Preethi Manuel REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED E-mail: REDACTEDREDACTED 5th March 2012

Dear David Cameron, Prime Minister

BORIS JOHNSON, MAYOR OF LONDON GLENDA JACKSON, MP FOR HAMPSTEAD & HIGHGATE BRIAN COLEMAN, LONDON ASSEMBLY MEMBER ALL LONDON ASSEMBLY MEMBERS

WHY WEST HAMPSTEADs SKYSCRAPERS MUST BE STOPPED We represent over 70 households of approximately 250 local residents who have unequivocally opposed the planned development at 187-199 West End Lane of 7 blocks of flats, up to 12 storeys in height, at the heart of West Hampstead village. Camden has now given the go ahead to this scheme. If the London Assembly endorses it, it will create an influx of 198 new households and some 700 commuter-hungry residents will populate an area of less than a hectare. This is intensive development on a massive and inhuman scale. At the Development Control Committee meeting which took place on 1st March 2012, all objectors were forced to share an undemocratic 5-minute slot while the proposal was rushed through. Most of the original objectors, over 100 of them, including those who signed a letter jointly with their addresses, were not informed of the meeting. In our view, the overriding reason for rushing the decision-making process had nothing to do with the planning criteria. It was to circumvent the nearly 1 million Crossrail levy that would be imposed were the decision to be taken in April, the other reason being to bag this years Brownfields Regeneration Funds. This is local government at its worst. These are our main objections to the scheme:

The height, bulk and density of the development is far above the existing historical, mainly Edwardian and Victorian dwellings and contravenes Camdens Core strategy CS14. The structures themselves will blight the environment and tower above the skyline, both for residents and on all approaches to the area. The12 storey block will be over twice the height of the tallest building in the vicinity and set a dangerous precedent for the future. It will have a chilling impact on the local community. The architecture is far from aesthetically pleasing, being bland and gaunt, lacking in a sense of style and innovation, with as much appeal as a row of automatic bollards rising from the ground. As one resident, Stephen Nathan QC said It has few saving graces and nil charm. The noise, vibration and air quality in the site has not met satisfactory levels, this being a site sandwiched between two busy converging railway lines. With assisted ventilation in the dwellings, opening the windows alone would cancel the noise reduction.

The tall structures curtail the Right to Light of local residents. The light survey provided by the developers is not an independent survey. Many local minority ethnic residents suffer from inbuilt Vitamin D deficiency and the loss of light will exacerbate this condition, negatively impacting on their health and wellbeing. The car-capped scheme has no provision for residents cars other than for disabled parking. This will create massive congestion on the adjoining roads as large families will need cars because they cannot afford public transport. Further, some professions/trades require the use of a car, e.g. locum doctors. The chaos and gridlock on an already congested narrow stretch of West End Lane, close to three busy transport hubs with a bus stop in the middle, will escalate to impossible levels both during construction and thereafter. Already stretched medical facilities in the area will be unable to cope with the new influx and no plan has been provided for a dedicated new doctors surgery in the area. This does not adequately manage the impact of the development and flies in the face of Camdens own Core Strategy Policy CS5. School places are oversubscribed as it is and the anticipated 72 primary schoolchildren in the development, apart from being a gross under-estimation, fails to factor in future children and adequately plan for them. The social housing at the western end of the land strip will create a ghetto area , breeding tension between households. Further, with no play area for children, these tensions are bound to escalate. There is no assurance that the additional demands on water, sewerage and the power grid will be met. Some residents on Rowntree Close have had to deal with subsidence on their homes. No mention has been made of the impact of the proposed development on underlying substrata. Access to and turning space for waste removal lorries, delivery vans, recycling collection, emergency services and parking space for support services for disabled residents have not been robustly planned for. Local independent businesses will be forced to close down whilst the development is taking place, with no assurance as to their long-term survival. Businesses which were built up over years to serve local need will be replaced by those servicing a dormitory community. Local employment too will be permanently lost. West Hampstead tube and Overground stations and surrounding pavements are already overcrowded during rush hours. There is no certainty that this congestion can be reduced. Platform closures are therefore likely at peak times as train frequency is already at an optimum.

Those of us who looked with hope at the local agenda set by the government towards more local participation are deeply dismayed that democratic consultation has been railroaded to fulfill the needs of developers and a desperate council. This is certainly not the Big Society that any of us signed up to. Of course we need more houses but by a process of organic and sympathetic development. West Hampstead is a vibrant, socially and racially mixed community. It is an area where culture and arts flourish and strong links exist with local businesses. These must be preserved and reflected in its architecture. If the current plans are approved, those of us who have condemned

the development will be forced to live in the shadow of a bland, bolted-on commuter community bred by an ill considered plan and botched-up decision-making. Many of the local residents do not have the language to formally oppose the development but they are vocal and enraged at the proposal. We are voicing their concerns too. All of us have invested our lives in this area, most of us have lived here for over 15 years, a place we love and call our home. We will not be able to turn back the clock. With careful planning we are confident we can work together to arrive at a vastly improved development - something that is aesthetically pleasing, memorable, even stunning perhaps, and which gives its new residents a great place to live, work and relax. And which gives us, some pride. This is the legacy we wish to leave behind. We do not think it is enough to invest in development of homes alone. We need to invest in local democracy too. Please do all you can to oppose this development.

Signed by: Elizabeth Livett Preethi Manuel

On behalf of local residents at Rowntree Close, Iverson Road, West End Lane and Medley Street.