We strongly object to the scale of the proposed development (PA/24/00184) at the former London Chest Hospital site. We would welcome a new development which respects the Victoria Park Conservation Area and is in scale with the current surroundings and the unique heritage of the area.

We also strongly object to two the planning applications submitted for ‘Sotherby Lodge, 41 Sewardstone Road, London E2. 9JQ’ – correct postal address:  ‘SotherbyCourt, 43 Sewardstone Road, London E2. 9JQ’.

As local residents and people who use and enjoy Victoria Park and the surrounding area, we are deeply concerned about the effect a development in its proposed form would have. 

This proposal would have a lasting effect on our community and homes. The addition of a 9-storey tower block and the addition of two extra storeys to SotherbyCourt would dominate the skyline. It would diminish the setting of listed buildings and a Scheduled Monument, and overshadow the surrounding flats and houses which currently are almost exclusively 3 to 5 storey.  

The proposed 9-storey block would tower over and overshadow Pennethorne Square, Bonner Gate and Bonner Hall Bridge (Grade II* listed and Scheduled Monument): important parts of the local heritage and Victoria Park Conservation Area. The Victoria Park Conservation area was established in recognition of the unique character and heritage of the area.  Protected for so long, these characteristics and the heritage of this part of London are now under threat of degradation.  We must maintain the character of the area that has been cherished for generations, for our own future and those of our children and descendents.

The Chest Hospital site is the home of many mature trees which are vital to the local ecosystem. Worryingly, too many of these trees have already been felled, badly impacting the local area in terms of wildlife diversity and natural beauty.  

Light in our homes is vitally important to our health, happiness and general well-being. Along St James’s Avenue, Rosebery House - at 3 storeys – would be completely overshadowed by a 9-storey block.  The same 9-storey block would significantly reduce light levels in Cleland House, Goodrich House, Sankey House and Sotherby Court.  Sankey House, Pomeroy House and the houses on Bonner Road would also lose significant levels of light due to the proposed 7 storey blocks along St James’s Avenue.    

The lasting impact of this proposal will negatively impact the local community, the local ecosystem and the health and well-being of the residents who will live in the shadow of the development.  At certain times of day, Sewardstone Road is already an increasingly busy, noisy road;  the pollution from semi-stationary traffic and of sound funnelled between buildings would be exaggerated by the addition of tall buildings on the corner of Approach and Sewardstone Roads.

But it does not have to be like this.

We the undersigned call on the council to;

• Reduce the height of the proposed new blocks to 3 – 5 storeys​
• Require the developer to change the proposal so that the current levels of daylight and sunlight are maintained for the benefit of the surrounding flats and houses.
• Respect the stipulations of the Victoria Park Conservation Area
• Require the standard of the new homes to be improved in terms of light levels and ventilation.
• Provide genuinely affordable housing for local people including social housing.