Issue 73 Summer 2016 newsforum The London Forum - working to protect and improve the quality of life in London The London Forum of Amenity and Civic Societies Founded 1988 w www.londonforum.org.uk In this issue 1 A new era for London 8 Evolution of London BIDs buy-to-leave concerns 3 Local History and Archives 9 News from Civic Voice 16 New and Affordable housing 4 London Forum Open Meetings: APPG meeting, Street Manual 17 Legal challenges Spotlight on Putney Hustings Meeting 10 Planning and development 18 Legislation and governance Society Page 12 5 Parks and Open Spaces 12 Spotlight: Putney Society 20 Round the Societies 6 Meet Historic England 14 Transport 22 News briefs 7 Roman finds in London 15 City North At Finsbury Park - 24 Events and meetings The new Mayor of London A new era for London The new Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has made his key appointments and some early policy indications

he new Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, Planning Authority has been Labour’s Fiona Twycross AM will Chair the London has pledged to make the capital “a safer transport spokesperson on the Assembly Fire and Emergency Planning Authority. An Tcity, with a world-class transport network for the last eight years, alternating between Assembly Member since 2012, she has and affordable housing leading to shared being Chair and Deputy Chair of the served as Vice Chair of LFEPA since July prosperity for all Londoners”. Housing will be “a Assembly Transport Committee. 2013. She has also sat on the Assembly’s top priority so that all Londoners will be able to Rajesh Agrawal is Deputy Mayor for Economy Committee, Housing Committee, buy or rent a decent, affordable home.” Business, tasked with championing Audit Panel, Health Committee and the London’s interests following the EU Police and Crime Committee. Key appointments referendum, and protecting jobs and growth Lord Andrew Adonis is Chair of the Key senior appointments were announced while the negotiation process takes place. Crossrail 2 Board and will also continue his at the end of May: Rajesh Agrawal, is a fintech entrepreneur role as chair of the National Infrastructure Jules Pipe is Deputy Mayor for Planning, and innovator. Commission of which he was recently Regeneration and Skills. He will lead on the Justine Simons, Deputy Mayor for Culture appointed as founding chair. Lord Adonis revision of the London Plan and work closely and Creative Industries, will oversee City Hall’s served in government as Minister for with James Murray, deputy mayor for work across music, theatre, international Schools from May 2005 until October 2008, housing and residential development, to cultural exchange, visual arts and arts in the and as Minister and Secretary of State for tackle the city’s housing crisis. He will step public realm, film, fashion and design. She Transport between 2008 and 2010. down from his roles as the first directly worked in contemporary dance for ten years Lord Toby Harris of Haringey has been elected mayor of Hackney in 2002, (re- and founded the World Cities Culture Forum. appointed to undertake a full and elected for a fourth term in May 2014), and as She played a lead role in the cultural independent review to ensure London is as Chair of London Councils (since June 2010) programme for the London 2012 Olympic prepared as possible to respond to a major James Murray is Deputy Mayor for Games for the previous Mayor of London. She terrorist incident. He will investigate the Housing. He is currently the Executive serves on the boards of the British Fashion capability, capacity and collaboration Member for Housing and Development at Council, British Film Commission, London arrangements of every London agency with Islington Council Design Festival and the Artichoke Trust. a part to play in protecting Londoners. Val Shawcross AM, CBE, is Deputy Mayor Sophie Linden will be Deputy Mayor for for Transport and Deputy Chair of Transport Policing and Crime. A former government Early Mayoral Initiatives for London. She is a former leader of special adviser to David Blunkett at the A One hour 'Hopper' fare giving unlimited Croydon Council and served as Lambeth Home Office, she is currently Deputy Mayor bus transfers within one hour - to launch in and Southwark’s representative on the of Hackney Council with lead responsibility September. London Assembly from 2000 – 2016. She for crime and community safety, Affordable homes Officials have been has chaired the London Fire and Emergency neighbourhood and civic engagement. asked to produce an urgent audit of City

newsforum Summer 2016 1 The new Mayor of London Legislation - Housing and Planning Bill New Mayor’s appointments and policies Heathrow; High Speed 2; Measures to protect office space; Review of Old Oak OPDC; Action to deal with London’s pollution

