane. Close to traffic lights! Main road etc. No disabled parking for shops! No loading bays marked on plans. No parking for new shops unless, as already identified in local roads or petrol Station (bet they’re pleased!) Access to residents shown through gate. Has anyone noticed how small the flats are? Any storage space for a family to keep things?
It was interesting that the public viewing opened their questionaire with the question “What do you like about the development?” I thought the box size was a bit hopeful!
If you were walk along the road on the opposite side of the proposed build you would notice a whole lot of sky is missing!
Did anyone notice the side profile on the drawings from the south? A whole lot of pavement will go!
Please review the height of this building. As planned it will not blend in with the other buildings and will therefore look out of place. I object to buldings that fulfill the needs of the developers who do not care about the uglyness that they leave behind for residents to see every day.