The country's top architecture experts CABE have reviewed the plans and think they should be refused. You can read their scathing report online.
Alternatively, here's a quick summary of the best bits...
CABE says that the scheme is poor quality: “We wish to support Waltham Forest Council in demanding a high quality development on this prominent site. We regret to say, we do not think this will be achieved by the current application scheme.”
CABE says that it's too tall and that the only place that a tall building (above 7 storeys) can be countenanced is on the corner of Hoe Street: “We understand that an Interim Planning Policy Framework exists for this site, which recommends development of between 5 and 7 stories. We support this policy, as a well judged guide to the scale of development appropriate for this site. The location where a hotel is proposed, on Hoe Street, is the one area where we think a taller building could be considered. Elsewhere we think the height of the development should be significantly reduced, to achieve a scale more sympathetic to its context. The stepping form of the slab blocks currently proposed will have a damaging visual impact on Walthamstow town centre. The slab blocks either side of the attractive station building are overbearingly dominant. We also think it is unacceptable for ten floors of balconies to overlook private gardens to the south on Priory Avenue.”
CABE is highly critical of the architecture: “The architecture of this scheme attempts to interpret the terraced building forms traditional to Walthamstow, stretched vertically to fit the massive height of the proposed development. We think this is not successful, resulting in an incoherent, inelegant and badly proportioned design. As well as recommending that Waltham Forest demands a reduced scale of development, we also urge the design team to adopt a calmer and simpler architectural approach. We think the brash architecture proposed will cause blight, rather than promoting regeneration. The joint CABE / EH Guidance on Tall Buildings sets out criteria for evaluating tall building proposals. This states that “to be acceptable, any new tall building should …be of first-class design quality in its own right and should enhance the qualities of its immediate location”. We do not think the current planning application meets this test.”
CABE think the application should be refused: “CABE recommends that this planning application is refused, and that a revised scheme is brought forward with a reduced amount of development of higher architectural quality.”
Now, is the council going to take any notice...?
Friday, 29 October 2010
Top architects object to Solum's planned Walthamstow tower blocks
Solum employs dirty tactics
No doubt they are hoping to use the results to prove demand for their development - but the council needs to be smart enough to realise that a vote for regeneration doesn't have to mean a vote for these low-quality high-rise plans; regeneration could take a better shape. Our council could be more proactive in resisting the plans, as other councils have done. For example, Richmond Council has just approved a new planning document that limits height in response to a similar high-rise scheme by Solum for Twickenham Station, forcing them to go back to the drawing board.
If you'd like to object to Solum's smooth "newsletter" you can email chris.yearsley@lexcomm.co.uk (although if you only have time to do one thing, please make it an email or letter to the council objecting to the plans!) Read More......
Thursday, 14 October 2010
Vote to SaveOurStow
Read More......
Monday, 11 October 2010
How to object to Solum's plans
As promised, here's how to object to Solum's high-rise, low-quality plans for Walthamstow Central station car park (see the stories below for more details of the plans).
Please spare a few minutes ASAP to object to the plans - by emailing or writing to Ian Ansell (dcmail@walthamforest.gov.uk FAO: Ian Ansell), Development Management, Sycamore House, Town Hall Complex, Forest Road, London E17 4JF. Please quote "Application number 2010/1047 (1-2, 3,4,5,6 and 10, Station Approach, Hoe Street and 1,2,3 Station Approach, Selborne Road Walthamstow London E17 9QF)"
If you're stuck for what to say about them, the rough text of the points we're planning to make is below (click on "Read More..."). Please use them as inspiration. By all means copy and paste the bits you agree with but please be sure to say a few unique things yourself, or use your own words, because your objection will carry much more weight if it is unique...
Re: Application number 2010/1047 (1-2, 3,4,5,6 and 10, Station Approach, Hoe Street and 1,2,3 Station Approach, Selborne Road Walthamstow London E17 9QF)
I am writing to object to these plans on the following grounds:
1. Massing
The scheme is out of scale. It will overshadow and dominate Victorian houses on Priory Avenue (4.1, Urban Design Supplementary Planning Document). The massing is also out of keeping with surrounding blocks (5.7.1, 5.7.2 and 5.9.2 Urban Design Supplementary Planning Document). The 13 storey hotel block sits too close to Hoe Street and is far taller than the existing tallest local building – Tower Mews, which is already unpopular with local residents.