Hall’s preparedness to tackle the blocks of 28 flats. The Mayor believes the Review of Old Oak OPDC housing crisis. It showed that plans would cause significant harm to an The new Mayor has ordered a review into the Old affordable home delivery at near- area of much needed open green space. Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation standstill. The Mayor has pledged to He was also concerned the application (OPDC) which is overseeing the regeneration of the build new homes on land owned by included no affordable housing. Old Oak area of west London a little more than a City Hall, including Transport for Demolition of old Foyles bookshop. year after it was set up. The OPDC’s role includes London land, and intends to fast-track The Mayor has refused to intervene to building 24,000 new homes and creating 55,000 scores of sites, like Landmark Court, halt the demolition of the original jobs in the Old Oak Common and Park Royal areas. that are suitable for development, but Foyles bookshop; he said he was happy It has full planning powers within its 650ha not utilised by the previous Mayor. with Westminster council’s decision to boundary that includes land in the boroughs of Efficiency savings programme The approve the new nine-storey Hammersmith & Fulham, Ealing and Brent. Mayor and London’s Transport development. The Victorian Society, City Hall said the Mayor has concerns about Commissioner, Mike Brown, have Save and Historic England have all viability and its impact on the amount of genuinely announced a major efficiency savings objected to the proposals. affordable homes; and also about due diligence checks carried out by former Mayor Boris Johnson programme to enable fares on Transport High Speed 2 Call for High Speed 2 for London services to be frozen until particularly regarding existing land ownerships and redevelopment of Euston station to be other technical planning requirements. 2020 without impacting vital put on hold until a less disruptive plan is investment on the transport network. The review which is expected to take two found. The Mayor said the works months will take a detailed look at past decisions Night Tube services will launch on 19 would cause “huge inconvenience” to made by the former Mayor focusing on the amount August. Central and Victoria lines to go thousands of residents, with hundreds of affordable housing being proposed, the future live first, with Piccadilly, Jubilee and of homes and businesses destroyed. direction of the development corporation and the Northern to follow in the autumn Measures to protect office space terms of a memorandum of understanding agreed The Garden Bridge At his first New measures will be put in place to in March which paved the way for OPDC to take Mayor’s Question Time Mr Kahn said it help protect and expand office space ownership from government of public land would cost taxpayers twice as much to for small businesses, start-ups and surrounding the proposed new High Speed 2 and cancel the Garden Bridge as to entrepreneurs in London. Crossrail station. It will also look at the funding required for complete it and £37.7 million of Third runway cost to London health A infrastructure at Old Oak Common and check that taxpayers money already spent would new report 'Landing the right airport' “development there is properly integrated with be lost. However on July 12 it was published by the Mayor has estimated surrounding communities and that residential reported that he had ordered “enabling the cost to the health of Londoners of a development delivers a mix of genuinely affordable works” - strengthening Temple Station third runway at Heathrow. Speaking of housing types”. - to be suspended over fears that Heathrow's noise nightmare the Mayor additional public spending would be said the only credible solution to Britain's Action to deal with London’s pollution required. Mr Khan has made it clear aviation dilemma was to pursue plans for One of the Mayor’s first announcements was that he that no new public funds should be a new hub airport to the east of the wants to take urgent action to deal with London’s air committed to the project. capital, away from populated areas. pollution. It is thought that about 9,500 Londoners die Protection of Green Belt The Mayor The report sets out a strong case from long-term exposure to air pollution every year has pledged to oppose building on against the expansion of Heathrow - and research shows over 443 schools in the capital London’s green belt and instructed his and the logic behind building a four- are in areas exceeding safe legal pollution levels. planning officers to ensure his view is runway hub to the east of London. On July 5, the 60th anniversary of the Clean Air reflected in all planning decisions made Act, the Mayor launched a major public consultation by the Greater London Authority. Heathrow decision put off on a new Clean Air Action plan which includes a £10 Bromley decision overturned Emissions Surcharge for the most polluting vehicles Former Prime Minister David Cameron One of the new Mayor’s first acts has from 2017; introducing the central London Ultra-Low announced on June 30 that the been to overturn Bromley Council’s Emission Zone a year earlier than previously planned, decision on airport capacity will be left decision to grant planning permission in in 2019, and extending it beyond central London from to his successor following his April for Cray Wanderers football club to 2020 including a requirement for all double–deck resignation after the EU referendum. build a new stadium at Flamingo Park. It buses to be compliant; and measures for a national The Times report suggested that this would replace an existing sports ground diesel scrappage scheme and clean bus corridors. “effectively spells the end of plans to said to be underused and poor quality, The first round of the consultation ends on build a third runway at Heathrow”. including a pavilion building on the site Friday 29th July 2016. Further more detailed The new Prime Minister, Theresa currently used as a night club, with a consultation will take place later this year. May, is said to have opposed modern, state of the art three-storey More details on the GLA website: Heathrow’s expansion. football stadium, and two four-storey w http://bit.ly/29PBy3c

2 newsforum Summer 2016 Libraries and culture Local History and Archives Bill Linskey discusses cuts to library services which are putting borough archives under pressure or actual threat

n parts of London the local amenity or civic Minet Library society effectively doubles-up as the local Ihistory society. This makes a lot of sense. Firstly, there is the wider issue of civic pride, which we all wish to engender, and a broad remit to inform and educate. Then, at the more detailed level, there are questions such as, what is the history of this proposed conservation area or what is it about this building which makes it worth preserving? These are historical as well as architectural questions. We need to know where we have come from to plot a course into the future.

Archives are a vital resource Archives are a vital resource for local history. As in some other spheres, London is different from other parts of the country in having three tiers of operation. There is the National Archives (TNA) which happens to be located in London at Kew. Then there is the London-wide, London Metropolitan Borough of Lambeth. It is housed in the Briefing paper on libraries Archives (LMA) in Clerkenwell, under the Minet Library building and was alongside care of the City of London. Finally, we have the local lending library, but that was closed A Commons Library briefing paper local, borough archives. at the end of March. As a result of extensive published in April gives a brief overview of In many places, cuts to library services protests around the borough, not least the the statutory duties of library authorities have put borough archives under pressure or occupation of the threatened Carnegie in England and Wales, the role of the actual threat. An on-line trawl has shown Library, the archives were closed for some Secretary of State, the work of the some interesting results. The TNA website time without notice, while the lending Leadership for Libraries Taskforce, and lists only 24 borough (plus the City of library was sealed off and security staff concerns about the impact of funding London at the LMA) archives. The GENUKI installed. The irony seems lost on the cuts on library services and closures. In a (UK & Ireland Genealogy) website council that it is now costing it more to keep February 2016 parliamentary response, additionally lists some physical resource for it closed with security staff than it would to the Department for Culture, Media and 7 out of the other 8, leaving Havering as, keep it open with librarians! Although the Sport (DCMS) estimated that 110 public apparently, having only on-line resources. archive has re-opened, the future of the libraries closed in England between Borough archives are not just the building seems in doubt. A consultancy has 2010 and 2016, but at least 77 new collective memory of the modern boroughs: been engaged to look into the whole future libraries opened. many hold extensive records of their of the archives. This is being supported by The Chartered Institute of Library predecessor bodies going back well before the Lambeth Local History Forum (LLHF) and Information Professionals (CILIP) the boroughs as such were created. They which brings together many civic societies has challenged these figures pointing to hold many records deposited or donated by, and other bodies from across the borough figures from the Chartered Institute of for example, local companies, civic bodies which have an interest in local history. As Public Finance and Accountancy and individuals. They are important part of the work, the consultancy has (CIPFA) of a net reduction of 178 resources for amateur, professional and created an on-line survey. libraries in England between 2009-10 academic genealogists and historians (and As the archive is used by people from and 2014-15. It has launched a “My not just local historians – they often hold outside the borough as well as local people - Library By Right” campaign calling for exemplars for much wider stories). The fact not least because in the past it has the public’s “rights to libraries to be that their resources are also often used by collected, and still holds, records for a recognised and respected” and for the people such as town planners and architects number of other South London boroughs - DCMS to carry out its duties under the working on current and future projects is this is an open invitation to anyone with any 1964 Act. often overlooked. This isn’t just about history interest in the future of this important The Commons briefing paper can be – it’s also today and tomorrow. archive to contribute to the survey which will found at: remain open until 31st August. w http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk Minet Library threatened It is at: /ResearchBriefing/Summary/SN05875 One borough archive being caught up in the w www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ issues around library cuts is that of the YSGWVDR

newsforum Summer 2016 3 London Forum Open Meetings London Forum Hustings Meeting London Forum joined forces with CPRE London and Planning Aid on March 22 to hold a hustings meeting at the Gallery in the run up to the Mayoral election. The meeting was chaired by Tony Juniper, Environmental Campaigner Michael Hammerson reports

