Controversial plan sees estate lose parking and green areas for new homes, sparking resident concerns.
The estate will lose 35 parking spots because the new homes require space. They will build three blocks, up to five stories tall. Ten garages will be demolished, and 35 storage units must go. Bin stores will be removed during construction, and eight trees will be cut down for the project.
The council leads this development project now. It’s called Homes for Wandsworth, and they aim to build 1,000 homes by 2029. Last March, over 13,513 households needed housing; they were on the council’s waiting list.
The Planning Committee approved the plans last Wednesday. Six councillors voted to proceed, while four voted against it. Opposition worries about the impact, as it might worsen life for current residents.
Nick Austin, a councillor, spoke against the project, saying the homes add too much pressure, and the parking loss is a big problem. He feels it could cause many issues.
He said the project damages Whitnell Way and impacts the lives of current residents who have built their homes and families there. He thinks residents face an impossible choice: they shouldn’t have to pick between housing and community.
The council received 153 objections. Residents worry about overcrowding and fear a “disaster” due to building, predicting worse mental health. Sunlight, privacy, and space would be lost, and parking bays are important to them.
One resident said the estate is small, so adding homes will take away from everyone. They feel like they’ll live on top of each other, which will leave them with nothing.
Another resident worries about garages and sheds. Losing them makes the estate crowded and leads to things stored outside. This makes theft easier, they said, as bikes and other items could be stolen.
One person said this attacks their way of life. Noise, crowding, and green space loss worry them, asking how it feels like home. It is being “ripped apart,” they added.
A report supported the new homes. It said the project improves the estate and argued that many families need affordable homes. Existing open space will improve, with the playground getting new things and plants. They will plant 85 new trees, too.
The report claims enough street parking exists to handle the new residents of the estate. Lost green areas are only small patches of grass around buildings and parking spots, it said.
Council officers also wrote a report. It notes the project impacts residents, and daylight, views, and privacy are all changing. But, distances between buildings are acceptable, they felt, and the benefits of affordable homes outweigh the downsides.