The Prince's Foundation plan for Walthamstow Town Centre recommended no more than 5-7 storey buildings (www.walthamforest.gov.uk/walthamstow-sec3-massing-may08.pdf) for the site. And Waltham Forest's IPPF, derived from The Prince's Foundation report, says new developments must: "demonstrate, if a tall building is included in the scheme, how the development creates an attractive landmark enhancing London’s character, helps to provide a coherent location for economic clusters of related activities and/ or acts as a catalyst for regeneration and takes into account design and impact on their surroundings. (LP 4B.8)" (www.walthamforest.gov.uk/master-plan-ippf.pdf).
Allowing higher massing will also set a bar for other developers in the town centre to aspire to. Waltham Forest council should be sending a clear message that enough is enough.
2. New public square
The plan features retail units around a new public square. Yet this space will likely fail as it will be dominated by blocks that will tower over it, with one side of the square also used by loading lorries and other vehicles (including likely cabs from the proposed taxi office).
3. Design of buildings
There is little from the plans to indicate a high quality of design, or a design that is in keeping with its surrounds. And the current design also puts the tallest building at the entrance to the site – creating a visual barrier to the site. The current existing buildings at the entrance of the site are quality Victorian buildings and should be protected (5.7.4, Urban Design Supplementary Planning Document). Their retention would improve the site.
4. Links to town centre
The plan is still not effectively linked to central Walthamstow's main civic spaces – the town square/High Street. And therefore it risks further splitting Walthamstow residents as to how they come out of the station. The hotel also will add nothing to Walthamstow's economic vitality and viability – with unattractive links from the site to the High Street etc. – and most likely residents of the hotel will simply be commuters who will shop, eat, drink etc. (spending their money) at Liverpool Street or in central London.
5. Quality of design
The designs bear little relation to the surrounding area and feature large repetitive facades of low-quality design, made worse by their sheer scale/height. This is meant to be a key site for the future of Walthamstow town centre – but it clearly sets a very low bar in terms of future development in terms of quality of design.
CABE, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, said of Solum's Epsom scheme: "We do not think this scheme should receive planning approval, and are disappointed by the low quality approach to the design of both the station, and the associated retail, hotel and residential development… We understand it is the first of a series of station redevelopment projects… This approach… should not be rolled out to the other stations... A fundamental rethink is required… to achieve greater improvements to the station, a great place to live, and an architectural character more responsive to Epsom." (www.cabe.org.uk/design-review/epsom-railway-station-2). Fairly obviously, given the pictures on CABE's website, and the proposed mix of uses in the Epsom scheme, the opposite is happening – Solum are rolling out a low-quality one-size-fits-all scheme with hotel, residential, retail and tower blocks as bog standard as they can get away with.
6. Lack of overall plan
There is a parcel of land attached to the site that hasn't been included in the plans – and is set to be sold off at a later date. Given the strategic importance of the site in the town centre and its creation of new public space, but with only one point of access to the whole site, it's vital this land and plans for it are considered in concert with the rest of the site. That hasn't been done yet, and there's no guarantee it will be.
Sunday, 3 October 2010
'Especially for you'
NO!??!Turns out 'Solum' [S'lum, SoGlum, Golum, SoLumpy, Soul-less; please feel free to add you own], is 'an exciting joint venture' [lucrative co-op] between 'Kier and Network Rail'. But if you thought those kindly chaps at SoGlum had chosen Walthamstow because it offers them [and us, of course] unique opportunities; 'stop right there, thank you very much'. Far from it, S'lum are hoping to deposit there visions of low-quality-sub-shopping mall, 2-a-penny-motel, tower blocks all over the South East. In 8 different locations to be exact.
Its a bit like being given a cheap and pretty crap present by your boss, and then finding out he was giving them to quite a few people actually, and he got them free at the conference he just came back from. You're not worth much effort, and your not vey special.
