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From the
https://www.newsshopper.co.uk By Bridie Witton, 28th March 2019.
Creekside flats plan approved despite fears over "poor doors" and
Birds Nest live music.
Plans for 56 flats and a workspace built across two towers in
Deptford have been approved, despite concerns about air pollution,
“poor doors” and fears for the future of live music venue The Birds
Nest.
Objections to the 1 Creekside scheme were heard from Crossfields
Residents Association, Deptford Neighbourhood Action, Friends of
Deptford Creek and Deptford Society as well as tenants and
leaseholders and a regular from The Birds Nest.
A 2,132-signature petition about the impact on The Birds Nest and 27
written objections were also made to the scheme.
Other concerns included the loss of trees, the scale of the new
building and overshadowing from the development, which will front on
to Deptford Church Street and Creekside.
But Lewisham’s strategic planning committee heard air quality was
not grounds for planning refusal, while Lewisham planning officers
gave assurances the new flats would be insulated against noise from
live music.
Air from the roof will be pumped into the building, to provide
cleaner air than that at street level.
And future residents will be told they will be living next to a
late-night, live music venue.
The buildings’ scale, which will see an eight and four-storey tower,
will also “provide a bold statement that signals the importance of
the Deptford wider regeneration area”, according to the council’s
report.
Of the 55 kitchens and living rooms tested, eight were found to fall
short of daylight requirements.
But Lewisham found this to be “acceptable given the nature of the
site”.
Of the 56 flats, 11 will be let at London affordable rent – the most
expensive type of social housing – while nine will be shared
ownership and 36 will be private.
London affordable rent would see tenants paying around £50 to £60
more per week depending on the number of bedrooms.
Average council rent for one-bed flat in Lewisham is £84.97 per
week, rising to £95.54 for a two-bed, and £111.81 for a three-bed.
But London affordable rent would see someone paying £144.26 per week
for a one-bed, £152.73 for a two-bed, and £161.22 for a three-bed.
Combining the affordable rent and shared ownership, this would see
36 per cent of the development considered “affordable”, which falls
short of the council’s strategic target of 50 per cent affordable
housing in all developments.
But planning officer Jeremy Ward said this was the maximum developer
Bluecroft could afford to build.
Bluecroft expects a profit margin of between 17.5 per cent and 20
per cent, according to the council’s viability report.
The chairman of the Crossfields Residents Associations said the loss
of daylight was more serious than suggested in the council’s report.
He was also concerned the development, which will see all the
affordable rent flats in one tower, with private flats in the other,
would “perpetuate rich door, poor door division.”
Splitting affordable rent and private rent over the two towers could
also see a developer using lower-quality materials for the
affordable flats.
But the committee voted to approve the development with conditions,
including to make sure all the amenities in the scheme will be
available for all tenants, both private and affordable, air quality
monitoring on the roof terrace of the development, and amend the
condition about noise to include vibrations.
Cllr Paul Bell, the cabinet member for housing, abstained from
voting.
The council will check the developer’s profits on the scheme at an
“early stage” and when 75 per cent of the flats have been sold.
The workspace is expected to accommodate between 30 and 100 jobs.
In 2017, experts at Goldsmiths found levels of air pollution in New
Cross and Deptford were up to six times higher than World Health
Organisation guidelines. |