Pre-submitted questions (Green) climate change is a huge crisis, but Q (CPRE): There are 50 Green Belt and The Panel of speakers we also need to deal with inequality, and MOL sites in London currently under cannot just stop everything. Transport threat, and the Mayor is disregarding his David Dean, Conservative Assembly must be made more efficient and own policies by not protecting them. How Candidate for Merton & Wandsworth improvements prioritised but Sian is will you do so if you are elected? Valerie Shawcross, Labour Assembly against any airport expansion. City Airport A: All the party representatives appeared Member, Lambeth & Southwark should become a business and housing to rule out development on Green Belt and district. All new road building and tunnel Caroline Russell, Green Party Assembly agreed that development should be on projects should be cancelled. candidate for Islington Brownfield land, (Con) There are 3 priorities: decarbonising Annabel Mullin, Lib Dem Assembly transport, sustainable energy and zero Q: (London Forum): How will London be candidate for West Central waste. Waste is run by a London Boroughs able to provide affordable housing if the Peter Harris, UKIP Assembly candidate “Mafia” who are building huge new Housing and Planning Bill* is passed? How for City & East incinerators. We must make more use of can we get the housing which is needed? cycles, buses and trains. A:Lib Dems are fighting the Bill in the Lords, with 87 current amendments. Unlawful development of open space UKIP was against reducing the amount of (LD and UKIP) both agreed that by Local Authorities social and council housing; community involvement is very important (Con) “Developers can appeal; residents The Conservatives: The Housing Bill and that planning decisions should be can’t.” That should change. blames Councils (LPAs) for missing brought to local communities (Lab) When Boroughs make decisions targets. We must make developers build (Lab) We will do everything in our power to against their plans, the Mayor can the million homes with unimplemented give London communities as much power intervene and should call them in. We will permission, and a further million as possible. Nicky Gavron thinks the GLA do so where green space is under threat. landbanked. The market is not working. should give communities and Planning Aid Zac Goldsmith concedes that the Bill funding to achieve this; at present, all the Fares on public transport should be a lot better than it is, and thinks it power is on the developers’ side. Local (Con) There are free fares for the young and will get a lot of changes. But the democracy is being disempowered. old; Fares should not be free for everyone. developers, who own the sites must be Permitted Development changes are (Green) Would make London a one fare made to build. disastrous for businesses, especially small zone. People are forced to the outer areas The Green Party and Labour were in ones, and for communities. There is because they can’t afford the house prices, agreement: the London Forum is right to enough land for the housing needed. There so should not be penalised by having to pay raise this. The Bill is a misconceived piece are a million permissions, and enough higher fares to get into town. of legislation. The sale of council housing brownfield land for 1,400,000 more. (Lab) We will freeze fares. over the years has only produced Intensifying densities round town centres Michael Bach asked the candidates expensive private housing. The mayor will produce another million. The Mayor What will you do different in the next four cannot block the legislation but we will must use the London Plan to enforce good years? work with the LPAs to frustrate it. We will urban design that is public-interest led. We (Con) Would plant more trees – one for try to implement Community Land Trusts need a policy for play spaces in every person in London; taxis need to be to produce more social housing and with developments, and promoting biodiversity, zero-emission by 2018; unequivocally organisations which own surplus land, and effective use of brownfield land: e.g. protect every green space and spend more such as TfL. supermarket car parks should be built on. on public transport. There will be 1 million (Green) Sian will support involving more people by 2050. Q: (Planning Aid): How will the candidates communities in planning. They are (Lab) London needs strategic projects and help organisations like Planning Aid in committed to introducing an organisation especially a strategic transport policy to helping communities to get better within the GLA to help communities, who open up land for housing and deal with planning? must be involved at an early stage, overcrowding on the Underground. A: (Conservatives): Nimbyism is actually especially when building on existing (Green) New homes, cleaner air, better an excellent thing. LPAs are not council estates. The built environment is streets, better childcare to enable more democratic and work with developers, not also important; Sian wants more people- women to go out to work, more night-time communities. Some local communities are friendly streets. police. articulate and can fight, but many aren’t *The Housing and Planning Bill was still before and their fine buildings are demolished. Open Question session Parliament at the time of the Open Meeting Local groups are far more passionate about Mayer Hillman warned that climate change their environment and we will support was the most important issue facing the them. planet,

4 newsforum Summer 2016 London Forum Open Meetings Open Meeting 12th May Parks and Open Spaces Peter Pickering reports

