Author: Cyril Richert
The latest Council’s Press Release has got a very interesting article about Clapham Junction History with a series of old photos that we will display here (hopefully there is no copyright infringement).
The article starts in 1856, when three railway companies who each had trains running through the area got together to build a station at the junction of several lines. Continue reading
Author: Cyril Richert
Existing segregated cycle lane on Lavender Hill
Following the tragic death of a cyclist more than four years ago, Transport for London is (eventually!) making some changes to the junction of Lavender Hill and Elspeth Road/Latchmere Road, in order to improve safety and reduce danger for cyclists.
In November 2020, local residents and businesses received a letter providing details of how this busy junction will be reconfigured. A number of changes are highlighted in the letter: Continue reading
Author: Cyril Richert
Hazel Court – Proposed development
The demolition of an existing one storey building at the back of the St Johns Hill’s Therapy Centre and the erection of a part 2 and 6 storey building comprising 159 co-living rooms has been refused by the Wandsworth Planning committee for the second time, despite officer’s recommendation on both applications. The developer is now appealing the decision.
A very similar proposal was presented before the committee in 2017 and was refused on the ground of massing and scale.The developer has come back with an even larger proposal this time (6 storeys instead of 5, 159 studio flats in co-living/equivalent of 88 dwellings, instead of 57 residential units).
Existing building
Proposed elevation against neighbouring properties.
Author: Cyril Richert
This may be the end of the story for a controversial proposal in Parma Crescent. After a third series of modifications and a new application, the scheme was approved.
Back in July, we reported on a the second attempt of a proposal to replace an unusually small house which had an unusually large garden on Parma Crescent with a rather larger building housing five flats. The planning application 2020/0906 was later withdrawn and replaced by a new application, 2020/3505.
The proposal was to replace a modest existing two-storey post-war house with a (quite) large garden and ancillary single-storey additions (garage, storeroom/shed, etc.) by a two storey building with rear roof dormer for 5 flats (all market rent, no affordable).This application was approved by Wandsworth Planning Committee on November 25th, 2020.
Author: Cyril Richert
Proposal (p.a. 2020/3421) made by W.RE (W. Real Estate limited), to redevelop Arding & Hobbs building at Clapham Junction, has been approved by Wandsworth Council.
Author: Cyril Richert
New Wetherspoon at the Junction
JD Wetherspoon has acquired the former Revolution site in the heart of Clapham Junction.
JD Wetherspoon has taken over the former Revolution cocktail bar at the junction of Lavender Hill and Falcon Road, within a stone’s throw of the Clapham Junction Station. The new pub, called The London and South Western (named after the railway), had just opened on Friday 4th… to close a week later as London was going into full lockdown again (and Christmas was cancelled!). Continue reading
Author: Cyril Richert
Current work on site – September 2020
After more than 6 months of complaints from local residents, Peabody have announced that they were prepared to offer an independent building survey undertaken by a building surveyor and structural engineer for the residents of Comyn Road and Eckstein Road, whose properties have been damaged by their ongoing construction site.
At the same time, Sisk, their construction site company, has instructed a report from acoustic consultants to suggest other methods that could be used to keep noise to a minimum. Continue reading
Author: Cyril Richert
The Local Government Boundary Commission has published its final recommendations for new electoral arrangements for Wandsworth Council. You will notice little changes from our previous interim report. The Boundary Commission purpose was to take into account the population change in most of the areas of the borough, especially with the huge increase created by the ongoing redevelopment in Nine Elms. The conclusion highlight two major changes: most of the wards have changed shape (the exception being West Hill which remains the same) and sometime names; and the number of councillors (currently 60) should be reduced at 58, with 14 three-councillor wards and 8 two-councillor wards across the borough.
As we can see with the comparison below, the Boundary Commission final proposal is a mix between the Tory and Labour proposals (with a pinch of salt from CJAG, as you will see in our next section below). Continue reading
Author: Cyril Richert
Asda’s planning application (2020/3073) was approved last week, by officer’s delegation (which means it did not go before the Councillor’s committee but was just ratified by a planning officer). However it is worth reading the details of the officer’s report, as we discovered that Asda amended their plan to ditch their very controversial idea of replacing all greenery by a porous resin finish.
Amendments: Proposed removal of trees and vegetation to gardens and landscaped areas and replacement porous resin omitted from the proposals. Landscaped areas would either be retained, or existing low lying vegetation removed and replaced with bark mulch and replacement planting.
Therefore it appears that what is approved is only painting the existing white paint elements of the building with a dark grey colour, and refurbishing the clock tower (including fixing of the clocks).
Example of bark mulch ground
However, as we suspected, it is a cost cutting exercise and while existing trees should be retained, some of the lower vegetation should be replaced by “low maintenance ground” covered with bark mulch.
Author: Cyril Richert
When he declared last year about the environmental ambition of the borough “I know Wandsworth residents will want to help and play their part in achieving that goal“, Ravi Govindia, the leader of Wandsworth Council, was right!
Since our article on Asda wanting to remove all greenery around the premises, including mature trees and thick hedges, we have received several comments including proposal on what instead should have been a good move from the store operator. Continue reading
