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.
18/01269/OUT | YOUTH CLUB 1 KENBURY STREET, LONDON, SE5 9BS
Outline application for demolition of existing youth club and erection of a new specialist youth club along with 7 residential flats with associated landscaping, green roofs, cycle parking and refuse/recycling units.
The proposed residential block is higher than the current buildings, taking its lead from the height of Empress Mews. The height will enclose and dominate Kenbury Street properties. The Daylight assessment has been carried out by the applicant/developer 'Pooch Ltd' rather than an independent specialist, so validity w
Whilst the overall appearance and layout is much improved compared to the previous “outline” applications, it still appears that too much is being crammed into this sensitive backlands site.
As before, this has led to a compromised design, with apartments facing onto the walls of narrow alleys or wall of neighbouring youth facility or onto an overlooked courtyard both by its own functions and by neighbouring properties.
How a specialist youth facility and residential flats for sale or to rent can coexist on the same site is difficult to see. The way that this has been addressed with barriers and screening makes you think there is something wrong in the concept of this mixed use. As one objector puts it:
The fact that design includes lots of control measures such as fences and obscured glazing suggest that two functions, residential and a youth facility, is too much. Good design tends not to have to resort to barriers and blocked views.
The residential block and youth facility are intended to operate in close proximity. The narrow alley to access the site is not accessible by cars which seems odd for a care facility that may need access by emergency vehicle or drop off/collection vehicles for service users.
There is no mention as to how this facility will operate.
The flats are, no doubt, intended to fund the development and provision of the care facility, but whether it is acceptable to mix these uses which would normally be kept separate, for good reason, is doubtful.
The Camberwell Society objects to this split use application.