West Norwood Cinema-Library update

Cllr Jane Pickard at the Nettlefold Halls building

Detailed plans for the a joint public library and City Screen cinema in the Nettlefold Halls building at 1 Norwood High Street SE27 9JX are progressing and are expected to be available for public consultation at the end of this summer. This will allow the views of local people to be incorporated into the plans before the planning application is submitted in the autumn. A decision on the planning application could be made by the end  of the 2013 and then construction work , lasting from between 12 to 18 months, would start early  in 2014.

The squatters occupying the Nettlefold Halls have been evicted.

Friends of West Norwood Library and Friends of West Norwood Cemetery, other local community  representatives, local businesses and councillors are working with the council and City Screen on the plans. The library will have the same amount (or possibly more)  floorspace than the previous service in the Nettlefold Halls. The plans will also allow for a Vistor Centre for the cemetery – once funding is obtained for this project  - perhaps with a national Heritage Lottery Fund grant.  

In the meantime a temporary library service continues to run from the Old Library at 16 Knights Hill SE27 0HY  opening daily at 10am  (except Sundays & Tuesdays when the library is closed) 

For more details on the library-cinema plans for West Norwood  - see the council cabinet report on 10th June 2013:

http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/moderngov/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=225&MId=8561

Tennis Club Planning Latest

For the third time developers appealed to the independent Planning Inspector after Lambeth council refused their bid to build homes on the West Norwod Tennis Club.

A hearing took place in March at which residents & Cllr Jane Pickard supported the council’s refusal.

The planning Inspector agrees with the council and has dismissed the appeal:

“the benefits of the proposed development for 52 homes would not be outweighed by the harm from loss of outdoor space and the scale of the building.”

See the Inspectors report below

2187818 DECISION

 

New Julian’s School at Leigham Court Road

Plans are under way to rebuild the Julian’s school building on its existing site off Leigham Court Road SW16 2RB to help meet the large  increase in demand for primary school places in West Norwood and Streatham. The school was  originally built as a one form –entry school, taking 30 children each year . The new plans create  a 3-form entry school off Leigham Court Road taking 90 children per year. To allow building work to start in February 2013 and be completed by July 2014 so to be ready to open in September 2014 the whole school will move to the new sister Julian’s School in Wolfington Road in December 2012.

The plans for the new Julian’s  Leigham Court Road school can be seen on the council’s web site via the Planning Database-   http://planning.lambeth.gov.uk/online-applications/

Just type in ref  “12/03039” . The deadline for comments is Tuesday 25^th September.

New homes for older people in Cheviot Road

The council is  working on plans with residents of Cheviot Gardens sheltered housing and  Notting Hill Housing Trust to replace the unsuitable current homes. The new scheme incorporates gardens,  restaurant, hairdresser, laundry with a mix of homes built to “extra-care” standard for  people aged over 55 to rent and some to buy.

To see the plans drop in at Cheviot Gardens SE27 0SU ( next to the Tennis club) on Wednesday 29^th August between 1pm and 8pm . Designers will be there to answer questions & hear your views.

A planning application will be made soon and this will give a further chance to comment on the proposals.

Final Cheviot Gardens Flyer_PRINT

New housing plans for tennis club

Developers are making a third attempt to get their plans approved for housing on the West  Norwood Tennis club site.

Their latest plans are for a 6 storey building on Knights Hill with 52 new homes and 5 parking spaces. This time the plans will retain the tennis club with  2 courts and rebuild the club house & squash courts as part of the housing block  24 homes will be “affordable” home for rent and 28 homes for sale. The proposal is for 21 flats with  1 bedroom , 23 with  2 bedrooms and 8 with 3 bedrooms.

To see the detailed plans look at the web pages for the Planning Applications Database on Lambeth Council’s web site http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/Services/HousingPlanning/Planning/PlanningApplicationsDatabase.htm quoting planning application ref 12/02129.

Paper copies of the plans can be seen at Brixton library SW2 1JQ. By the end of this week there should be copies in the temporary West Norwood library at 16 Knights Hill SE27 0HY.

If you want to comment on the plans the closing date is Friday 3rd August. Email any comments to planning@lambeth.gov.uk quoting the planning application ref 12/02129

New fire station for West Norwood to go ahead

Squatted building at 210 Knights Hill

The London Fire Brigade has been granted  permission for its plans for a brand new 3 bay fire station on Knights Hill. The independent planning inspector listened to arguments from local people and councillors but decided “ in a finely balanced decision… the need for a replacement fire station… outweighs  the loss of residential accommodation and the projected additional noise levels”.