Epsom is the first past the post with the Plans for the Solum treatment. [It is not clear how they won this prestigious award, super lucky I guess]. To give you a flavour of what's in store for all of the 'Fortun8'. This is what CABE [Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment]; indeed, 'the Government's advisor on architecture, design and public space', have to say about Golum's plans
"We do not think this scheme should receive planning approval, and are disappointed by the low quality approach to the design of both the station, and the associated retail, hotel and residential development. "
"We are particularly concerned about the poor quality of this scheme, as we understand it is the first of a series of station redevelopment projects to be brought forward by a partnership between Kier and Network Rail"
"In our view this approach is not acceptable, and should not be rolled out to the other stations where Kier and Network Rail are in partnership. In our view a fundamental rethink is required, starting with revisions to the client brief, to achieve greater improvements to the station, a great place to live, and an architectural character more responsive to Epsom"
Well if that's what CABE thinks, there's no way it'll get past those sterling fellows in the council. Standing tall [but not too tall] for high quality, design led development, as they do.
They do don't they?
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
Tower block plans online – object to them now!
 |
| View from the south - note how the blocks beautifully frame (read: TOTALLY DWARF) the station in between them! |
The basic info about the application can be found on the council’s website. This being Waltham Forest council, when we visited the site we couldn’t access detailed documents, but no problem – we’ve got hold of a copy and uploaded them to the web ourselves!
To see the plans in all their g(l)ory you can download this 5MB PDF file. Beware… late night reading might give you nightmares about the future of Walthamstow.
Our biggest concerns are that the tower blocks are too tall for the area, of poor design quality and won’t integrate well with the rest of the town centre. We’re not opposed to the idea of developing the car park – we just think it’s an important location that deserves something better than being carpet bombed with generic tower blocks by greedy developers.
You can email your objections to dcmail@walthamforest.gov.uk quoting planning application number 2010/1047. However horrid you think the proposals are, please try object on valid planning grounds. You could also email your ward councillors and tell them why you think this development would be bad news for Walthamstow. Read More......
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
Another 'Crime against Design'
Friday, 23 July 2010
12-storey tower block - incoming!!!
Alert! Alert! The word on the street is that Solum's planning application to stick a whopping great big tower block on the Walthamstow Central station car park is imminent. Like, next week imminent.
They're sneaky so-and-sos at Solum. They did their "public exhibition" with the bare minimum of publicity, and over just two days, so many people missed it. And now they're putting in for planning permission just as school summer holidays start, so loads of people will miss the consultation period. It's almost as if they wanted to steamroller this rumoured to be 12 STOREY TOWER BLOCK through without objections!
Yep, they've cut the height from 14 to 12 storeys according to our sources. Woo! And there's minimal affordable housing in the development, and very little family housing, so it really doesn't give Walthamstow anything positive at all. There's also no parking planned, despite the development including a hotel. Oh and it's still pig ugly - see above.
We'll let you know ASAP when you can send your objections, so do please check your email when you and the family are off on holiday ;-)
Thursday, 1 July 2010
St Modwen Are Back!
St Modwen return with new Arcade site plan
Having pulled out of a scheme to develop Walthamstow’s Arcade site with a tower containing homes, shops and community facilities St Modwen have approached the council again.
Since the council's pledge to develop the site with £30 million of taxpayers money is now dead in the water as public spending is dramatically cut, St Modwen have returned with a new “market orientated” scheme.
Council leader Chris Robbins, who ordered the site to be brought back into community use last year, said: “The council has agreed to allow St Modwen until early July to submit details of their proposals.
Watch this space for news of an entirely similar plan to blot the Walthamstow landscape.
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
TOWER MADDNESS II
Move over St Mediocre, your time has been and gone.
Step forward 'Walthamstow Central Station'; for it is you that has been chosen.
BIGGER, BADDER, AND BLOCKIER than ever, the Stow has yet again been singled out for a gratuitous multistorey redevelopment.
