Residents Objection to 807 New Dwellings, 27 Storeys- Fairview Homes First Central NW10
Residents Objection to 807 New Dwellings, 27 Storeys- Fairview Homes First Central NW10
The Issue
Fairview L&Q Park Royal LLP is currently preparing proposals to redevelop fallow site at First Central, Park Royal.
OPDC Planning application reference 17/0076/FUMOPDC
OPDC Planning Portal Link:
The First Central site is located in the London Borough of Brent, and falls within the boundaries of the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation, who are the Local Planning Authority for the area.
Fairview has been developing their plans alongside planning officers at the OPDC, without any meaningful wider community consultation or addressing residential community feedback.
Fairview is bringing forward a residential-led, mixed use scheme, which will provide for around 807 new homes arranged in three courtyard blocks across the site, with building heights ranging up to 27 storeys.
This online petition outlines the key community concerns and matters identified by Lakeside Drive residents pertaining the proposed quantity of 800+ dwellings which need to be addressed prior to evaluating or granting any further planning approval by the Local Authority based on Fairview Proposals for the site:
1. Transparent consultations with the Lakeside Drive and surrounding area residents and businesses MUST take place with advance notices and at a time that suits the availability of most residents i.e. outside business hours during weekdays, preferably on weekends when most people can make themselves available.
2. Fulfilment of a number of proposals and agreements which were clearly outlined in the original planning committee case (ref: 10/3221 Or; 12/2380 Or; 13/0552) for the site address First Central, Coronation Road/Lakeside Avenue, Park Royal, NW10 but were never implemented. To highlight a few:
a. First Central Inner Park serving the four residential blocks (namely Abbotsford, Bodium, Dan and Falcolndale Courts) shall be private and fully gated. This has not yet been implemented and completion on property conveyance for most people was undertaken around summer 2015. The lakeside park, as per the planning permission, is to be strictly for residents and Diageo staff access only and should be controlled to tackle Anti-Social Behaviour, Vandalism, Sexual Harassment, Drug Abuse, Littering and Contamination which has been an ongoing problem many residents have suffered since occupation of their properties. This was agreed with the Crime Prevention Team at Kilburn Police Station at the time of the original planning application consultation and has not yet been fulfilled.
b. Dedicated pedestrian route between Mason’s Green Lane and Park Royal Station to the First Central site (pedestrian footbridge over central line tracks) has not yet been redeveloped, which was allocated £600,000 funding as part of the section 106 legal agreement and should have officially been completed before the occupation of the second residential block.
3. Justify the proposal for 807 new homes across the proposed three new residential courts when the original planning permission allows for 545 across the four existing residential blocks (named above) which have a larger cumulative ground area.
4. Car parking, how this will be delivered given that residents across the existing four residential blocks are already experiencing parking issues. The area will become overpopulated and this will exacerbate the traffic problems occurring as result of congestion on the area roads, the proposal for around 170 new parking spaces does not work with the proposed number of 800 dwellings.
5. As part of the original planning permission, Block E (mixed use Office development) would deliver amenities such as retail units, gym, swimming pool, studios and restaurant facilities. Clearly demonstrate what is in Fairview Proposal as the area lacks basic amenities listed above.
6. Demonstrate the educational establishment provisions that are proposed for the extra number of pupils, all schools in the area are already full (West Twyford, etc.) and this point needs detailed attention as existing residents across the four blocks are experiencing issues with schooling.
7. Demonstrate the healthcare provisions that are proposed for Doctor’s Surgery or GP and Nursery as the site falls in a borderline zone with Ealing and Brent and the majority of residents across the four existing four blocks are still unregistered as the GP practices in the catchment area are either full or not accepting applications from the postcode NW10 7xx. With the new homes (800), this situation will be further aggravated and MUST be addressed as this could add an average of 2400 new residents (assuming an average of 3 people per new home)
8. With the proposed heights of the towers, there will be a direct impact on the views from existing properties overlooking the site causing environmental impact. As part of the original planning consultation and approval, the residential block heights were restricted up to a maximum of 9 storeys. The proposed heights of up to 27 storeys is irrational and does not align with the nature of First Central site where all the commercial and residential buildings are more or less of the same height and any new development MUST follow a similar theme and character pursuant the original planning agreements on the basis of which the existing residential properties have been built and sold.