eter Eversden, Chair of the London William Fraser, MPGA described the Forum, set the scene. There were The Panel of speakers activities of his organisation, which was Pthen five presentations. founded in 1882 by Lord Brabazon, and had Alice Roberts, Green Spaces Officer inspired legislation in the 1930s to protect Alice Roberts, (CPRE London) explained (CPRE London) public gardens. It provides grants for the what they were doing to protect green John LaveryTrustee of the Open preservation and improvement of public spaces in London. Their recent publication Spaces Society gardens and neglected areas across London. 'The Strongest Protection' highlighted the A current scheme was 'Bulbs for London'. Tony Leach Chief Executive London threats to London's Green Belt and Parks and Green Spaces Forum Metropolitan Open Land, and how to General discussion counteract them. Another publication, 'Done Dave Morris Chair London Green There was a general discussion about legal Deal', highlighted cases where schools were Spaces Friends Groups Network challenges. Paul Ekins of the Battersea Park being built or planned on such land. They had William Fraser Chairman Metropolitan Action Group described the costly legal case it produced an interactive map of open Public Gardens Association (MPGA) was taking against the obdurate Wandsworth spaces. They had had some success in Council to prevent it from allowing motor drumming up support and drawing all this to racing in Battersea Park; already £20,000, the worked across 33 boroughs, with elected public attention during the election. They cost would be much greater if the Group won members; with borough officers with were pressing for a Mayoral 'PfL - Parks for and the Council appealed. Dave Morris said practical responsibilities; with private London' like 'Transport for London'; they had that the public had to be desperate, and contractors; and with the some 600 revitalised the London Green Belt Council, then money would be raised. Alice Roberts Friends Groups. They provided tool kits to and were concerned also about the London said that press publicity was necessary, but help involvement and advice on how to Green Belt outside the Greater London area. not too hard to obtain. John Lavery said that mobilise. A worry was that many boroughs In reply to a question about the suggested in taking legally dubious actions authorities were cutting skilled and knowledgeable 'National Park' for London Alice Roberts said relied on not being taken to court; one staff and using consultants, though they that the campaign was an important one - tactic was to disguise the date on which did not have the competence necessary to national park status might secure funding. they reached a particular decision, since assess the advice they were receiving. Mr observance of time limits were crucial for Leach understood why open spaces were John Lavery, Open Spaces Society was judicial review. It was important to get being used to satisfy the huge demand for concerned that many local authorities in younger people involved, since they are houses and schools - in some outer London were allowing things to happen in more adept with social media. Mr Eversden boroughs the supply of open space might parks and open spaces that were not legal said that the Bedford Park Society had shown be sufficient to justify some under the Greater London Parks and Open that it was possible to engage younger people encroachment. He said that there would Spaces Order 1967. He explained the with work on subjects they felt were have to be a new London Plan; that could provisions of that order. The proposal to allow important, provided they did not have to provide an opportunity to get green motor racing in Battersea Park was in his view attend boring committee meetings. a clear contravention of that order. Sections infrastructure into the London 38-41 of the Commons Act 2006 could also Infrastructure Plan, which would be a key be relevant. The Open Spaces Society was document; he drew attention to the CPRE London’s report producing a flow chart explaining how to publication 'Natural Capital: Investing in a CPRE London’s report The Strongest make challenges. Mr Lavery was Green Infrastructure for a Future City'. In Protection identified over 50 protected questioned about amplification of music in reply to a question Mr Eversden said that green spaces in Greater London – including parks (it is not explicitly permitted, but not the map of publicly owned sites produced parks, recreation grounds and sports fields explicitly prohibited either); about children's by the London Land Commission was to be – which are under threat from development. playgrounds in parks (which might need a revised to highlight only brownfield land. The London Plan Annual Monitoring Report public inquiry if permanent, though temporary 12 for 2014/15 says a total of 26 protected ones would be easier); about Oktoberfest Dave Morris, London Green Spaces sites in Green Belt, and Metropolitan Open (which Ealing Council wanted to permit on Friends Groups Network described the Land were given planning permission to Acton Green Common, though it had growth of the inspirational Friends be built on in 2014/15. previously been refused a licence on Haven movement since 2000, and the great Planned Government changes to the Green); and about Gillespie Park, where improvement in parks since 1987. The National Planning Policy Framework would Islington were permitting barbecues despite current challenges were formidable, and it see more Green Belt land earmarked for the nature reserve, though they were not was essential for friends groups, especially development while brownfield sites lie allowed in neighbouring Hackney. those in each borough, to work together; they could and did force local authorities to idle and untouched. The report can be downloaded from Tony Leach, London Parks and Green think again. His network held meetings in w http://www.cprelondon.org.uk/ Spaces Forum explained how the Forum City Hall - the next on 26th June.

newsforum Summer 2016 5 London Forum Open Meetings Open Meeting 28th June Meet Historic England Nigel Barker, Historic England’s Planning Director, London, and Sarah Gibson, from the listing team, discussed what they do Peter Pickering reports

ick Allard was in the chair and at-risk; in Greater London except for Communities and Local Government and introduced the two speakers. Southwark and the City, providing Culture Media and Sport - and had a team D archaeological advice to local planning engaging with them. His advice to Sarah Gibson set out the various authorities; and giving planning advice. In societies was to make their own contacts, categories of designated heritage assets giving planning advice, Historic England especially by being assiduous in (important in the National Planning Policy worked according to conservation participating in consultations. Framework) - Scheduled Ancient principles - 'evidential value', 'historical Bill Linskey (Brixton Society) was Monuments; Listed Buildings, Registered value', 'aesthetic value' and 'communal concerned at the way in which the Parks and Gardens, Designated Wrecks, value; - the last covering the meaning of an government was pressing for housing and Designated Battlefields. There was a asset to people. estates to be redeveloped, irrespective of searchable database of all designated their merit and the wishes of those who heritage assets on the Historic England Heritage at risk lived there. He cited Cressingham website. On 'heritage at risk' Mr Barker spoke about Gardens, listing of which had been Ms Gibson explained the principles by the challenge posed by the number of refused. Mr Barker agreed that this was which buildings were selected for listing - cases where the use of buildings was frustrating, but there was little Historic architectural interest or historic interest changing as prisons, courts, etc were England could do. (with some element of architectural being replaced by entirely new structures. The Soho Society raised the conflict interest); it had recently become possible Finding alternative viable uses could be between conservation and sustainability to list only parts of a building. There was a possible, but might entail changes in (energy efficiency etc); was it possible to strategic programme of listing (e.g. post- structures that would not formerly have adapt rather than redevelop? Mr Barker war schools; post-war monuments), but been deemed acceptable - for instance the understood the problem - besides energy they also added buildings to the list when conversion of Oxford Prison into an hotel. issues there was the increasing need to there was a tangible threat to them. She The revamping of the King's Cross area make dwellings easier for elderly people. showed some examples of recent listings was proving successful. Mr Barker Historic England had a research team in London - including a skateboard park in illustrated his argument with examples like working on modern standards in old Romford, and the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. Dean Street Soho, the Harmondsworth buildings; there was a relevant section on barn, Gunnersbury (where the local their website. It was essential to look at all Enriching the List authority was sympathetic) and Broomfield costs over the life of a building; that could Historic England had only this month House (where it was not). Historic England make redevelopment, upvc, etc, seem less launched an initiative called "Enriching the worked closely with the Heritage Lottery attractive. List" whereby everybody will be able to Fund as the prime source of money, Michael Bach asked what parts of the share their knowledge and photographs of though occasionally providing money itself London Plan Historic England would be listed buildings on the Historic England when a recipient had unshakeable concentrating on in its revision. Mr Barker website. objections to benefiting from gambling. said that they had commissioned research It was necessary to distinguish national on the effectiveness of the heritage from local interest. Local Listing was for Questions from the floor portions of the Plan. local planning authorities; Historic England Tom Ball (Thorney Island Society) asked provided some guidance to local whether the Churchill Gardens estate Threat to Archaeology? authorities on this.(Ealing Civic Society could be listed as a whole - despite its was unhappy at the lack of attention Ealing pioneering importance it was under threat Concern was expressed that changes to Council paid to the local list.) from Westminster Council and the pre-commencement planning conditions in Government. Mr Barker and Ms Gibson the new Neighbourhood Planning and Recent scheduling in London were doubtful - there was a problem with Infrastructure Bill, announced this year, Recent scheduling in London included listing recent buildings (listing could be might curtail the ability to conduct some sections of the Roman London Wall, seen as an imposition on private property archeological examinations of development and a remarkable ice-well. rights, and might not be accepted by sites. It was feared that developers might Ministers, with whom the decision rested - be allowed in future to proceed without Nigel Barker explained the recent split Historic England provided advice), and with archaeological surveys before starting between English Heritage, (responsible for listing anything other than individual housing projects; it led to a petition being the large number of properties open to the buildings. Registration of the estate as a started. The Government acknowledged public, and due to become a self-financing park/garden might be possible. the petition and said that the interpretation membership charity), and Historic England. Del Brenner (Regents Network) asked of the effects of this clause did not Historic England was responsible for how best to engage with Ministers. Mr accurately reflect its intention. It will be advising Government ministers on listing; Barker said that Historic England dealt with important to scrutinise the Bill carefully to holding the archive; looking after heritage- two Government departments - see what it says when it is finalised.

