A planned basement excavation in the heart of Hampstead that supposedly ignores the new neighbourhood plan has campaigners up in arms.
The Heath and Hampstead Society, the Hampstead Neighbourhood Forum, the Flask Walk Neighbourhood Association and the headteacher of the nearby New End Primary School are among those angry at the proposal to add a large basement to the already-controversial 6 Streatley Place development.
The project had planning permission granted for four flats, but the new application seeks to add two more in a newly excavated basement.
Janine Griffis, chair of the Hampstead Neighbourhood Forum, told the Ham&High: “Unfortunately, the proposal fails to consider the new Hampstead Neighbourhood Plan. Access to this site is fraught with difficulty and the newly proposed basement will only increase the potential for disruption.
“We have found a number of shortcomings in the construction management plan, including consideration of the cumulative impact this proposal will have in the congested New End area, given the enormous construction already taking place at 29 New End.
“The basement impact assessment is also insufficiently robust, and there is no basement construction plan.”
Meanwhile, David Castle, who heads the Heath and Hampstead Society’s planning sub-committee, wrote in his response to the new plans: “We objected to the previous application – which, to our sorrow, was unbelievably approved – so we must object even more strongly to this attempt to obtain gradual approval for an even larger building on a small site.”
Meanwhile, there is concern the development could have a disproportionate impact on New End School.
Headteacher Karyn Ray wrote: “No one has yet demonstrated how a building there can be developed safely and without causing significant disruption to the local community.”
Others objectors include Cllrs Stephen Stark and Maria Higson, and the school’s chair of governors Linda Davies.
Cllr Higson said: “The application is completely unacceptable and against the best interests of Hampstead.
“Residents are tired of it rumbling on with increasingly unsuitable applications.”
A Camden Council spokesperson said: “The consultation period has formally expired.
“However, there have been delays in commissioning an independent review of the basement impact assessment and there is no clear date set yet on when a recommendation is likely to be made as this assessment is critical to the council’s considerations.”
The town hall added: “Any additional representations submitted before a decision is made will be taken into account.”
The developer, the Trademark Group, has been contacted for comment.
What do you think? E-mail your opinions to letters@hamhigh.co.uk
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