Barry's report from the Public Consultation follows, and if you want to see the proposals in all their gory (sic) then follow these links:
The proposals
Consultation questionnaire
Please send completed questionnaires to Philippa Curran at P.Curran@broadwaymalyan.com
The exhibition itself was extremely modest covering only two display stands and with no handouts giving details of the development it was unclear how anyone could form a reasonable view about what is being proposed. So be it. This is my view on what I saw.
The central feature of the redevelopment is an hotel. The build which will front onto Hoe Street will be over a third higher than the Tower Mews block opposite the station. Behind the hotel would be a lower block containing flats and smallish retail outlets. In front of the station entrance will be a public square. Near where the existing car park is it is proposed to build housing – all flats, a mixture of social, essential workers etc, and Phase 2 would extend the housing farther into what is now the car park.
The build is modern, having little in common with the surrounding build, except possibly the unattractive Barclay Bank block on the corner of Hoe Street. Talking to the representatives of the developers, they placed great emphasis on the importance of the hotel, apparently we’re crying out for a 3 star budget hotel, and the additional jobs the hotel would provide at around 200.
To my mind it’s just another one of those modern, brutish developments which seek to wring out maximum revenue from a limited site. Nothing wrong with trying to make money, but why, oh, why is the template always the same. It is airport architecture: you could be anywhere. There is not the slightest nod in the direct of the particular Victorian size, height and mass of Walthamstow. What we’re getting is over powering towers. Tower Mews is currently the tallest building by a wide mile at the moment. If this gets the nod the sky will be the limit!!
Ironies of ironies, the plans include “respecting the local heritage status of the station.” By building a wall of brick and concrete around it.
We have a Labour controlled Council – with a full four year mandate and if its leader Councillor Chris Robbins is to be believed “We want to go forward on the regeneration with added vigour - Blackhorse Lane, Walthamstow town centre, Leyton, and want to move forward at a fast pace,”
If the merits of this development are to be fully tested; all of us who believe that Walthamstow deserves more than a third rate hotel need to get engaged.
Thursday, 15 April 2010
Council to break 'Homes Policy' Guidlines
A LARGE housing development by Hadley Homes, which goes against current policies on the density of new schemes will be considered by councillors next week. Officers have recommended that an application to build 562 homes in blocks up to seven-storeys high on industrial land off Billet Road, Walthamstow, should be approved to address a shortage of affordable properties.
Hadley Homes also want to include four shops, business space and community facilities - including a health centre - on land at the Billet Works, Kimberley Industrial Estate and former Tyco building in Higham Hill.
Planning documents state: “The density, height and scale of some parts of the scheme are challenging.” [Challenging = Of little benefit to anyone except Hadley Homes]
Residents, The Metropolitan Police’s Crime Prevention and Design Advisor, and the Primary Care Trust have all raised serious concerns about the development, including its density, increased traffic and security, but as yet the council has failed to address any of them.
The application will be considered by the Planning Committee on Tuesday (April 13).
http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/8090336.WALTHAMSTOW__Homes_plan/
Thomas, James, and Henry - Disappointed
WALTHAMSTOW Central Station is set to be transformed under plans for £500m investment by Network Rail and construction firm Kier. Working together under the name Solum Regeneration, [clearly a front for the Fat Controller and Naughty Diesel] the companies plan to regenerate stations across south-east England.
Walthamstow Central is one of seven stations that will be among the first to get an overhaul.
Plans have not yet been unveiled, but the partnership is hoping to create retail developments close to the stations to help with the regeneration. [This will include re-landscaping much of the surrounding area with trees and bushes made from painted sponge, and the farming of cotton wool sheep]
A public consultation [hosted by Ringo Starr] on the plans for Walthamstow Central will take place later this month, but a date has not yet been confirmed.
Walthamstow Guardian article; http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/8090226.WALTHAMSTOW__Station_ea/
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
PLANNING COMMITTEE LATEST
Thanks to Adrian Stannard of the WALTHAM FOREST CIVIC SOCIETY for this latest planning update.
At last night's Planning Comittee there were many surprises. Firstly, the downstairs public gallery was full so I had to sit in the upstairs one [which I have not done for many years] - an indication of the publicwanting to engage in the political process - good news. Further good news was that the first two items, 154 - 160 Kings HeadHill and 454-458 Larkshall Road, both very similar and were rejected. Earlier schemes had been rejected but the developers, both housing associations supported by our taxes, have appealed.
