Why you should say NO to Grange Court development
What’s the proposal?
Metropolitan Properties ( Freshwater ) propose to build a 5-story / 29-unit block on the communal gardens at Taymount Grange.
Why is this a problem for residents?
Our communal gardens are a really important asset for residents, a core architectural principle of high-density accommodation, being offset by open space. The plan intends to build over the majority of the gardens, removing the long-established allotment, BBQ area, and wilded habitat.
Why is this a problem for neighbouring residents?
Residents of Forestholme Close, due to the excessive height and positioning, will bare the brunt of reduced light levels reaching their gardens and properties.
How does this affect the wider community?
The proposal is a “car-free” development, meaning there will be no parking for residents on-site. This means there is a potential for 29 additional vehicles to be in the area……That’s a problem…….. Don’t worry the developer proposes paying Lewisham Council to install a Controlled parking zone, black listing those in the new development from obtaining permits. Residents of Taymount Rise, Forestholme Close, Grass Mount as well as Derby Hill Crescent (due to the pedestrian access gate at the rear) will have to purchase parking permits for their vehicles -if they are available to them.
These are just some of the issues and affects - more are listed below.
What can the community do?
PARTICIPATE! - We need all members of this community to raise their objections. This can be done on the Lewisham Planning Portal - Click the application number below.
DC/23/130280
If you can’t get everything in 1000 words, you may submit additional correspondence or documentation via email to: Planning@lewisham.gov.uk.
The numbers are important and this proposal affects all members of this community. Developers are tactical about public engagement, doing the absolute minimum to keep it off your radar! Once the contractors roll in, it will be too late to do anything - do not delay!
DEADLINE FOR OPPOSITION IS 2 MAY 2023
What else can we do?
Make no mistake building property is big business and hugely profitable and the developer. Freshwater employs numerous experts and professionals to conduct surveys to counter any argument you think you might have (as well as distort facts and tell lies). Planning policies and frameworks are complicated and open to interpretation, regardless of how strongly you feel opposing planning permission is a legal battle.
We propose to obtain professional advice from Planning Solicitors Richard Buxton Associates. Professional services cost money and have been quoted approximately £5000 to review the application to highlight the problems so Lewisham Council cannot grant permission for this development.
Donate to the Crowd Funder
We appreciate everyone is currently feeling the pinch, but any contribution is hugely welcomed.
But we have a housing crisis…..
The developer proposes no affordable or social housing as part of the scheme, but Instead provides Lewisham Council a cash in-lieu donation to housing projects……which defeats the point of building more homes. This isn’t unique, developers across London are designing schemes that fall under the 17% profit margins, which means they are not legally required to offer the much-needed affordable or social housing.
So you can see the issue here. This is a private development with the sole intention of generating a maximum return for minimum investment for Freshwater. With no meaningful contribution to the housing crisis, the reality is that it contributes to the problem.
More issues
We have compiled some additional points that you may wish to consider when writing your objections.
Kindly refrain from “copying and pasting” this list, as Lewisham planning will simply ignore duplicate submissions. Expand upon the ideas and let us know if there is something we might have overlooked. Your objections must be valid planning concerns; subjective opinions hold little argument.
Threat to a locally listed heritage asset.
Appearance and design are bulky and excessive in scale, meaning it is not in keeping with Taymount Grange and will negatively impact the setting and character of the building.
Removal of valuable amenities, gardens and allotments already shared by over a hundred existing residents.
Removal of used and sorted after garages and parking spaces, incorrect and misrepresenting information in the application.
It will create a significant sense of enclosure.
Access and security of rear access.
Multiple single-aspect flats to the east side of the proposed development will not provide adequate daylight and sunlight levels.
Multiple north-facing flats are described in the proposed development as a dual aspect but will not actually provide dual views as the windows will be small and obscured in order to limit overlooking to the closest corner of Taymount Grange. Flats will in effect, be north-facing single-aspect flats which are against planning policy.
Car-free development, increasing parking stress on Taymount Rise and Derby Hill Crescent.
Deliveries and service strategy/access is via Taymount Grange.
Excessive increase in hardstanding.
Significant loss of light to multiple houses on Forestholme Close.
Bats, which are a protected species, use the site during summer months and have been witnessed by residents.
Exacerbating the housing crisis - no affordable or social housing is offered in the plan.
Car Free Developments
It’s thinly veiled greenwashing at best and fails to acknowledge the diverse transport needs of Lewisham residents and the wider issues it creates. The terms have made way for many high-density plans previously rejected on the grounds of overdevelopment. Developers and Planners now argue residents don’t need a vehicle as public transport is so good and encourages you to get on your bike or walk, which is better for the environment.
Here’s where an ideal gets dubious. If you move into a flat that is car-free development, the only way the council can ensure you don’t just park your car on the street is to install a controlled parking zone and prevent you from obtaining a resident parking permit. In areas with no CPZs, developers are offering the councils cash to install them without regard for current residents.
If you’ve ever lived in a CPZ, you’ll know the difficulty you’ll have if you have anyone visiting, such as an elderly family member. Even getting a tradesperson to attend to your property moving vehicles every 4 hours, and navigating whichever parking app you must use to pay the fees.
While I appreciate that not everyone requires a private vehicle, it must be understood that there are many ordinary Lewisham residents whose transport needs are unmet by public transport. For some, it is a requirement of their employment, such as carers, plumbers and, electricians, taxi drivers. Most of the property being built across the capital is car-free, offering no diversity or flexibility for the needs of its inhabitants, writing it off as a potential home for many.
The argument that car-free developments are better for the environment is theoretical. The reality is that much of our spending habits are now online, selecting home delivery at the click of a button. Car-free developments have significantly more deliveries from carriers like Amazon, DPD, and Parcel Force servicing each dwelling, contributing to increased local traffic in the form of polluting diesel-powered commercial vehicles. More property means more vehicles.
Technology is advancing, and electric vehicles are now comparatively affordable and are the future however, we rarely see developers and planners integrating these essential pieces of infrastructure into plans. The priority is to design the internal combustion engine out of our cities rather than future investments for new EV technology charging. I’m not naive, profitability comes above-considered design. Cramming as many units into a site makes developers more money than a car-parking / EV charging point.
London is a pretty unique place, I’m skeptical that the “20-minute neighborhood” can be successfully applied in the same way as smaller Japanese cities, as London is not zoned in the same way. If this is the plan, being part of the conversation would be nice. In the meantime, we all must put up with it while councils experiment with the system!
Thank you
This campaign is being directed by the Taymount Grange Residents association.
Please feel free to contact at Tagra@taymountgrange.co.uk