6 newsforum Summer 2016 Heritage and Archaeology An exciting Roman find in Cressingham London Gardens Museum of London publishes finds from 3 Queen Victoria Street excavation Estate legal challenge

n June archaeologists from the Museum he 1960s Cressingham Gardens of London Archaeology (MOLA) published The site contains layer upon Estate is a low rise, small scale Itheir research into one of the most Testate made up of 306 homes, exciting finds in the history of archaeology in layer of Roman timber 213 of which are council homes. It London: the largest collection of small contains plenty of green space, and objects including the earliest and most buildings, fences and yards, all was described by Lord Esher, when significant Roman waxed wooden writing beautifully preserved president of RIBA in 1966, as ‘one of tablets ever recovered on a single site in the nicest small schemes in England'. London. Covering a period from the AD 40s Sophie Jackson MOLA Since 2012 residents of the estate to the early 5th Century, about 10,000 items have campaigned for repairs to be have been discovered. made to the estate; six flats have The finds were made during excavations stood empty for over 16 years. at the 3.2 acres site at 3 Queen Victoria In February 2014 Lambeth Council cleaned them and, using a waxy substance, Street being built for Bloomberg’s new set up the Cressingham Gardens PEG, which replaced some of the water European headquarters. Project Team to consider the future of content, treated them before they were They include the first hand-written the estate, and put forward options for freeze-dried. Recesses in the rectangular document known from Britain; the earliest discussion. These included: tablets were originally filled with blackened reference to London dated to AD 65-80; a • Refurbishing the estate; beeswax, with text inscribed into the wax tablet dating from AD 43-53, the first decade • Refurbishing plus infilling to create with styluses. Although the wax hasn’t of Roman rule in Britain; a financial new homes; survived, the writing occasionally went document of 8 January AD 57; new • Partial demolition of the estate, through the wax to mark the wood. As evidence for Julius Classicus, a figure later with extra new build homes sold at tablets were reused, in some cases several known to history as a leader of the Batavian top market price; layers of text built up on the tablets, making revolt, revealed to be the prefect of the Sixth • Full demolition and rebuilding of the them particularly challenging to decode. Cohort of Nervians in the first decades of estate Some are thought to contain affectionate Roman London; a contract from 21 October Following a three month consultation letters. AD 62 to bring ‘twenty loads of provisions’ at the end of 2014 when the vast Thay have been deciphered and from Verulamium to London by 13 majority of the residents made it clear interpreted by classicist and cursive Latin November, a year after the Boudican Revolt. that they favoured refurbishment over expert, Dr Roger Tomlin, using photography The tablet reveals precious details of the demolition, Lambeth Council suddenly with raking light and microscopic analysis, rapid recovery of Roman London. The announced that all options to refurbish Built-up earth waterfronts and timber names of nearly 100 people, from a cooper, the estate were off the table. This structures, including a complex Roman brewer and judge, to soldiers, slaves and decision was then rubber stamped by drainage system used to discharge waste freedmen reveal early London was inhabited the council's cabinet members. from industrial buildings have also been by businessmen and soldiers, most likely Lambeth claimed that following found. At 40ft it was also one of the deepest from Gaul and the Rhineland. financial analysis on the refurbishment archaeological digs in London. The preservation of the wood tablets is in options they would not be consulted MOLA's Sophie Jackson said the site itself remarkable, as wood rarely survives on further. Only the options to contains "layer upon layer of Roman timber when buried in the ground. The waterlogged demolish would now be considered. buildings, fences and yards, all beautifully conditions of the site on the bed of the preserved and containing amazing personal Walbrook - one of the "lost" rivers of London Successful judicial review items, clothes and even documents." that dominated the area in the Roman A tenant of Lambeth Council applied The site also includes a previously period - created an anaerobic environment for the council’s decision to be unexcavated section of the Temple of that stopped oxygen from decaying the judicially reviewed at the High Court. Mithras which was first unearthed in 1954. wood and leather artefacts, preserving This was granted and took place on 11 The site will eventually become the them in excellent condition. A wooden door June 2015. The High Court found that entrance to the Waterloo and City line at is another prize find. Tree ring samples can the council acted unlawfully when it Bank station, and the temple and finds from be taken which will provide removed options from a public the excavation will become part of a public dendrochronological dating for Roman consultation over plans to redevelop exhibition at Bloomberg's headquarters, London, expected to be earlier than the the south London estate. once it is completed. current dating of AD 47. Experts believe it Lambeth Council will now have to The full research is published in Roman "will transform our understanding" of Roman re-consult in relation to the London’s first voices: writing tablets from London. refurbishment options and the the Bloomberg excavations, 2010–14, £32 The fragile tablets were kept in water redevelopment options. Available at w mola.org.uk/publications before MOLA conservators carefully

