Wandsworth Council has proposed to build 5-storey council flats in a number of different locations throughout the Ashburton Estates (Putney Heath and Chartfield Avenue), including on the Ashburton Youth Centre on Westleigh Avenue.

The developments proposed across the estate are:

1. Innes Gardens (2 sites)
2. Cortis Road
3. Haywards Garden West and East (2 sites)
4. Witnell Way / Chartfield (3 sites)
5. Regenerate Youth Centre

We believe that the Ashburton Estates were thoughtfully planned out when they were developed allowing resident’s access to green space, children's and teenagers' play areas, storage facilities and beautiful mature trees. We understand the housing shortage in London needs to be addressed by building affordable social housing. However, we strongly believe the locations targeted on the Ashburton Estate are the wrong sites. Building new blocks of flats in these locations will impact negatively on all our estate residents’ lives, our neighbours’ lives and the general well-being in the area.

This development will potentially take 2 years to construct in an already busy area and will have a huge and permanent impact on the well-being of the local community including:

• Unacceptable high population density in an already overcrowded estate that will impact local schools, nurseries, care homes and GPs.
• Additional overcrowding on public transport causing longer commute times affecting residents, neighbours and the local schools.
• Loss of gardens and green spaces, including loss of mature trees. This goes against the council’s own Conservation Appraisal Public Consultation process and procedures
• Increase in traffic flow and congestion both in and around the estate, leading to high levels of pollution and road safety concerns
• Loss of the much-loved Regenerate Youth Centre including the playing courts
• Loss of multiple playgrounds. These provide a safe environment for our children to play in and will be a huge loss to the community.
• Loss of multiple parking spaces (both permanent and during the development) and a general shortage of parking space in the estate that will spill into the surrounding streets.
• Loss of daylight and privacy as some blocks are being built right in front of others.
• Loss of garages & storage units (bike/pram storage & lockers)
• Additional strain on general maintenance and waste management teams, leading to an increase in fly-tipping and further delays to key existing issues such as mould, leaks etc.

All of the above and potential 2-year construction process, in an already busy area, will have a huge impact on the well-being of the local community.

WE MUST ACT NOW:

The council have already started the ground investigation works.

Wandsworth Council has not yet confirmed the consultation so there is still time to stop the development.

Both residents and neighbours of the Ashburton Estates will be affected by the proposed new development. We need YOUR support to STOP the poorly planned and ill-considered development of new council flats on the Ashburton Estates.

Once land is gone it is gone forever – Cllr Aydin Dikerdem 23/01/23 (Putney Society)

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION.

Ashburton Working Group Contact Details:

This working group is made up of residents and neighbours who are working together to stop this development. All help is welcome.

E-Mail: ashburtoncommunitywg@gmail.com 

Facebook group: Ashburton Against Development 

Next-door group: Ashburton Against Development