For the Guardian's report. http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/wfnews/5037356.LIVE__Planning_committe/
We also recieved notice regarding the Whitehouse Estate, Leyton Green Road. L&Q want to demolish an existing housing estate and put in a largerone that will damage the current street scene. The existing 1920s estate is only 2 storeys but L&Q, using the same footprint, want to build a 6 storey development with no care about the street scene. Wewill be objecting.
Monday, 8 February 2010
Temporary uses for the Arcade Site
Temporary ice rink on the Arcade site
Good effort or embarrassment?
Once again the Council massively under delivered. Luckily this winter came to rescue and provided us with a real ice rink, but that just highlighted what a farce the Council’s efforts were. The carousel on the site was so much better but even that could not lift the sense of abject failure that hangs over the site.
Let us remind ourselves of what we were told last July.
“On 25 July 2009 the Arcade site, at the junction of Hoe Street and High Street, was opened up to the public as a temporary events/ activity/ community space. The site was prepared with a hard surface to provide maximum flexibility for possible future interim uses. The 25 July also saw the beginning of a 6 week public consultation exercise which sought to capture the views of the local community as to what events/ activities/ uses they would like to see on this space over the next 18 months-2years.”
The consultation exercise involved a questionnaire, an independent survey and a discussion group with key stakeholders and residents. The resulting Report , published last October, identified a wide range of activities and preferences, which the Report broke down into 6 categories; Performance, Events, Art Projects, Markets, Retail and Sports. Enough material, you would have thought, to enable the Council to do more than erect a flea bitten ice rink.
It gets worse than that. An ice rink was a popular choice in the “Events” category, with kids especially keen on the idea. What they got was a disgrace. But what about the Art Exhibitions, Cinema, Music, Dance or even the idea of a Space for Small Businesses which were amongst the many ideas generated during the consultation?
There has been nothing from the Council since October. Except now it plans to charge campaigners for setting up stalls in the Town Square.
Friday, 20 November 2009
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
Er, do you own a scanner?!
The Art Trail postcard exhibitions (shown here at the Rose & Crown) were a huge success, generating loads more entries packed with ideas for the Arcade site.
We now have 288 postcards to scan so we can present councillors with the vast array of ideas that residents have to offer. If you have a scanner at home or at work and could help with this then please email us at mail@fighttheheight.co.uk (if a few of us each scanned 40 postcards - which is 10 A4 scans - it would make light work of it!)
Thursday, 17 September 2009
Cabinet get another Turkey ready for Christmas
Adrian Stannard [Waltham Forest Civic Society] provides us with a window on the Council Grotto, determined as ever to serve us with the lowest common denominator fare, no matter how inappropriate or unsound.
The Cabinet split along party lines this evening when the Liberals declined to support this report (attached) . The vote 6 Labour to 4 Liberals meant the report was passed and the council will look for a developer for the Arcade site which will include a swimming pool and cinema.
The Scutiny Committee raised 3 issues
1. A feasibility study was needed and a full financial appraisal before the proposals are progressed any further.
2. A feasibility study is needed inorder to assess whether the provision of a swimming pool/leisure centre would fulfil the role of an "anchor" tenant.
3. Any decisions concerning the Arcade site should be delayed until the current contractural agreement with St Modwen's has expired and the conclusions of the Healthy Living Hub exercise are reported to Cabinet in January 2010.
Cllr Sullivan, Chair of Scrutiny, said the council was heading for massive deficits and the Arcade proposals were unaffordable and "damn reckless".
Cllr Wheeler said these points were covered in his report and it was easy to find reasons not to proceed. "We know we have a package that will work". Financial arrangements will work but are "novel". It was necessary to move on otherwise the opportunity is lost.
Cllr Macklin was concerned at the interweaving of the Arcade site and the Pool & Track, whereas sports provision needed to be improved. Work should stop on the Arcade site plans and the council should focus on the other major issues that are looming. Taking the pool away still leaves the track to be managed.