newsforum Summer 2016 7 London’s Business Improvement Districts The Evolution of BIDs in London John Griffiths surveys the progress of London’s Business Improvement Districts John Griffiths is a Director of Rocket Science (www.rocketsciencelab.co.uk) and one of the authors of The Evolution of London’s Business Improvement Districts, a report based on research commissioned by the GLA and the London Enterprise Panel from Future of London and Rocket Science

ne of Boris Johnson’s final acts as The appeal of BIDS BID’s and the local authority’s interests Mayor of London was to announce BIDs appeal to the majority of London’s conflict. Angel BID, for example, which has Ohe had achieved his second-term councils for different reasons. Inevitably, as a close working relationship with LB manifesto target of seeing 50 Business town halls face further funding cuts, BIDs Islington, found itself leading a vociferous Improvement Districts set up in the capital. appear attractive as a money-saving and ultimately successful community London’s reaching 50 BIDs (almost a device. Within that framework, some campaign against the council’s proposed quarter of the total in the UK) does not London boroughs adopt a hands-off parking policy. In Croydon, relations with mean we are at saturation point. Several of approach, reaching a baseline-agreement the BID became temporarily strained last the 14 boroughs which have not embraced for local services, but largely recognising year when the Council’s Labour BIDs are considering their feasibility, BIDs’ autonomy as private-sector administration took umbrage at the blue including Wandsworth, Tower Hamlets and organisations. In contrast to this laissez- uniforms, along with bowler hats, of the Haringey. However, the 50 BID milestone faire approach, others have sought BID’s new Street Ambassadors. They now is an opportune moment to reflect on what collaboration in the form of public-private wear an eye-catching pink. BIDs have achieved, their strengths and partnerships. Councils that have redefined weaknesses and how the new Mayor of themselves as enablers, see BIDs as The Evolution of BIDS report, March 2016 London may decide to enable them to work integral to establishing new forms of One of the report’s main recommendations more collaboratively with other partners service delivery and stimulating economic to the new London Mayor is to focus less who are interested in the place-shaping of growth. Boroughs which have taken this on the setting up of yet more BIDs, but London’s many different communities. approach include the City of Westminster, rather to find ways to support existing BIDs home to eight BIDs; Lambeth (6); as agents of local partnership. The growth The first BID in London Southwark and Camden (4 each). in number and diversity of BIDs in the The first BID in London, Kingston First, was Westminster, for example, recently capital calls for a greater awareness of the set up in 2005 and in 2015 entered its third instigated regular meetings between the sector’s segmentation, enabling groups of 5-year term. Term renewal is regarded as Leader of the Council, the Cabinet BIDs to collaborate on different issues, and one of the most telling indicators of a BID’s Member for Regeneration, Business and with the voluntary sub-regional success. All eight that have had renewal Economic Development and the borough’s arrangements of boroughs which are linked ballots since 2012 have seen an increase in BID chief executives. This is a clear signal to London’s devolution proposals. In the turnout and approval rates. And yet, whilst to the BIDs that they are regarded as key to meantime, this is happening as much by London’s BIDs seem here to stay, they still the economic development of the chance as by design, with an ad hoc mix of face considerable challenges: borough. The meetings enable the BIDs to BID-financed infrastructure and area-based • Cuts in local government funding mean report back on council services in their partnerships in place (eg the Cross River that BIDs have an opportunity to expand areas, but also to identify opportunities for Partnership), providing support for both their responsibilities and importance, contracting out services, including to local inter-BID collaboration, as well as cross- but this also threatens their raison BID partnerships. The council has also borough public-private initiatives. d’etre as business-led membership encouraged BIDs (eg Victoria and the New As, in the words of one BID Chief organisations which, first and foremost, West End Company) to support the work Executive, the “new kids on the municipal exist to add value to statutory provision of local Neighbourhood Forums; as block” BIDs are quickly having to find their not to substitute for it; business led forums they can then access feet in a fast-changing environment for both • Opportunities presented by the Community Infrastructure Levy funding to local government and wider governance government’s commitment to support the development of a arrangements in London. It will be those devolution and localism also bring risks Neighbourhood Plan. BIDs with an enterprising mind set, political and uncertainties for BIDs in terms of Lambeth’s transformation into a nous, an open and supportive relationship their financial sustainability, given ‘Cooperative Council’ includes identifying with their local community and a propensity changes to local government finance, opportunities to break up bigger contracts to collaborate which succeed. As new BIDs rate revaluation and new taxation as they come up for renewal; smaller continue to emerge whilst others grow in mechanisms; contracts, delivered more locally, have maturity, the London BID community will • Expectations of BIDs to play a role as provided opportunities for BIDs (eg become increasingly diverse. This will convenors and enablers of Vauxhall BID taking over management of require a variety of different support local/neighbourhood plans bring added Vauxhall Park under a council contract). The arrangements and partnerships – both area responsibility and requirements in Council’s bi-monthly BID forum also lets and issue based – in order to harness BID terms of professional skills, and BIDs propose and test new ideas, energies and resources, enabling BIDs to expectations of greater accountability including South Bank BID’s proposal for a maximise their contribution to tackling and transparency to stakeholders other shared apprenticeship scheme. London’s policy priorities which is in the than just BID levy payers. Systems for engagement need to be interests of both their members and the robust. There will be occasions when the wider community.

