Coldharbour Lane redevelopment

[Mr. Lee]

Dunno if this has been talked about before here...

I got a letter from Lambeth Council today, to summarise

Proposed Development: 419-423 Coldharbour Lane London SW9 8LH

For: Demolition of existing buildings (retail units) and erection of a fice storey building comprising two retail units at ground floor level, with fourteen self-contained flats on the floors above and rooftop plant room. Provision of 8 parking spaces to rear of site to be accessed via Rushcroft Road, and associated works, (Planning permission and Conservation Area applications recieved).

Applicant: Milegate Ltd.

I am invited to let both the council and the contractor know what I think about the whole thing - which should be something as my flat is in the block directly opposite. Is this the (much prophesized) "yuppification" of Brixton? Although I had no particular love for Pedro Keys and many of its regulars, the actual building itself looked kind of cool. It would be a shame to see it replaced with some big "modern" monstrosity inhabited by city wankers with BMWs. A building that size could also quite drastically change the "feel" of this end of Coldharbour Lane too (feng shui and all that...)

Anyway, anyone know or think anything about the above?

 

[Mrs Magpie]

I've heard about this and I know I shall be hearing more...basically it's a no social-housing gated community in the centre of Brixton.....
Boo

 

[hendo]

Who/What is Milegate Ltd?

 

[Mr. Lee]

More here: http://planning.lambeth.gov.uk/publ...plication_detailview.asp?caseno=HY7L89BOFF000

 

[editor]

WTF is a 'rooftop plant room'?

Which buildings are covered by 419-423? If it's the one currently housing the (ahem) 'hotel' I would have thought that it might have been protected, what with it being a rather attractive temperance building sat in a conservation zone....

 

[Stobart Stopper]

Is this the shopping arcade end, where we went today?

 

[editor]

More here: http://planning.lambeth.gov.uk/publ...plication_detailview.asp?caseno=HY7L89BOFF000

Grrr! Rubbish, super slow site insists I use IE to access it...

 

[Crispy]

WTF is a 'rooftop plant room'?

Plant in this context = air conditioning, boilers, water tanks, etc. For a building this size, that will probably be fairly substantial (depends on what they do with the serviecs to the retail units) - it may be concealed in the roof structure (if they're doing a pitched roof) or it may be in seperate enclosures, set back from the parapet.

I'm not sure exactly where this site is, but multimap reckons it's just down from the junction with Electric Lane:

http://www.multimap.com/map/browse....e=531155.000038412&gridn=175321.881437066

The drawings for this should be available to view by request at the planning office (which is on the ground floor of the council offices at the bottom of Acre Lane). I have some spare time on the next few days, so could go and check this out if people are interested? Copying regulations vary from council to council, but I'll try and sneak some photos if possible. If it does indeed look out of place, letters of objection can be drawn up.

 

[editor]

The drawings for this should be available to view by request at the planning office (which is on the ground floor of the council offices at the bottom of Acre Lane). I have some spare time on the next few days, so could go and check this out if people are interested?

That sounds like the old temperance hall which I would have thought would be protected as it's a fine old building ... http://www.urban75.org/brixton/photos/296.html

 

[Mr. Lee]

Yeah - that's the one

 

[hendo]

Googling for Milegate finds them listed as a caterer in Rushcroft Road.

http://www.caterer-directory.com/company-55000040.html

 

[hatboy]

How come "troublesome" premises (sometimes genuinely so, but sometimes NOT) - ie The Harriers, Nyam Food - get closed by the police and then shortly afterwards a massive, fancy redevelopment is announced that will require their site?

I DO NOT believe that this is always co-incidence.

 

[IntoStella]

Yes, it's another 14-unit crock o' crap.

Address: 419-423 Coldharbour Lane
Ref: 04/01481
Applicant/owner of land: Milegate Ltd., 20 Somerleyton Road, SW9
Agent: Bryan Well Associates Ltd., 53 Ross Road, SE25

Proposal:

9 X 1 bed
4 X 2 bed
1 X 3 bed
2 retail units

Some points that have been made by Anna Key, having been up to the planning office to look at the plans:

The development will cause the loss of 279 square metres of retail space on
Coldharbour Lane. The three existing shops occupy 400 sm. The two
replacement units would occupy 121 sm.

