The heart of West Norwood town centre

Following over a thousand objections from local people and businesses in 2022 Lambeth council has altered its policy plans to rebuild the heart of West Norwood’s town centre – known as Site 18.

The revised plan is now out for the next stage of consultation alongside policy plans for 12 other sites in the borough  known as  the Site Allocations Development Plan Document Proposed Submitted Version (SADPD PSV) – for details see here.

Site 18 is now a smaller area  ( see map) and proposes 150 to 170 new homes and new business spaces. The policy includes a block up to 9 storeys  (31m) high and a new open space. Full details of the Site 18  policy –are  here [pdf].

This stage of Planning Policy consultation is called Regulation 19 and comments must be under one or more of the four headings of “soundness”. The policy plan must 1) positively meets the area assessed needs;  2) be justified –based on evidence; 3) be effective – deliverable over the plan period and   4) be in line with national policy . The independent Planning Inspector will then look at all the comments, evidence and proposals in the SADPD PSV .

There is an online survey or  you can email comments to sadpd@lambeth.gov.uk . The deadline is 5pm Friday 3^rd May 2024.

Knollys Goods Yard (Site 19) has been taken out of this Planning Policy process. Of course, all actual plans by developers will go through the usual planning application process and public consultation.

See our earlier posts:

5/4/22

26/1/22

Streatham Wells LTN

Valley Rd -Leigham Ct Rd junction

The neighbourhood of Streatham Wells has been transformed by stopping up Valley Road as a through road and closing off other through routes.

This new Low Traffic Neighbourhood ( LTN) lies between Leigham Court Road, Streatham Common and Streatham High Road. The LTN started  on 13^th October 2023 . Unfortunately there was a series of signficant utility road works at the same time & these created a lot of extra traffic congestion. The A23 is nearly always congested between Pendennis Road and Streatham Common where the road narrows through the heart of old Streatham. The council is discussing improvement options with Transport for London.

The LTN scheme is still at an experimental stage. Details can be seen on CommonPlace:  https://streathamwells.commonplace.is/news

A 6 month statutory consultation started at the same time as the LTN and is published here:  https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/4463437 .  Any comments on the statutory consultation can be submitted before 23 April 2024 direct to RWilliams@lambeth.gov.uk

The LTN is a result of the Lambeth Climate Action Plan based on recommendations drawn up by a Lambeth Citizens Assembly in 2021.  LTNs are expected to lead to a change in drivers behaviour over time and help reduce traffic in Lambeth by 27%.

See our earlier post:

23/11/22

Have your say on the future of private renting in Lambeth

The council wants to improve private rented homes in the parts of Lambeth with the highest levels of renting and where many are in poor condition.

Lambeth already licences privately rented Homes in Multiple Occupation (HMO) with 3 or more tenants sharing a kitchen/bathroom. The council is now proposing a new scheme to register ALL privately rented homes and wants to hear the views of both Landlords and Tenants. There is an online survey and details of the scheme here:

https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/consultations/have-your-say-licensing-privately-rented-properties-lambeth. The deadline for responses is Thursday 14^th March.

There are two online events to discuss the proposed scheme on 17^th January or 21^st February at 6.30pm. To take part please book online. Use the links at the bottom of the above linked web page.

34% of households in Lambeth live in the private rented sector and one in five private rented homes are estimated to be in poor condition. The new scheme proposes to pilot the licensing in a few areas with high levels of privately rented homes where many are in poor condition.

In the Norwood area Knights Hill ward would be a pilot area starting late in 2024 for the new scheme.  Landlords will need to pay a fee of £923 and apply for a licence for each privately rented property they own in the pilot area. The fee lasts for 5 years.  Landlords will have to meet certain conditions.  The proposed list of mandatory & discretionary conditions is here:[pdf]  https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2023-12/Appendix%202%20Proposed%20Selective%20Licence%20Conditions.pdf

To get a paper copy of the survey please contact the Private Sector Enforcement and Regulations Service at Lambeth Council,  PO Box 80771, SW2 9QQ;  email:  PRSlicensing@lambeth.gov.uk  or phone: 020 7926 8591 .

Latest plan for West Norwood town centre

Following the many community comments & discussions two years ago, the council has reworked its policy plans to upgrade West Norwood’s town centre and Knollys Goods Yard.

Site 18 , land identified for potential re-development in West Norwood town centre, is now much smaller in the latest policy plan. See map pictured below.

The new Site 18  now leaves out the existing social housing on Lansdowne Hill & York Hill and also the new housing.  The number of new homes in the policy plan is reduced to between 150 and 170 with 52 to 85 at affordable rent. A tall building up to 31 metres high would be considered in Site 18  if it was surrounded by more public open space. For details see the Site 18 description  here.

The policy plan for site 19 in Knollys Road will not go ahead.

Details of all 13 sites in Lambeth with  a policy plan can be seen here.

These new versions of the policy plans will be agreed by senior councillors on January 15^th for the next round of consultation. See https://moderngov.lambeth.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=225&MId=16363&Ver=4

The next round of consultation is limited to the ”soundness” of the policy plan. Soundness is defined by government as a plan that is positively prepared, justified, achievable and in line with national policy.  Information on the procedure to comment on soundness will be available soon.

See our previous posts

5/4/22

12/2/22

26/1/22

10/1/22

Future of housing in Lambeth?

Cllr Maria Kay responsible for housing

Lambeth council has drafted two new important Housing policies out for consultation now – deadline Monday 20th Nov.