8 newsforum Summer 2016 News from Civic Voice Is the Planning System working? Civic Voice APPG Michael Hammerson reports on the All Party Parliamentary Group Meeting for Civic Societies held by Civic Voice on 7th June, 2016

he APPG For Civic Societies held at the Permissions while local authorities are still Street Design for All Houses of Parliament in June was chaired blamed for not meeting their targets. He criticised Tby Craig Mackinlay MP and was attended by the Government’s housing policies, and the An update of national advice and an influential group of MPs and Lords: Scott Treasury’s view, still prevalent in Government, good practice Mann MP, Vice-Chair of the APPG on Local that the Planning System was an obstacle to Written & produced by: Colin J Democracy, Lord Porter, Chair of the Local growth. He disagreed with Lord Porter that Davis Government Association, Clive Betts, MP Chair of mass building would drive down house prices. CLG Select Committee and Baroness Parminter. Local Plans needed to be simplified - some are Civic Voice, with the Department There were over 100 representatives from a far too large and complex - but it should be a for Transport and the Chartered wide range of amenity and civic groups from as statutory responsibility, and not taken over by Institution of Highways and far as Ilkeley and Winchester. There were also Government if not in place. The process has been Transportation, commissioned professional planning and heritage-related made more and more confusing by constantly Colin Davis of the Public Realm organisations, including the Heritage of London changing permitted development. Information and Advice Network to Trust; Local Authority Councillors, a Planning produce a new manual, Street consultant, and a corner shopkeeper badly Points and questions from the floor Design for All. It brings together affected by the new permitted development Too few Planning Officers: We cannot have current thought and practice of rules. effective planning if there are not enough several official, professional and Mr. Mackinlay said that all MPs were Planning Officers; they do not have time to special interest organisations in the bombarded by their local societies about the visit sites and it is impossible to speak to art of Street Design. Housing and Planning Bill, and especially the them. It is part of Civic Voice’s 3rd Party Right of Appeal. The Minister is aware Pre-application discussions: The issue of pre- campaign to support local that communities need to be heard if Localism application discussions was flagged up. Lord communities working for better is to be effective. Porter suggested that developers should go place making. Some long Mr. Mann said that Planning concerns straight to the people likely to object and find established practices are come up more at his surgeries (in Cornwall) out what the issues are. challenged and new ideas put than anything else. He expressed concern that Neighbourhood Plans ignored: Buckingham forward. developers are exploiting out of date local Society and the Crawley Parish Councillor said It is endorsed by the Minister for plans, and that Neighbourhood Plans are not their Councils have no Local Plan and are Transport, Robert Goodwill, Griff being given enough weight. ignoring the Neighbourhood Plan, Rhys Jones, President, Civic Voice, Baroness Parminter reported on efforts to Historic buildings in danger: Diana Beattie, and Peter Dickinson, Chair of the oppose the Housing & Plannng Bill. There was Heritage of London Trust, said that a huge Urban Design Panel of the cross-party support in the Lords to get 3rd Party number of historic buildings in London are Chartered Institution of Highways Right of Appeal into it but a majority vote of 32 being allowing to fall into decay by developers and Transportation. was ignored by the Government. Ministers who own them; Councils must threaten to use It is designed to be used by regarded it as “complicated and unpredictable” Compulsory Purchase Orders if they are not professionals and also to help local but it has been shown to work abroad (e.g. New brought into use. community groups understand Zealand) and they will continue to press for it. Viability assessments: Battersea raised the how they can take part in the Lord Porter of Spalding had worked on the issue that developers in London use development and adaptation of NPPF with Greg Clark. He was critical of the confidential viability assessments to get away their own streets. Treasury’s continued view that it is “all the fault with less affordable housing; and the Planning Those who are acquainted with of the planning system”, when it is really a Authorities accept these at the pre-application Colin Davis’s previous work will failure of fiscal policy. He was pro-growth, stage, leaving local people stitched up. know that this is a highly readable considered the NPPF perfectly adequate and Commercial space to residential: A and well illustrated manual which held the view that mass building would cause a shopkeeper from Barnes gave his personal will be a very useful tool for house price crash. There are 470,000 experience of a developer wanting to convert amenity and civic groups. unimplemented planning permissions but it is his restaurant to residential under permitted not in the interests of developers to build them development. Despite 430 objections and w It can be downloaded as a pdf all at once; their aim is to maintain their land rejection by the Planning Committee it was directly from the internet by typing bank value which means they build only about allowed on appeal. He will lose his business. Is 120-140,000 a year. There should be more the intention of permitted development to Street Design for All smaller developers in whose interests it is to make people homeless and close businesses? build. More permissions are actually being Others told of similar problems and a threat to granted, but the rate of building is not their local shops. increasing. The East Kent representative said we don’t Clive Betts, MP also flagged up his concern at need more housing; we need economic the number of unimplemented Planning boosting. newsforum Summer 2016 9 Planning and development Inspector approves Carlton Tavern controverial new Brentford to be rebuilt Victory for campaigners at Football Stadium public inquiry

rentford Football Club’s proposals for Roads would be gridlocked on match days a new 20,000-seater stadium have and the two nearby stations, Kew Bridge The council has required them Bcaused massive controversy. The and Gunnersbury, would be overwhelmed site, on Lionel Road between Kew Bridge by the number of spectators because to reconstruct the pub brick by railway station and the M4, is in a heavily neither could be expanded in capacity. In congested area. The plans rely on profits addition to Kew Society, other local brick. from “enabling developments” around the amenity groups such as West Chiswick and stadium in order to pay for it. These involve Gunnersbury Society, and Strand on the 910 flats and a hotel in tall blocks at almost Green Residents' Association have all three times the density in the London Plan objected, and at two well-attended public ust as the 1920s Carlton Tavern in on three additional plots of land which in meetings most residents were against the Kilburn was being considered for turn require Compulsory Purchase Orders. plans as was the owner of one of the plots Jlisted status by Historic England in These would be sold to developers with of land subject to the Compulsory April 2015, it was demolished by owners outline planning permission, full Purchase Order. CLTX. A Westminster council permission being applied for later. No Local requests for sight of the financial representative described it as a flagrant affordable housing is offered. It is the viability assessment in full, so that the breach of planning control and building enabling element of the scheme that has community could assess whether all regulations with the sole aim of caused widespread objections. Kew alternative routes to funding really have frustrating the designation of the pub as a Society said “We are not opposed to the been exhausted, was withheld as Grade II listed building. CLTX’s new stadium but the enabling commercially sensitive. application to redevelop the site had developments would have a long-term Despite all this in April this year the been refused by Westminster City impact on vistas from several heritage plans were given the go-ahead following a Council. sites in the area and on traffic and air Planning Inquiry. The Inspector confirmed Following the demolition, CLTX pollution, already a significant problem in the Compulsory Purchase Order to acquire appealed the refusal of their planning this part of London. the remaining land needed for the scheme, application, which included a new pub and Hounslow planning committee and his decision was approved by the 10 flats above over four floors. They approved the scheme despite “concerns Secretary of State for Communities and demanded the appeal be heard in private, about impacts on the townscape including Local Government. by written representation. In response, views from the World Heritage-listed Royal Kew Society is maintaining its the Council listed the building as an asset Botanic Gardens at Kew, the living objections to the detailed planning of community value and issued CLTX with conditions of neighbours, noise and application (ref 00703/A/P11) an enforcement order, requiring them to disruption, pressure on local infrastructure More information can be found at: reconstruct the pub brick by brick. CLTX and parking, as well as traffic and public w http://kewsociety.org/wp-content/ appealed this and a public inquiry was transport congestion”. uploads/2015/10/Kew-Society-objections- held in May. The Inspector has upheld English Heritage, The Royal Botanic to-Brentford-enabling-developments- Westminster’s decision and given CLXT Gardens Kew and Transport for London all reserved-matters.pdf two years to rebuild the pub. objected. The North and South Circular Community Infrastructure Levy CIL to be revised Launderettes win reprieve The Community Infrastructure Levy (“CIL”) and has failed to provide a 'faster, simpler, Launderettes have won a reprieve from was introduced in April 2010 to provide a more transparent system' than section residential development faster, fairer, more certain and transparent 106. It is thought that CIL will be stripped The Government has strengthened the means of collecting developer back to its original purpose of funding local prior approval terms required relating to contributions to infrastructure than Section infrastructure with a simple, national base the need for the facility in a local area 106 planning obligations. However six years tax on all new developments. before launderettes can be converted to on the Department for Communities and Section 106 charges would return for residential use. Local authorities will be Local Government felt these aims are not infrastructure requirements on large allowed to retain launderettes where they being achieved and set up a review panel developments. believe such services are still required. to examine the workings of the Levy. The changes are expected to be Chaired by former British Property considered after parliament’s summer Federation chief executive Liz Peace, the recess. review panel has recommended a radical Changes are likely to need primary overhaul of the Levy, a major policy U-turn. legislation and could be inserted into the Ms Peace said that the levy is 'not providing Neighbourhood Planning and a huge amount of funding for infrastructure' Infrastructure Bill. Peter Eversden