The loss of retail space is due to the provision of parking spaces for 8
cars at the rear. Currently the land is occupied by retail space.

It would be a private gated security estate in the heart of Brixton. Plan
BW-596-03 shows "Security Gates" at the rear off Rushcroft Road. It would be
the first such private gated development in central Brixton.

The application is a "14 unit scam" to escape social housing provision. The
flats would be for owner-occupying car-drivers wishing to reside in a
private gated security estate. I guess they'd sell for around £250,000.

The occupants of Matlock House, Mayfield House and Heathfield House on
Rushcroft Road would lose sunlight and suffer overlooking from windows and
balconies. At present these flats are not overlooked at the rear.

The proposed building is a steel frame clad with reconstituted stone panels.
It looks like a 1970s office block. It is out of keeping with the buildings
on either side - Cliftons Mansions and the London Hotel. The floors don't
even line up with the Clifton floors.

AFAICS the 'plant room' means air conditioning. So more local noise and pollution to provide either 'luxury' airconned yup pads or airconned retail space -- therefore likely to be 'style bars' or the like.

 

[IntoStella]

Googling for Milegate finds them listed as a caterer in Rushcroft Road.

http://www.caterer-directory.com/company-55000040.html

That's as much as I have been able to ascertain. Wtf is 2 Rushcroft road? I know of no such company. As you can see above, they are also listed at 29 Somerleyton. They seem to be a cash and carry.

Another wideboy make-a quick-buck scheme with no regard for sustainable planning or regeneration. Great.

Is one of those furniture shops 2 Rushcroft rd?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Plant in this context = air conditioning, boilers, water tanks, etc. For a building this size, that will probably be fairly substantial (depends on what they do with the serviecs to the retail units) - it may be concealed in the roof structure (if they're doing a pitched roof) or it may be in seperate enclosures, set back from the parapet.

Obviously Editor was thinking of some other type of plants

 

[editor]

Obviously Editor was thinking of some other type of plants

Naively, I was honestly thinking of some sort of eco-friendly green space built on the roof.

Of course, now that I know it's going to be a fucking toff "fuck u!" gated community with 'drive in and avoid the locals' facilities, I realise that there's no chance of anything like that appearing.

 

[lang rabbie]

I don't think the address for correspondence on a planning application has to be the registered office of the company.

Name & Registered Office :
MILEGATE LIMITED
15 COCHRANE MEWS
ST JOHNS WOOD
LONDON
NW8 6NY
Status :Active
Company No. :02599024
Date of Incorporation : 08/04/1991

Country of Origin : United Kingdom

Company Type: Private Limited Company
Nature Of Business (SIC(92)):
5227 - Other retail food etc. specialised

Accounting Reference Date : 31/07
Last Accounts Made Up To : 31/07/2003 (SMALL)
Next Accounts Due : 31/05/2005
Last Return Made Up To : 08/04/2004
Next Return Due : 06/05/2005

Last Members List : 08/04/2004

Previous Names
No previous name information has been recorded over the last 20 years.

Branch Details
There are no branches associated with this company.

Oversea Company Information
There are no Oversea Details associated with this company.

 

[Errol's son]

Naively, I was honestly thinking of some sort of eco-friendly green space built on the roof.

Of course, now that I know it's going to be a fucking toff "fuck u!" gated community with 'drive in and avoid the locals' facilities, I realise that there's no chance of anything like that appearing.

Maybe the penthouse will have a roof garden?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Naively, I was honestly thinking of some sort of eco-friendly green space built on the roof.

