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Streatham Hub - is a 50% bigger Tesco a price worth paying for the project?
The papers for Lambeth Council’s Cabinet meeting next Monday 29 March about the Streatham Hub are now on the Lambeth website:
Lambeth Special Cabinet Meeting Agenda
The surprise news, which wasn’t mentioned in the press releases earlier this week from Lambeth, is that Tesco apparently want to increase the size of the store from 40,000 to 60,000 square feet of retail floorspace. (The store will have a mezzanine floor).
This raises some interesting questions on whether the Mayor or the Government Office for London could intervene.
- Robert Doyle's blog
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Temporary Ice Rink on Streatham Common
As a qualified town planner, practising for over 6 years, working mainly for the private sector, I am extremely appalled that Lambeth Council have agreed to consider the principle of development albeit temporary on Streatham Common.
From a planning perspective, building on metropolitan open land, particularly one with such a heritage is not acceptable in principle and requires demonstration of ‘very special circumstances’. I find it difficult to believe that after waiting so long for the delivery of theStreatham Hub development, that Lambeth/Streatham residents cannot wait a short while longer (even 6 months) whilst an alternative more suitable site is found.
As a resident who lives close to the Common and the existing ice rink, I am very keen to see the delivery of the Streatham Hub scheme including the many economic and community benefits. However, Tesco’s current proposals will completely ruin the common, its heritage value, its recreational value and its appearance. The ‘temporary’ structure will not in itself be easily moveable or have any architectural value, given their claims of lack of viability, tesco are unlikely to invest in a temporary facility with the design response that the common deserves. This could be a nice glass fronted facility instead a temporary facility will look like this…
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Cardiff_Arena_(ISV).jpg/800px-Cardiff_Arena_(ISV).jpg
I for one am willing to oppose the proposals for a temporary ice rink on the common - I am not opposing the principle of delivery of the streatham hub. I am willing to offer my town planning skills voluntarily to any local groups or organisations willing to oppose the ice rink proposals. This includes searching for an alternative location for the ice rink within the area. I also have the necessary knowledge to put you in touch with other similar voluntary planning services who will assist.
Please email me if you are interested in such a campaign.
Background work on an alternative site for the ice rink
From: Lee Alley
Sent: 20 May 2010 09:45
To: Anderson,Derrick Subject:
Access Self-storage site for temporary ice rink
Hi Derrick,
I'm Lee Alley, chair of the Streatham Business Board. I've been speaking with Access Self-storage for several weeks about the possibility of Tesco and the council using their site to locate the needed temporary ice rink in Streatham.
I've been speaking with the manager with specific responsibility for the site in Streatham and I have a clear understanding of their needs to be met to be able to do a deal. And there is a deal there to be done. There is new urgency as the factors stalling their development are starting to clear and they want to see clarity from Lambeth on the council's stance soonest, this week if possible.
Could we have a phone conversation about this today or tomorrow and explore whether this can be moved along, and how I can help yourself and your officers in this regard? I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
Lee Alley
Background work... the reply from the council
From: Anderson,Derrick
To: Lee Alley Subject:
RE: Access Self-storage site for temporary ice rink
Date: Mon, 24 May 2010 15:09:16 +0100
Dear Lee,
Thank you for your email dated the 20 May and your willingness to assist on brokering a deal for an alternative site for the temporary ice rink.
Mr Munster has reported back to me on the discussion you had with him on the 24 May and I believe he explained to you that the Council was still exploring alternative sites. Indeed, we are also in discussion with Access Storage. Given the complex nature of the Streatham Hub scheme as well as the nature of the discussion with Access Storage, the council’s retained external property consultants are acting as our agent. We are hoping to bring the matter to a head in the next few weeks and I will then be in contact with you as soon as I receive the report and recommendation on alternative sites.
Derrick Anderson
Chief Executive