We have written to the Planning Department to raise concerns regarding the proposal for the demolition of the existing garages and the erection of two new 2 storey dwellings, landscaping works, air source heat pump equipment and other associated works in the private garden of Devonport 23 Southwick Street London W2 2PR.
We visited the site on Friday 13th January to see for ourselves how the proposed development will impact on nearby residents and would make the following points:
- We were surprised that the garden area was smaller than we had expected and our initial reaction was that the area is simply too small to build two houses.
- Because of the small size of the site, the construction of two new properties would require the loss of two mature trees and take an area of the garden in front of the new houses. The garden is currently a haven for birds and the loss of these two trees will have a negative impact.
- The proposed houses will be very close to existing homes and will present a blank wall to residents in Somers Crescent, reducing the environmental standards that existing residents currently enjoy. This cannot be justified.
- The noise from the proposed heat pumps will create an unacceptable disturbance due to their proximity to existing residents.
- The proposed entrance to the new houses requires the occupants and their visitors to walk through the garden. This will cause unacceptable noise and disturbance to existing residents at night when the gardens are not currently in use.
- We are concerned about the quality of the accommodation proposed. The ground floor will have no windows on three sides and the fourth side will look out on to a well-used car park directly outside. The upper floor will look directly on to the garden area, considerably reducing the quality of the public garden currently enjoyed by existing residents.
- We understand that the Church Commissioners intend to rent these flats and we are concerned that these flats will not provide long term homes for families, but will be short term accommodation, with a high turnover of residents who have no interest in being good neighbours. We see the evidence of this all around the Hyde Park Estate.
- There is no doubt that the construction will take a considerable time, during which the garden area will not be a pleasant place to sit and relax.
We know there is a housing crisis, but these two proposed houses will contribute very little to relieving the crisis and we do not believe that the damage done to the garden and the impact on existing residents is worth it.
We have asked for these concerns be brought to the attention of the Planning Committee
Councillor Judith Southern and Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Hyde Park Ward