Of course, now that I know it's going to be a fucking toff "fuck u!" gated community with 'drive in and avoid the locals' facilities, I realise that there's no chance of anything like that appearing.

tsk tsk. The new residents will probably end up as Albert quaffers

 

[Fuzzy]

plant rooms also mean lift mechanisms which i believe are required when developments go above 4 storeys.

it does appear to be going for the under the threshold of 15 units for affordable housing to kick in. sneaky fuckers.

you could object on the grounds that 8 car parking isnt enough and that it will result in off street parking elsewhere but this is a pretty weak arguement due to the proximity of the site to the tube station.

what is there at the moment. is the building currently 5 storeys in height. if not you can argue loss of amenity by overlooking, loss of sunshine/daylight, privacy.

are the retail units A1 or A3?

 

[Errol's son]

I don't think the address for correspondence on a planning application has to be the registered office of the company.

I doubt it too.

Many companies have a variety of trading addresses as well as a registered address. Many small companies in the UK put their accountant's address as their registered office and the accountant just forwards anything of importance on to his/her client.

 

[Crispy]

tsk tsk. The new residents will probably end up as Albert quaffers

Embrace and Extend is the way forward. 'Free Pint' vouchers and a friendly smile

Besides, 60sqm (1/2 of the total 120sqm ground floor space mentioned upthread) is far too small for a decent pub/bar, so they'll just have to try out the local, won't they

 

[Mr. Lee]

Fucking hell this doesn't sound very good at all. I'll check it out and start complaining....

 

[hatboy]

What is there at the moment is a one storey building of no significance architecturally. But it does contain three substantial shops units. (The one where Nyam food was, is that right? I can't see them pulling down the old temperance hall building).

However that doesn't excuse replacing this with an ugly bigger building that squeezes private flats in and squeezes shop space out.

A building of quallity that was three or four storeys high, with no loss of retail (in character and rental affordability) and inclusion of a proportion of social/affordabe rental housing I'd have no objection to.

 

[Fuzzy]

A building of quallity that was three or four storeys high, with no loss of retail (in character and rental affordability) and inclusion of a proportion of social/affordabe rental housing I'd have no objection to.

i'd let the authority know that if you were to put an objection in. planners get so fed up with hearing about what people dont want but if you would be happy with that form of development then let them know. its easier for them to start telling the developer what would be acceptable if they have some idea from what objectors have said.

 

[IntoStella]

What is there at the moment is a one storey building of no significance architecturally. But it does contain three substantial shops units. (The one where Nyam food was, is that right? I can't see them pulling down the old temperance hall building).

No great shakes architecturally but contemporaneous with the old temperance hall if you look at the external decoration. For what it's worth. I assume they must have been part of the same complex originally. Perhaps the sinlge storey part was kitchens, laundry or something.

A building of quallity that was three or four storeys high, with no loss of retail (in character and rental affordability) and inclusion of a proportion of social/affordabe rental housing I'd have no objection to.

I agree. Of course build quality does not come under planning's remit, which is where it gets very easy to send concerned residents on a wild goose chase through the council's labyrinthine departments while getting away with murder.

Rabbie -- nice one for doing the company search.

 

[Fuzzy]

is there a brixton society or something that is interested in local buildings of historic significance. as its in a conservation area it may be worth contacting them and seeing whether they want to put anything in.

 

[hatboy]

Lambeth Conservation
E-mail Address(es):
[email protected]
Phone: 7926 1215

Alan Piper (Brixton Soc)
E-mail Address(es):
[email protected]

Alan Vinall (Planning)
E-mail Address(es):
[email protected]
Acre House
10 Acre Lane
London SW2 5LL
Phone: 7926 1212

Anyone found any pictures of what this will look like?

 

[lang rabbie]

Although the single storey bit is in a pretty shabby state at the moment, don't some of the shopfronts have some original faience tiling under several coats of paint as well as some "twiddly bits" above the shops (or am I imagining it???)

 

[IntoStella]

Although the single storey bit is in a pretty shabby state at the moment, don't some of the shopfronts have some original faience tiling under several coats of paint as well as some "twiddly bits" above the shops (or am I imagining it???)

Don't think they're painted. I think they have the orignal green glazed surface. They run all the way round the hotel and up to Nyam's. They're in surprisingly good condition on the whole. And yes, there is a moulded blaustrade above with a sort of mock (?) Georgian portico with a painted, circular motif in the middle.