Say hello to Barratt Homes' 'Brixton Square' on Coldharbour Lane (old Cooltan site)

[CH1]

Here's how it looked in 2001

And in 2006

It was quite a pleasant piece of architecture. Certainly more pleasing than the Brixton Square cheap office block look.

I'm no expert, but to me it has hints of Art Deco. Check the windows - especially curving on the rounded corners of the building. cf Crownleigh Court in St Matthews Road.

 

[ViolentPanda]

I'm no expert, but to me it has hints of Art Deco. Check the windows - especially curving on the rounded corners of the building. cf Crownleigh Court in St Matthews Road.

The curved brickwork and windows on the corner are v. similar to some "Art Deco revival" places built in the '50s, as well as to original Art Deco, as are the (often leaky as fuck after a few years of expansion and contraction) metal window frames.

 

[editor]

I'd describe it as being inspired by 1930s Art Deco.

 

[Gramsci]

As a matter of interest. Was sent this about Section 106.

Barratts used financial viability ( which the planning committee never saw) to argue for alteration to the affordable housing in Brixton Square. Do not think they used these people. But goes to show that there is a whole business helping developers getting out of providing affordable housing.

 

[CH1]

As a matter of interest. Was sent this about Section 106.

Barratts used financial viability ( which the planning committee never saw) to argue for alteration to the affordable housing in Brixton Square. Do not think they used these people. But goes to show that there is a whole business helping developers getting out of providing affordable housing.

I would love it to be from a subsidiary of Crapita.
BTW I had occasion to ring Lambeth regarding objection to the current planning application (only the Brixton Society objected according to the Planning website). I had not realised that Lambeth Planning Enquiries (both telephone and email) are dealt with by a Capita Call Centre in Bristol. This has been the case for 18 months the call centre lady informed me. No wonder Lambeth Planning are so responsive to our local needs!

 

[teuchter]

I noticed yesterday that the first occupants are in now.

 

[leanderman]

What's the deal with 'The Park' flats on the corner of Stockwell (Park Walk) and Brixton Rd. What happened to the people who lived there? And what kind of housing will it be now?

 

[snowy_again]

The ones opposite brook were supported living units for older males if I remember correctly.

didn't editor or onket post up some plans/drawings for the block on that corner - tall from memory.

 

[leanderman]

The ones opposite brook were supported living units for older males if I remember correctly.

didn't editor or onket post up some plans/drawings for the block on that corner - tall from memory.

Yes. They did. Big modern Shoreditch-style block.

 

[editor]

I noticed yesterday that the first occupants are in now.

There's been people living there for quite a while now and quite a few have been having lots of jolly parties to celebrate.

 

[Chilavert]

There's been people living there for quite a while now and quite a few have been having lots of jolly parties to celebrate.

How very dare they!

 

[teuchter]

Walking past just now I noted a couple sipping rose from champagne flutes on their balcony.

 

[teuchter]

I did not judge them, of course.

 

[Belushi]

I did not judge them, of course.

call yourself an urbanite

 

[Frumious B.]

I did not judge them, of course.

Why not? Couldn't you see what year the champagne was?

 

[cuppa tee]

Latest twist on Lambeth social/affordable housing policy: planning have just refused permission for a major refurbishment and redevelopment at Toplin House (former Victorian fire-station and Refugee Council/Post Office building in Ferndale Road). This looked to be quite a good scheme design-wise, opening up the frontage on Ferndale Road for shops/offices facing Bon Marché and demolishing the rear extension on the corner of Stockwell Avenue/Bellefields Road.
Decision (13/00096/FUL) was at officer delegated level - so this may be part of a ping-pong negotiation à la Barratts.
Reason No1 for refusal: The proposed residential flat building appears capable of accommodating additional units, where the size of the proposed units exceed the minimum floor space standards set out in the Councils SPD on Housing Development and resorts in a layout that therefore prohibits the provision of affordable housing. No adequate justification has been provided to demonstrate why additional units can not be achieved at the site, and therefore the proposal is contrary to Policy S2 of the Core Strategy 2011 whereby it fails to address the Boroughs Housing needs.
In plain English this means that the developer has proposed to build flats which are TOO LARGE - thereby not cramming enough units in to trigger the requirement to provide affordable housing.
I know some may disagree - but I think it is a pity that we are losing agreed social housing on the Barratts scheme - where it was written into the agreement. Now we may be losing a quality development on a key commercial site in central Brixton because the council choose to insist on treating MINIMUM FLOOR AREA as a MAXIMUM in the residential back-addition to catch the affordable housing requirement.
What do people make of that - and what will the planning inspector say if there is an appeal?

