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.
22/AP/3864 Display of a temporary externally illuminated advertising shroud during refurbishment works until the 18/11/2023. | 20-23 Camberwell Green London Southwark SE5 7AA
It is clear from recent past experience that applications for permission to erect scaffolding shrouds and advertisements on the front elevation of buildings in central Camberwell is not about refurbishment work but about the advertising panels to be mounted on the scaffolding.
The two previous examples at 352 – 354 Camberwell New Road and 3 Camberwell Church Street illustrate this. There is no sign that any significant refurbishment work has taken place on the front elevation at either address and certainly not enough work to justify the presence of the scaffolding and shrouds/advertisements for a whole year.
The reason given for the approval of planning permission for the shroud and screen at 3 Camberwell Church Street (21/AP/3130) was that the shroud, which would replicate the front elevation of the building behind, would preserve and enhance the appearance of the Conservation Area and would be preferable to an undecorated screen.
This has been demonstrated not to be the case. The image of 3 Camberwell Church Street to be found currently on Google Maps shows a screen that was seriously over-dominant in its context, and which was completely taken up with the advertisement feature, despite the planning permission having stipulated that the shroud should show an image of the building behind with the advertisement panel limited to its centre.
There is a distinct similarity between the planning application for shroud and advertising at 3 Camberwell Church Street and the current application (22/AP/3864). None of the refurbishment work included in Schedule of Work attached to the Camberwell Green application involves scaffolding on the front of the building. All the proposed work is at the rear of the property, to roofs, brickwork, flashings and windows.
In addition, the presence of scaffolding on the pavement will create an obstruction for pedestrians, give graffiti artists the opportunity to decorate the building’s walls at high level, as at 352-4 Camberwell New Road, and the decorated screen will cut out daylight from the upper floors of the building.
The appearance of the Camberwell Green Conservation area will not be preserved or enhanced by what is proposed here.
The Camberwell Society objects to this application.