Through the work of the sub-committee, the Society has been instrumental in saving many buildings of note including Addington Square, Denmark Hill Station and part of Windsor Walk. The Society has also been instrumental in influencing new development to make a positive contribution to the area, and works with local residents and tenants groups where there are common issues. The current composition of the Planning sub-committee is: Tim Gaymer, Anthony Kyrke-Smith, Elizabeth Borowiecka, Jason Leech, Robert Potz, Jonathan Hunt, Paul Cohoon, Somayya Yaqub, Michael Galt and Tom Harvey. Potential new members are welcome to attend a meeting as an observer initially. The Society is currently under represented by members from the Myatt Fields and Brunswick Park areas.
15/AP/2725 | 19-20 STORIES MEWS (LAND TO THE REAR OF NOS 145 – 147 GROVE LANE, SE5 8JJ)
Erection of two 2 storey 3 bedroomed dwellings with solar panels on roof and bicycle storage)
Description: The two houses are planned with two bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs and one bedroom downstairs, together with a kitchen/dining living room with access to the garden. The upper wall materials are slateboard cladding and tile hung slate on the upper floors and perforated metal cladding on the ground floor front. The roofs are slate and arranged with diagonal ridges, which are behind a parapet at the front but visible from the rear.
Comment: The planning of the houses is neat and economical, and the perforated metal cladding on the ground floor front a sensible way of screening the ground floor bedroom without resorting to a fake garage door. However, the use of slate board cladding and tile hung slates on the upper floors gives the houses an appearance which is out of keeping with the lighter tones of the brickwork and rendered houses adjacent, and not in a good way. The lack of vertical definition between the two houses also means that the rhythm of the existing buildings in the street is broken. The diagonal ridges are also a unique element, with no obvious justification, and give the house a jagged uncompromising look from the rear. Some form of symmetrical pitched or flat roof would fit the street scene better.
The Camberwell Society would welcome guidance from Southwark Council on the future development of Stories Mews now that more houses are being built there.