View of the valley: Streatham Common’s unmatched views across south London and the Wandle Valley might soon be lost forever
Activists in Norbury and Streatham are halfway to a fund-raising target to meet legal costs to consider a possible challenge to planning permission for a 14-storey tower which locals fear will destroy forever one of the finest views in all London.
Lambeth Council has granted permission to the Woodgate Tower development, to be built on the site of a disused Homebase off Greyhound Lane.
This decision was made despite more than 1,000 petition signatures, 800 formal objections and 400 complaints uploaded on to the GLA website.
Fundraiser: activists say the proposed development, which includes a 14-storey tower, is inappropriate
“This decision sets a dangerous precedent for developers pushing these type of inappropriate applications in the future, despite overriding public objection. This should not be allowed!” according to the Woodgate Tower Protest Group.
The council planning decision might be challengable through a Judicial Review at the High Court, and the protest group is seeking to raise £2,400 as a first step, to pay for a specialist barrister’s opinion on the legal grounds for quashing the plan.
The decision of the council’s planning committee, the protesters say, “seems to be badly flawed”.
They claim the development is “wholly unsuitable for the area and in breach of several legal requirements”. These include breaking Lambeth’s Local Plan and the impact on Immanuel Church heritage site and protected Streatham Common view.
They accuse council officials of “misdirection of the committee”, including “a quite unreasonable conclusion of ‘no harm’ to the protected view from Streatham Common”.
According to the Friends of Streatham Common, “Streatham Common offers some of the best views over the new Wandle Valley Regional Park.”
They add: “One of the Common’s most important amenities has been the wide views offered across the Wandle Valley, extending, under the very best weather conditions, to a far horizon as far afield as Windsor, with other views across the tributary valley of the Norbury Brook and River Graveney being obtained from The Rookery.”
Seven seats with view identification plaques on the high points were installed in 2000, to celebrate the Millennium.
The Crowdfunder legal fund is being raised on behalf of the Woodgate Tower Protest Group. The money will be sent to Leigh Day solicitors to cover “initial advice” as soon as Lambeth issues the Notice of Decision.
The crowdfunder has so far raised £1,200, and the organisers have until November 17 to achieve the target amount.
- For more information, visit the No Woodgate Tower website by clicking here
- Or go straight to the crowdfunder by clicking here
- If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or want to publicise your residents’ association or business, or if you have a local event to promote, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com
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I grew up in Norbury between 1952 and 1970. I grew up in The Rookery and on Streatham Common. I paddled in the paddling pool, climbed the trees and played on the Common all too often as I grew up. My late mother went to school at St Helen’s School beside the Common, my late father at St Joseph’s. They both grew up on Streatham Common, too. Neither of them ever mentioned the view from the Common, and I never noticed it myself, although I did comment on the view of London from many other streets and places in the area around it.
Clearly we were all less impressed by the view than are current residents. I must visit the Common some time to see what the fuss is about.
Did you live in a tent?
No, I just have more memories of playing with friends outside than I do of conforming indoors!
Odd then, that from the top of the hill you never once glanced westwards and noticed the view.
I sit on the Planning Applications Committee that decided on this application. I voted against it for many reasons and have been helping residents challenge this awful decision. Here is a copy of the letter I sent to the Mayor of London asking for it to be turned down. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iZSV2PtsSq85JBjnihBPcnmWubcI7oX0/view?usp=sharing