…and ‘Parks not profits’ are the messages from the ‘somers town petitioners’ group who object to building 25 story blocks of luxury flats on our parks. The planning application for the Central Somers Town development covers land at Polygon Road Open Space, Edith Neville Primary School, 174 Ossulston Street and Purchese Street Open Space. You only have until February 8 2016 to write to the council. To find out more about what and how, see below.
WHAT CAN I DO?
- Write your letter to Camden Council OR add comments online at Camden Council website planning application (Planning Application -2015/2704/P) see more details below.
- SIGN the PETITION if you agree with the objections below – a copy is at the Somers Town Community Association Cafe
- Add your comments to our Discussion
Where can I find help? Help with writing planning comments is at ‘how to’ surgeries – dates here and a ‘How to guide‘.
What are the Somers Town petitioner objections?
ALIEN in character and scale – a 25-storey tower, , as is a 9-storey building on Charrington Street and the destruction of the low-rise estates
BUILDS on parks – Purchese Street Open Space
- Negative impact on AIR quality
- Loss of at least 75 trees, more hard landscaping (wide paths); less soft landscaping (grass)
- Loss of open space, children’s playground space
LOSS of LIGHT to homes near the development and LOSS of VIEWS, e.g views from the Kings Cross Conservation Area:
· the loss of a much-loved tenants’ hall and community garden
· the appropriation of private open space
· the loss of 40 parking spaces (including disabled parking spaces)
· yet more construction work in an area beleaguered by constant construction
· the misleading nature of the CIP consultation
To contact the Somers Town petition group: somerstownpetitioners@gmail.com
How do I comment?
From Camden Council:
“You can view the application, ref no 2015/2704/P:
- Online in the planning section of the Council’s website
- A printed copy is held at 5 Pancras Square, open 8am – 8pm, Monday to Saturday and 11-5pm on Sundays.
If you have comments on the application it is important that you direct these to the planners. Make sure you include the application number 2015/2704/P. Your comments will be made publicly available online. This will include your name and address but not your telephone number or email address.
- Fill in your comments on the online form on http://planningrecords.camden.gov.uk/Northgate/planningExplorer17/GeneralSearch.aspx
- Or you can write to: Development Management, Camden Town Hall, Judd Street, London WC1H 9JE
Camden’s planning authority will read all comments that are received. During the assessment they will take into account the concerns which relate to the proposal then write a report and make a recommendation to the Development Control Committee.
The formal consultation is open until 1 February 2016 but the planning authority’s case officer will accept comments up until the application is considered by the Development Control Committee, expected in March.”
There are more details on the background of the proposal on Camden’s website.
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