9. There is concern on proposed tall towers becoming breeding ground for gangs which could potentially lead to Anti-Social Behaviour, Drugs/Gun Crime, Vandalism and the like. As data and statistics indicate, there is also a significant risk from fire if these towers are ineffectively managed or used. The proposed heights of these council type bison towers is a step backwards and does not align with the landscape and environmental characters of the First Central area. Grenfell Tower, Trellick tower, Bronte & Fielding House, Stonebridge estate, Harlesden Estate - building these 12 to 27 storey tower blocks will repeat history of violent crimes and other issues.
As residents of Lakeside Drive and surrounding areas, we are in objection to the proposals laid out by Fairview Homes for the 807 dwellings as it currently stands and request further consultations with the Local Planning Authorities and the London Assembly to address the concerns raised herein.
The quantity of dwellings need to be rationalised to a feasible figure, let's say 350 across the proposed three courts and the tower heights must be matched to 9 storeys maximum to align with the First Central landscape, whilst addressing other concerns.
The Developers and Parties involved MUST focus on social and environmental impact on the existing and new residents rather than the sole vision of maximising their own economic and capital benefits in the name of offering increased housing for the good of the community which is evidently not the case. This area does not have the infrastructure and resources to support such high quantity of dwellings.
To recap the Planning Approval Condition for the land in question, this has been clearly stated as:
"The construction of up to 60,000 sqm of office accommodation (Class B1) in 3 buildings up to a maximum of 10 storeys in height, up to 1,700 sqm of retail, restaurant, hot-food take-away floor space (Class A1 to A4), up to 2500 sqm of health and fitness floor space (Class D2) with associated pedestrian areas, landscaping, access/servicing, car and cycle parking."
We sincerely request the responsible committees to review their proposals meticulously and streamline the plans to suit the nature of First Central Site and the inhabitants who will be affected the most should this go forward in its current state.
On behalf of First Central Residents
The Issue
Fairview L&Q Park Royal LLP is currently preparing proposals to redevelop fallow site at First Central, Park Royal.
OPDC Planning application reference 17/0076/FUMOPDC
OPDC Planning Portal Link:
The First Central site is located in the London Borough of Brent, and falls within the boundaries of the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation, who are the Local Planning Authority for the area.
Fairview has been developing their plans alongside planning officers at the OPDC, without any meaningful wider community consultation or addressing residential community feedback.
Fairview is bringing forward a residential-led, mixed use scheme, which will provide for around 807 new homes arranged in three courtyard blocks across the site, with building heights ranging up to 27 storeys.
This online petition outlines the key community concerns and matters identified by Lakeside Drive residents pertaining the proposed quantity of 800+ dwellings which need to be addressed prior to evaluating or granting any further planning approval by the Local Authority based on Fairview Proposals for the site:
1. Transparent consultations with the Lakeside Drive and surrounding area residents and businesses MUST take place with advance notices and at a time that suits the availability of most residents i.e. outside business hours during weekdays, preferably on weekends when most people can make themselves available.
2. Fulfilment of a number of proposals and agreements which were clearly outlined in the original planning committee case (ref: 10/3221 Or; 12/2380 Or; 13/0552) for the site address First Central, Coronation Road/Lakeside Avenue, Park Royal, NW10 but were never implemented. To highlight a few:
a. First Central Inner Park serving the four residential blocks (namely Abbotsford, Bodium, Dan and Falcolndale Courts) shall be private and fully gated. This has not yet been implemented and completion on property conveyance for most people was undertaken around summer 2015. The lakeside park, as per the planning permission, is to be strictly for residents and Diageo staff access only and should be controlled to tackle Anti-Social Behaviour, Vandalism, Sexual Harassment, Drug Abuse, Littering and Contamination which has been an ongoing problem many residents have suffered since occupation of their properties. This was agreed with the Crime Prevention Team at Kilburn Police Station at the time of the original planning application consultation and has not yet been fulfilled.
b. Dedicated pedestrian route between Mason’s Green Lane and Park Royal Station to the First Central site (pedestrian footbridge over central line tracks) has not yet been redeveloped, which was allocated £600,000 funding as part of the section 106 legal agreement and should have officially been completed before the occupation of the second residential block.