Those in the public gallery gave a resounding support to Cllr Macklin's speech but were silent at the end of Cllr Wheeler.
Adrian Stannard
There have been an unfeasable number of feasability studies done so far, and yet so much of what has reached the planning stage has been utter tosh. It is time to take a step back, ignore the political / election driven imperatives to be seen to be doing something, anything, it doesn't matter what it is, and reconsider the vision for the whole town centre, including the EMD cinema.
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
“And the wooden spoon goes to…”
It’s not all hard slog and protesting for Fight The Height’s foot soldiers. On Sunday 13th September at The Rose and Crown in Hoe Street their hard work was handsomely recognised. In front of an enthusiastic audience, FTH received a special commendation from Capacities Ltd for its ongoing Arcade Site campaign and on hand to receive a framed certificate and a wooden spoon was the group’s secretary, Barry Coidan.
The award ceremony was part of the first Ceausescu Awards run by Capacities Ltd, an educational agency promoting better participation of citizen in the design and management of city amenities. These “bad building prizes” are named after a remark made by Boris Johnson during his 2008 Mayoral campaign in which he accused his opponent of encouraging “Ceausescu – like projects”. Steve Butters, the agency’s director, addressed the audience for a few minutes to explain the agency’s aim and why Waltham Forest Council’s Arcade site scheme would have made Nicolae and Elena proud.
Other shortlisted projects, characterised by oppressive scale, bulldozed planning and architectural hype, included the Peninsula Square in Greenwich, Dalston Square in Hackney, the Aldgate Union Tower in Tower Hamlets and Newham’s Queens Market at Upton Park. Dalston Square won the golden spoon award with Queens Market scooping the silver spoon.
And the fight goes on. Our Council is still pursuing a major development on the Arcade site which would include a substantial tower – albeit financed by the Council Tax payers rather than private speculators. The Arcade site is now paved over: the Council belatedly seeking our views on what should fill the temporary open space. Anyone at the Day of Action in support of the EMD Cinema at the Rose and Crown would have seen the huge response to Fight The Height’s postcard project offering alternative uses for the Arcade site. We’ll happily share Waltham Forest’s residents’ ideas with our Council – if they have a big enough post bag!
If you’re intrigued by the Ceausescu awards and/or Capacities Ltd you can contact them at capacities@smithfield.co.uk.
St Modwen Give Back Handers?
It has been scurrilously reported in this Guardian article
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/sep/11/mg-rover-phoenix-four
and this Telegraph article
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/6176440/St-Modwen-
that St Modwen, those fine, upstanding, members of the urban development community, protectors of architectural heritage, and bastions of sustainable living, offered bribes to those Phoenix Four scallywags.
I'm sure its just some sort of misunderstanding kind of thing; not so much a bribe as offering money to important officials to help them see complex decisions in a more straightforward and simple way. [So, definitely not a bribe then]
I am sure that when a thorough investigation is done, the reputation of those excellent St Modwen chaps will remain.
Wednesday, 2 September 2009
How to object to the Cinema plans
Please visit www.mcguffin.org.uk/object
Or come to the Day Of Action on the 13th! (see below)
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
The key cinema planning documents
If you only read two of the zillions of documents about the UCKG church's planning application then make it these two:
FormerGranadaCinemaDocandAppendices.pdf
PlanningStatementFINAL.pdf
We're teaming up with McGuffins to draft ideas for objections. We'll post them here soon. The deadline for objections is Monday 14th September.
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Newsflash: Cinema planning application online (see below)
Neither the UCKG church or the Council have seen fit to make the planning application available online. So here it is - see the zillions of links below!
We'll post details of how to object to the plans ASAP.