The building at 210 Knights Hill is owned by Maudsley Hospital and is currently squatted. The building will be demolished to make way for the new fire station.

We will post any further news on the timetable and plans for the existing fire station on Norwood Road as soon as we get it.

For details of the planning application quote ref 10/02504 on Lambeth Council web site‘s planning pages .

New Pool gets closer

Plans for a health and leisure centre with a 100 station gym , dance studio & 25m swimming pool in West Norwood  are now awaiting the last  stages of approval by the NHS and Government.

Lambeth council and NHS Lambeth have  agreed  their final detailed proposals  for the centre, on the green opposite West Norwood train station. The plans are now with NHS London and  civil servants, firstly at  the Department for Communities and Local Government – which has already approved the funding in principle, and then at  The  Treasury.

Once agreed, building work could start in the summer 2012.

Fire station planning appeal

Proposed Fire Station site

Lambeth council refused planning  permission  to build a new firestation for West Norwood on the site of the care home at 210 Knights Hill in January 2011. The main reason for refusal was that regular activities such as training for fire fighters would cause  too much noise in a  residential area.

The Fire Brigade then appealed to the independent Planning Inspector against the council decision. The Planning Inspector has arranged to  listen to the arguments for and against the proposals at the YMCA , 40 Stockwell Road SW9 9ES  on Wednesday 25^th January . The hearing is in public but anyone wishing to speak to the Planning  Inspector must be present  at 10am to indicate they wish to do so. For advice on planning appeal hearings see: http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/pins/taking-part_planning-hearing.pdf

If you would like an more information about this hearing please contact Cllr Jane Pickard  jpickard@lambeth.gov.uk.

Details of the original planning application can be seen via  the Public Access database quoting  ref 10/02504  : http://planning.lambeth.gov.uk/publicaccess/. For detailsof the appeal quote case 2156756  at http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/planning/appeals/online/search

Snooker Club Update

West Norwood Snooker Club in Waylett Place

The local police, residents, businesses and councillors have concerns about anti-social behaviour around the Snooker Club in Waylett Place off Norwood Road and the impact of late night music and drinking at the Club on West Norwood town centre and nearby residential streets.  The Snooker Club is used mainly as a night club and only a few snooker tables are left.

For a number of months the local police have been working with the owners of the club to try to improve behaviour at the club.  Sadly recent events, including the tragic murder of a young man close to the club in August, suggest this approach is not working. Local councillors have now asked the Lambeth Licence Committee to review the licence arrangements. The Snooker Club is licensed to sell  alcohol from 12noon to 5am everyday and for music & dancing from 8pm to 5am Wednesdays to Sundays.

If you would like to comment on the licence and the running of the Snooker Club you must write to Lambeth Licensing, Blue Star House, 234-244 Stockwell Road, SW9 9SP or email licensing@lambeth.gov.uk. The deadline for comments is Wednesday 28^th September. The Licence Committee only looks at problems under four headings: public safety, preventing crime & disorder, public nuisance and protecting children from harm.

Alternatively you can  contact Cllr Jane Pickard on: jpickard@lambeth.gov.uk or 07805 943 085. Jane can pass on comments to the Licence Committee on your behalf  - and you can choose to remain anonymous.

Tennis club challenges council refusal

West Norwood Tennis Club

Plans to replace the existing West Norwood Tennis Club buildings off Cheviot Road with a six-storey mixed use building were turned down by the council on the 3rd December 2010. The developers have appealed against the council decision and a public hearing will take place on Tuesday 26th July at the South London YMCA, King George’s House, 40-46 Stockwell Road, London SW9 9ES. If you wish to speak at the hearing you must let the Planning Inspector know at the very start of the hearing . It is expected to last for two days. The reference of the appeal is APP/N5660/A/11/2144277.

For more details contact Sarah Dickens at Lambeth Planning, Phoenix House, Wandsworth Road, London SW8 2LL or  telephone  020 7926 1248.  Local councillor Jane Pickard is co-ordinating the views of local residents – contact Jane at jpickard@lambeth.gov.uk .

To see details of the original planning application look at the Public Access database on Lambeth‘s web site http://planning.lambeth.gov.uk/publicaccess/ and quote ref 10/01836. The council’s reasons for refusing this planning application are given in the decision notice on the database