3. Justify the proposal for 807 new homes across the proposed three new residential courts when the original planning permission allows for 545 across the four existing residential blocks (named above) which have a larger cumulative ground area.
4. Car parking, how this will be delivered given that residents across the existing four residential blocks are already experiencing parking issues. The area will become overpopulated and this will exacerbate the traffic problems occurring as result of congestion on the area roads, the proposal for around 170 new parking spaces does not work with the proposed number of 800 dwellings.
5. As part of the original planning permission, Block E (mixed use Office development) would deliver amenities such as retail units, gym, swimming pool, studios and restaurant facilities. Clearly demonstrate what is in Fairview Proposal as the area lacks basic amenities listed above.
6. Demonstrate the educational establishment provisions that are proposed for the extra number of pupils, all schools in the area are already full (West Twyford, etc.) and this point needs detailed attention as existing residents across the four blocks are experiencing issues with schooling.
7. Demonstrate the healthcare provisions that are proposed for Doctor’s Surgery or GP and Nursery as the site falls in a borderline zone with Ealing and Brent and the majority of residents across the four existing four blocks are still unregistered as the GP practices in the catchment area are either full or not accepting applications from the postcode NW10 7xx. With the new homes (800), this situation will be further aggravated and MUST be addressed as this could add an average of 2400 new residents (assuming an average of 3 people per new home)
8. With the proposed heights of the towers, there will be a direct impact on the views from existing properties overlooking the site causing environmental impact. As part of the original planning consultation and approval, the residential block heights were restricted up to a maximum of 9 storeys. The proposed heights of up to 27 storeys is irrational and does not align with the nature of First Central site where all the commercial and residential buildings are more or less of the same height and any new development MUST follow a similar theme and character pursuant the original planning agreements on the basis of which the existing residential properties have been built and sold.
9. There is concern on proposed tall towers becoming breeding ground for gangs which could potentially lead to Anti-Social Behaviour, Drugs/Gun Crime, Vandalism and the like. As data and statistics indicate, there is also a significant risk from fire if these towers are ineffectively managed or used. The proposed heights of these council type bison towers is a step backwards and does not align with the landscape and environmental characters of the First Central area. Grenfell Tower, Trellick tower, Bronte & Fielding House, Stonebridge estate, Harlesden Estate - building these 12 to 27 storey tower blocks will repeat history of violent crimes and other issues.
As residents of Lakeside Drive and surrounding areas, we are in objection to the proposals laid out by Fairview Homes for the 807 dwellings as it currently stands and request further consultations with the Local Planning Authorities and the London Assembly to address the concerns raised herein.
The quantity of dwellings need to be rationalised to a feasible figure, let's say 350 across the proposed three courts and the tower heights must be matched to 9 storeys maximum to align with the First Central landscape, whilst addressing other concerns.
The Developers and Parties involved MUST focus on social and environmental impact on the existing and new residents rather than the sole vision of maximising their own economic and capital benefits in the name of offering increased housing for the good of the community which is evidently not the case. This area does not have the infrastructure and resources to support such high quantity of dwellings.
To recap the Planning Approval Condition for the land in question, this has been clearly stated as:
"The construction of up to 60,000 sqm of office accommodation (Class B1) in 3 buildings up to a maximum of 10 storeys in height, up to 1,700 sqm of retail, restaurant, hot-food take-away floor space (Class A1 to A4), up to 2500 sqm of health and fitness floor space (Class D2) with associated pedestrian areas, landscaping, access/servicing, car and cycle parking."
We sincerely request the responsible committees to review their proposals meticulously and streamline the plans to suit the nature of First Central Site and the inhabitants who will be affected the most should this go forward in its current state.
On behalf of First Central Residents
Petition Closed
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The Decision Makers
Petition created on 4 December 2016