Applicationform27.07.09-revised.pdf
Coverltr-27.07.09.pdf
DaySunReportJune2009Addendum.pdf
environmentalnoiseimpactassessmentdr.pdf
FormerGranadaCinemaDocandAppendices.pdf
PlanningStatementFINAL.pdf
SupportingConsultationDocandAppendic.pdf
WattsSurveypt1-4.pdf
WattsSurveypt5-photo.pdf
drawingschedule12.08.09.doc
auditoriumsubex.pdf
auditoriumsubPROP100.pdf
ExistingGFS.100USE.pdf
frontrearelevprop.pdf
GAFSRdemoA.pdf
GFSRPRPGENFINA.pdf
locationplan1A-1250.pdf
mainelevexpropA.pdf
Massingaxonometricexistingandpropose.pdf
rearsideelevationsexpropA.pdf
REARelevexprop.pdf
resi2nd100B.pdf
RPRPGENFINA.pdf
sectionexpropmin3B.100.pdf
sectionmainUSE.pdf
Sesame_Access_Information_Pack.pdf
SRPRPGENFINA.pdf
steps50_.prop.pdf
foyer-doorwayex-prop.pdf
Full-Report.pdf
design-and-access-statement.pdf
conservation-statement.pdf
090623_16485-01-1_R_Final_v.2.pdf
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
Last call for postcard exhibition
Our exciting exhibition of ideas for the Arcade site will be at the Changing Room Gallery, Lloyd Park (31 August - 6 September), and as part of the E17 Art Trail at the Rose & Crown pub on Hoe Street (5-13 September).
So please grab a postcard*, fill it in and send it to us to arrive by next Friday, the 28th. Thanks!
Please encourage your children, friends, family and neighbours to take part too, we really do want everyone's ideas. And of course if you want to see the EMD cinema saved, you could propose a development that connects with it...
* You can pick up a postcard from venues including: Ye Olde Rose & Crown Theatre Pub, Waterstones, The Mall information point, Co-operative Bank, Daisy's, Sainsbury's, L'Hirondelle, Second Nature, Hornbeam, Caliente, Penny Fielding's Beautiful Interiors.
Or download one from the "We want YOUR ideas on a postcard!" story below. Or email your details asap to mail@fighttheheight.co.uk and we can send you a postcard.
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
Arcade Site - Have Your Say
Follow the link below to the Councils Consultation Questionnaire.
If you want a car park, a pig farm, or a 1 : 2.6 scale model of Uluru then make sure you let the council know. Otherwise we'll have a couple of crummy old fair ground rides, and some new seats for the open-air-drinking club for the next 2 years.
http://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/surveys/arcade/arcadejuly09.htm
Thursday, 9 July 2009
It's not all bad news.
Summarising a year of "catastrophic" write downs, Bill Oliver, St Modwen's chief executive admitted "we are at the lowest ebb, [but] we don't think we've reached the bottom."
Whilst it doesn't look likely that St Modwen will actually collapse, The Financial Times noted
"with the property market likely to stay moribund for some time, it is hard to get excited about the prospects for the sector"
An appropriate comment also in relation to the 'car park' which the council have built for us. I am finding it very hard to get excited about the prospects for this sector. However, the Grand Opening is coming up, and it will be fun.
A bouncy castle, face painting and some jugglers in a car park. Yet again Waltham Forest Council striving to get the very best for Walthamstow.
Friday, 3 July 2009
We want YOUR ideas on a postcard!
You can pick up a postcard from venues including: Ye Olde Rose & Crown Theatre Pub, Waterstones, The Mall information point, Co-operative Bank, Daisy's, Penny Fielding's Beautiful Interiors.
Download the postcard
Download a bigger picture to work on (A4 horizontal)
Download a bigger picture to work on (A4 vertical, including cinema)
Download a front elevation to sketch your idea in 3D
Download the project brief for schools/students/parents
Download the brief for architects
Download the poster for shops, pubs, etc
Saturday, 27 June 2009
Here we go again
The Planning Inspectorate report found nothing wrong with the design, bulk or height of the proposed build – rather he said that “In terms solely of design, this could be a development of which the Borough would be proud. ....and would be attractive to behold and would excite and delight.” The SoS’s rejection was because of the housing mix of the proposed development not the height and bulk of the tower blocks.
So why should FtH be interested to this development – which is not in our borough and miles away from the Arcade? The worrying thing is that Hackney Council refused planning permission on the grounds that a tower building would be inappropriate. Yet the Planning Inspectorate found in favour, and praised the design. Ironic since that the proposed tower is only ½ mile away from where the local council tower blocks were blown up 20 years ago – to be replaced by low rise housing.
