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Fears that design is ‘like a prison’ and not fit for elderly
• YOUR article on the proposed redevelopment of the Douglas and Olive Waite houses site (Battle to save old people’s homes, October 9) and residents’ protest has had a strong impact on the community.
Over the past two years, Octavia, registered social landlords and owners of the site, have been consulting on redevelopment. The proposal submitted for planning permission has caused consternation in the local community and deep divisions among residents of the existing blocks.
A large number of “permanent” tenants have complained about the dimensions of the new development, the loss of focus on elderly residential living and inadequate provision of play space for children if family dwellings are to be built. Further, they feel the design of the new building would be like a prison, not fit for the elderly in their later years. Moreover, many feel that they have not been properly consulted and their concerns/ complaints discounted, resulting in a general feeling that the proposed new development is being imposed in a heavyhanded manner.
From a planning perspective, I believe that Octavia needs to take into account the concerns expressed by over 50 neighbours who came out on one Sunday morning in the pouring raining to object to the demolition of the existing structure for one whose design, mass and bulk is not in keeping with the conservation area. Further, neighbours object to the loss of visible green space and the sense of enclosure of the proposed building. All this is not typical of the conservation area.
Good social housing and modernised facilities are of importance in the area and I welcome attempts to achieve these. But in this instance, I am concerned for the fate of existing residents, those of the neighbours close by, and about the impact on the conservation area.
I urge Octavia to take this development off the table and look again at the scheme, re-engage with existing residents and the local community to find a better solution.
Cllr Don Williams
Conservative, Swiss Cottage ward
Charming residence
• AS a long-standing committee member of the Combined Residents of South Hampstead I support the efforts of our chairperson, Sue Esterson, in assembling a large number of tenants and neighbours of the Waite houses to a demonstration against the virtual phasing out of this very charming, architect-built, residential block.
The Waite houses, with their pleasant aspect would have met with the approval of that great English social reformer and humanitarian, Octavia Hill, who was the moving force behind the development of social housing and subsequent establishment of the National Trust.
Audrey Whiting
Compayne Gardens, NW6 |
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