High-rise flats is ‘middle finger’ to West Hampstead
Residents are mustering support to fight plans for an 11-storey block of flats which will ruin West Hampstead’s landscape and pile pressure on school places, it is claimed.
Camden Council and London-wide development plans have earmarked land next to West Hampstead’s Thameslink station for 200 dwellings.
Developers have drawn up plans for a “high-rise” block in West End Lane which residents claim will change the area’s established character and test its infrastructure.
Although plans are yet to be submitted to Camden Council, West Hampstead Gardens and Residents Association (WHGARA) is gathering opposition to the plan in preparation.
Brigid Shaughnessy, secretary for WHGARA, said: “It’s going to look like a great big finger movement telling you to bugger off. We want to get the message across before planning permission is even applied for – so it’s on people’s radar.”
You may also want to watch:
The group want the plans, which are not set in stone, to be moderated and for developers to consider building a larger community space than those detailed in the plans to hold events such as farmers’ markets.
Plans will be on display at St James’ Church hall in Sherriff Road on Saturday from 10am to 2pm and on Monday between 3pm and 8pm.
Most Read
- 1 Primrose Hill candlelight vigil to celebrate life of Nicole Hurley
- 2 'Let's save The Victoria pub in Highgate'
- 3 Tributes paid to Primrose Hill mother-of-four as fundraiser launched
- 4 Man charged with murder of Nicole Hurley in Primrose Hill
- 5 Met Office warns of flooding risk with heavy rain set to hit London
- 6 'Important for mental health': Royal Free commits to maintaining new gardens
- 7 Guilty: Kentish Town man convicted of murdering Jack Ampadu
- 8 Famous Hampstead Heath love swan Mrs Newbie dies
- 9 Koko to return with extra venues and community spaces for musicians
- 10 'Feels like a runway': Hampstead residents call for LED lamp post change
Ms Shaughnessy said: “It’s not that we’re against development. But some people like me have been living in West Hampstead for 30 years and we’re saying it has to be in keeping with the look of West End Lane and these plans are certainly not.”
While there are ambitious plans afoot for about 10 residents’ groups to join together in a neighbourhood forum and use powers set out in the Localism Bill, Ms Shaughnessy says that action needs to be taken in the short-term to hold back the urban jungle which is threatening West Hampstead.