The Lea Navigation Canal running towards the Limehouse Basin is overwhelmed by high rise, massive developments. They are eyes sores. But somehow, planners don’t get it. They have to meet the dwelling density targets and developers have to jack up their profits. The result is a design famine which is devastating in its effects on the neighbourhood and people sense of place.
And, of course, the Lesney development is a “landmark” project. Under that label, any design can be shoe horned in; no matter how inappropriate.
Even with a sympathetic Council, large tower block schemes are being approved. What’s clear is that the local and wider community has to make it voice heard if we’re to get something in Walthamstow that is not a planning and community disaster.
Monday, 15 June 2009
Arcade temporary design set in stone
A council regeneration officer has finally clarified what is happening with the Arcade site's temporary use. The design has basically been decided on, and any public consultation will simply be about what uses the resulting triangle of blank space will be put to (see drawing below).
Here's what she had to say:
"Council Officers have investigated alternative surfaces for the Arcade site with the objective of enabling the maximum number of potential temporary uses on the site. As the site may only be in temporary use for 18 months to 2 years the Council is seeking to use the most economical materials and, where possible, those which can be re-used elsewhere once work begins on the long-term project. Soft landscaping would be very expensive if it were to be undertaken to the standard which Walthamstow Town Centre deserves and it would not enable the variety of interim uses the Council would like to offer the community. The existing town square and gardens are in close proximity to the site.
"The consultation with the public will be on uses for the site and not the design of the site. There will be planters on the site to add foilage and colour to the scheme. There could be a play facility on the site as it is possible to lay a temporary safety surface."
Hmm, we wonder if "public consultation" on the long-term use of the site will be just allow us to say what uses we think the £35m swimming pool should be put to...
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
Arcade planning application
It's a classic council move...
They have announced a public consultation on what the temporary use of the Arcade should be.
Pox pops in this week's WFM magazine all say it should be a park.
And yet the council has already filed a planning application to cover a big triangular section of the site with a hard surface, prior to consultation, but pretty much precluding any possibility of it being a park.
Not got time to see the planning application yourself? Click on the picture above to see for yourself. The good news is they're ruling out car parking. The triangle of land, with a couple of trees reinstated on Hoe Street near the bus stops, will back onto a 2.4m high hoarding that fences off the wasteground behind houses on Cleveland Park Avenue.
If you want to object, the application is number 2009/0669/LA and you can send objections to Development Management Group, LBWF, Sycamore House, Forest Road, London E17 4JF by 29 June 2009.
Saturday, 30 May 2009
AGT - Arcade's Got Talent
And so the Arcade Show goes on. Bulldozers are due on-site on Monday to level the area, in to prepare the ground for a temporary public space.
There are a number of contenders bidding to become an alternative to the 'tower-block-cinema-hotel-swimming-pool fiasco'. Although there is a commitment to involve the public, it is unclear at what stage this will be. Let's hope we don't have to spend weeks watching a panel of the vacuous and the unhinged, select our choices for us.
It's good to see the council responding to public pressure, and planning to make use of the space, but it is essential that they outline exactly how the decision making process will operate, and make it possible for local residents to actively participate in it.
For more information check out the article below;
http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/wfnews/4405231.WALTHAMSTOW__Arcade_site_to_be_opened_for_temporary_public_use/
Unfortunately the council is still seriously contemplating the 'tower-block-cinema-hotel-swimming-pool-fiasco', and they have applied to consider the need for an Environmental Impact Assessment. For more info see;
http://planning.walthamforest.gov.uk/PlanningExplorer/Generic/StdDetails.aspx?PT=Planning%20Applications%20On-Line&TYPE=PL/PlanningPK.xml&PARAM0=116665&XSLT=/PlanningExplorer/SiteFiles/Skins/walthamforest/xslt/PL/PLDetails.xslt&FT=Planning%20Application%20Details&PUBLIC=Y&XMLSIDE=/PlanningExplorer/SiteFiles/Skins/walthamforest/Menus/PL.xml&DAURI=PLANNING
