16/06908/OUT

Lambeth Application

Outline application for the erection of a 4-storey building to accommodate a 21-bed care home with day centre for community use on ground floor, together with associated car parking, following demolition of existing youth club. Landscaping matters reserved only.

Whilst the Camberwell Society might normally pass over something "outline" this is a full application, bar landscaping. We should perhaps watch out for such applications going forward.

The site is an abandoned youth club tucked behind the North side of Coldharbour Lane, Denmark Mansions. The application is for a very basic design care home, of no architectural merit. The application is put together with minimum care to cover the various aspects. Something with a bold title "Daylight Assessment" being an example.

The plan, whilst claiming a day-centre for community use on part of the ground floor, has the same plan as the upper floors. So, whilst a separate entrance to a few rooms, that might possibly be booked for meetings, one has the feeling that the real intention is that these rooms quickly switch to become part of the care home.

Whilst the existing building on the site is of no architectural merit, and vandalised, this is a large community facility aimed at youth facilities. This will be lost to this care home with a minimum of community use (or of little use) facilities.

The Camberwell Society objects to this application on the grounds of poor design and loss of community use facilities.