Have your say about the future of housing In Lambeth by completing an online survey: https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/consultations/have-your-say-lambeths-new-housing-strategy-2023-2030

There are drop in sessions at the Civic Centre in Brixton SW2 RW on Tuesday afternoons 2pm to 4pm from 17^th Oct to 14^th November. And interactive workshops. To book a workshop or drop in please email housingpolicy@lambeth.gov.uk

The council is also consulting on its banding policy for allocating permanent council homes. Background here: [pdf] Complete this online survey: https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/consultations/have-your-say-housing-allocation-policy-review

Cllr Maria Kay explains the thinking behind these proposals: https://love.lambeth.gov.uk/lambeth-launches-consultation-into-new-housing-strategy/

Older people in Lambeth

The council is listening and working with older residents to agree a plan for making Lambeth a better place to age well – an Age Friendly borough.

There is an online survey here – deadline Sunday 10^th September :

Or email directly agefriendlyLambeth@kaizen.org.uk or telephone  020 4536 6321

And drop in to the Age Friendly Festival at the Oval Cricket ground on Saturday 30^th September 11am to 3pm . Free entry at Alec Stewart  Gate . There will be lunch, stalls, activities & entertainments.

Lambeth Heritage Festival Sept 2023

Gilbert Clark on Remembrance Sunday, November 12th 2017

This year the Lambeth Local  History Fair will be held at West Norwood Library & Picture House SE27 9JX to  kick off a month long programme of 40 events looking at Lambeth’s rich history. The Local History Fair is on  Saturday 2^nd Sept 10am to 4pm with stalls, talks, walks & free films. And a chance to contribute to Their Finest Hour digital family history project.

For details of all events across Lambeth check out the Heritage Festival web pages or see the brochure  [pdf]. Some events must be booked to avoid disappointment. Most are free to attend.

 

 

Heritage Festival Events in West Norwood include:

• Sat 2/9 History Fair – stalls, walks, talks, films
• Sat 2/9 Tours of The Clockworks, 6 Nettlefold Place, SE27 0JW.
• Sun 3/9 Tour of West Norwood cemetery monuments
• Fri 9/9 West Dulwich welcome – local history walk
• Sat 9/9 Plant survey of West Norwood Cemetery
• Sun 10/9 West Norwood Blue Plaques walk
• Sat 16/9  Gothic archictecture walk  in West Norwood cemetery
• Fri 22/9 Bat walk in West Norwood Cemetery
• Sat 23/9 Herne Hill Heritage South  – a walk down Rosendale Rd
• Sun 24/9 Henry Tate Gardens off Streatham Common North
• Fri 29/9 West Dulwich welcome – local history walk

Station ticket offices to close

West Norwood station

The rail companies have plans to close Ticket Offices at most stations across the country. The plan is for multi-skilled station staff to provide “Ticket Assistance” instead -and help travellers use the ticket machines. Our local nearby stations: West Norwood, Gipsy Hill,  Streatham Hill, Tulse Hill will all be affected. Ticket Offices at major stations like Victoria, Waterloo & Clapham Junction are also to be closed.

To see the closure plans for Southern and Thameslink click on the links below:

Southern Railways

Thameslink

To have a say you must send your comments to TravelWatch  by Wednesday 26^th July. TravelWatch will make recommendations on the consultation. For details go to:

https://www.londontravelwatch.org.uk/ticket-offices-have-your-say/

You can also send your comments by email to southern.consultation@londontravelwatch.org.uk  or gntl.consultation@londontravelwatch.org.uk

Or by free post to RTEH-XAGE-BYKZ, London TravelWatch PO Box 5594, Southend-on-Sea SS1 9PZ.

Transport for All have a sample template letter you can personalise and send to TravelWatch:

https://www.transportforall.org.uk/campaign/ticket-office-closures/take-action/

Lakeview Road closure 20/7 to 31/7

Lakeview Rd – Greenhurst Rd end

Lakeview Road will be closed for roadworks during weekdays 8am to 6pm from Thursday 20th July to Monday 31^st July . The road will re-open for the evenings and at weekends.

Vehicles left obstructing the road works will be moved and parked nearby. Drivers need to find alternative routes and parking spaces during the times of the road works. Access to and from the streets off Lakeview Road can be arranged in advance by speaking to the site supervisor.

Lakeview Rd – Knights Hill end

Truslove Road will be closed between Tuesday 1st August and Monday 7^th August on weekdays 8am to 6pm.

Please send any questions to the Highways team by email: HIPresurfacing@lambeth.gov.uk or by phone 020 7926 9000 #4 and #3

The resurfacing of Lakeview Road and Truslove Road is part of Lambeth council’s Highways Improvement Programme.

New parking plans for Leigham Court Road area

Two new controlled parking areas (CPZ) are proposed for the Streatham High Road end of Leigham Court Road. The deadline for comments is midday Monday 26/6/23

Firstly there is a plan to extend the existing Streatham Hill CPZ  up to Leigham Vale ( yellow area on the map).  To see details and comment go to:   https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/consultations/streatham-wells-area-proposed-cpz-stage-1-consultation

Secondly  a new CPZ is proposed for Streatham Wells  between Leigham Ct Rd , Valley Rd , Crown Lane and Streatham High Rd ( pink area on the map). The controlled parking times are likely to be Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm.

Most of the bays will be shared with residents who buy a permit and visitors. Visitors can either buy a full day permit or pay by the hour using their smart phone. To see details and comment go to: https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/consultations/streatham-wells-area-proposed-cpz-stage-1-consultation  Or telephone  020 7926 6799 for a paper survey &  mention Streatham Wells CPZ.

The proposed Streatham Wells Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) covers much of the same area as the CPZ. The results of the LTN consultation are published online in 118 page report (linked at bottom of this webpage).

The LTN proposal has been updated following the public consultation. See “Summary of recommendations” on page 37 of the above report.

See also our previous post 23/11/22