http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/...mer-brixton-fire-station-redevelopment-plans/

 

[Badgers]

Walking past just now I noted a couple sipping rose from champagne flutes on their balcony.

Are you certain it was not a bottle of Cava or Prosecco?

 

[Greebo]

Are you certain it was not a bottle of Cava or Prosecco?

Or even the pink variety of Schloer, with the bottle where it couldn't be seen?

 

[CH1]

Thanks for the update.

http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/...mer-brixton-fire-station-redevelopment-plans/

I see from the Weekender there is now another planning application on Toplin House http://planning.lambeth.gov.uk/onli...iveTab=externalDocuments&keyVal=MOL4MVBO67000
seems that Black Rock are taking the opportunity to increase the number of flats for sale to 11 and still not offering social housing on "viability" grounds, taking their cue from the planning inspector.
Interesting to see if this is waved through now, or referred to committee.
Hopefully there really will be some new office/workshop space as the main part of the project, whatever the outcome on the residential add-on.

 

[Mr Bim of Bar]

Why not? Couldn't you see what year the champagne was?

Sod the champers, it will be strictly rum when I move in.

 

[Greebo]

Sod the champers, it will be strictly rum when I move in.

Which type?

 

[Mr Bim of Bar]

Which type?

Mount Gay Old Gold of course and don't even mention Appletons to me lol

 

[ViolentPanda]

Mount Gay Old Gold of course and don't even mention Appletons to me lol

You prefer pretty pretty rum to the real stuff, then?

 

[Frumious B.]

So how many of the 107 'sold out immediately' flats are occupied now? And how many are owner-occupied, and how many are BTL? I demand to know.

 

[Mr Bim of Bar]

So how many of the 107 'sold out immediately' flats are occupied now? And how many are owner-occupied, and how many are BTL? I demand to know.

Ok the first phase sold out in one month, 2 bed priced at £340,000, upon release of the second phase Barratts put the price up to £386,000 for a 2 bed because demand was so high, the second phase also sold out immediately, and will be ready to occupy in November, apparently there are not to many buy to let's the vast majority of the units are owner occupiers.

 

[Frumious B.]

Ta

 

[Mr Bim of Bar]

You prefer pretty pretty rum to the real stuff, then?

The real stuff makes me fall asleep and makes my head pound, pretty pretty rum for pretty pretty boys

 

[teuchter]

Are you certain it was not a bottle of Cava or Prosecco?

No I was not.

 

[editor]

Ok the first phase sold out in one month, 2 bed priced at £340,000, upon release of the second phase Barratts put the price up to £386,000 for a 2 bed because demand was so high

This from the profiteering scum who wriggled out of their affordable housing commitments so they could line their pockets even more.

 

[CH1]

This from the profiteering scum who wriggled out of their affordable housing commitments so they could line their pockets even more.

The guy from Barratts very plainly laid it on the line to the planning committee last May that the original affordable housing commitment was non-viable and the scheme "never could have been built". I heard it - so did Gramsci and Cllr Matt Parr and Cllr Jeremy Clyne - neither on the planning committee.
The planning committee themselves were sufficiently supine to accept this tosh and vote through the relaxation of the section 106 terms (by a majority of 4 to 2).
Now Barratts have come back to Lambeth Council asking to cancel the employment generating business space in the project and change it to more residential. Lambeth Council is so mixed up with property developers these days that back scratching and appeasement seem the order of the day. Give Barratts an inch...