10 newsforum Summer 2016 Planning and development The National Old Foyles Norton Infrastructure bookshop Folgate: the Commission facing Fight is on - David Lewis reports on three initial studies demolition again!

he National Infrastructure ollowing Tower Hamlets Council’s Commission, which is already at The demolition would strike rejection of the application to Twork on a shadow basis, is seeking Fredevelop Norton Folgate, creating views on the proposed governance, at the heart of why Soho is so 340,000 sq ft of office space, 40 homes, structure and operation of the shops and restaurants; (see newsforum Commission. It has called for evidence as special. no. 71) the plans were called in by Mayor part of a consultation on its three initial Boris Johnson. In January he overturned studies. the Tower Hamlets decision and gave approval for the contentious plans. The et another piece of London’s Purpose of the Commission Spitalfields Trust immediately applied for heritage - the original Foyles The purpose of the National Infrastructure and was granted a judicial review on four Ybookshop in Charing Cross Road - Commission, an independent Non- grounds which they believe made Mayor seems set for demolition following the Departmental Public Body, is to identify Johnson’s calling in of the decision new Mayor Sadiq Khan’s refusal to the UK’s strategic infrastructure needs unlawful. The Trust obtained evidence intervene. over the next 10 to 30 years and examine through Freedom of Information of The nine-storey mixed-use the most pressing infrastructure issues. “procedural irregularities in the Greater development for Soho club owner Paul It will produce an Assessment in each London Authority’s (GLA) handling of the Raymond’s Soho Estates, will contain Parliament and examine (under terms of case”. office space, retail and restaurants and a reference set by the Government) new facade for a Grade II-listed building on proposed solutions to the most significant Disappointment for the Spitalfields Greek Street. The entire south side of challenges. If these recommendations are Trust Manette Street and a terrace of buildings accepted by the Government (‘Endorsed The Review was heard in the High Court in on Charing Cross Road which date from Recommendations’) they will become May and the verdict was a bitter the 17th to the 20th century and include Government policy, subject to review disappointment for the Spitalfields Trust: three “unlisted buildings of merit” would where necessary by the relevant Justice Gilbart gave his verdict in favour of be demolished. Secretary of State. It will need to consider the Mayor of London and against the Trust. The Victorian Society, Save and Historic the environmental, social and economic While he confirmed the Trust’s England all wrote to the Mayor saying that costs of a policy or study alongside the contention of the mishandling of the it would “strike at the heart of why Soho is anticipated benefits, and will need to look Mayor’s call-in he nevertheless concluded so special”. Historic England chief at alternatives. that these errors would not have made a executive Duncan Wilson said: “The difference to the Mayor’s decision to height, bulk and corporate character of the Promoting cross-party consensus approve, therefore the decision is design for this building to replace the The Commission will engage with private legitimate. much-loved original Foyles store on sector infrastructure owners and Charing Cross Road is completely out of operators, economic regulators and Challenge in the Court of Appeal. keeping with the historic grain of Soho. relevant public bodies, and other relevant Spitalfields Trust disagrees with this The GLA also objected, stating: “The stakeholders, such as environmental and finding and have decided to challenge it in loss of the original Foyles building causes community groups, and will aim to the Court of Appeal. They consider that significant harm to the conservation area promote cross-party consensus on its their position has been advanced by the and consideration should be given to recommendations. judgment which establishes that a series façade retention.” of errors were indeed made, with wider Foyles’ new store, designed by Impact on housing supply implications for the Mayor’s handling of Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, opened a The Commission will consider the planning applications. few doors down in 2014. The practice was potential impact of infrastructure decisions They have widened their challenge by named London Architect of the Year by the on housing supply where it can affect the questioning the fact that the GLA planning RIBA on the strength of it. viability of both large and small housing officers wrote their recommendations to SAVE has appealed to Greg Clark, projects. Information about the location of suit the predetermined decision, Secretary of State for Communities and Local strategically important housing allocations, emphasising the supposed benefits of the Government, to call in the proposals for a such as new settlements and urban development and neglecting other factors; public inquiry. They also launched a petition to extensions and when they will come they apparently told the developer what Greg Clark, the previous Secretary of State to forward, will be an important component the recommendation would be before demonstrate the public support for retaining of the evidence base collected by the reading statutorily relevant material. and reusing these buildings. Find it at: Commission. w https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ stop-the-demolition-of-soho-save-a-key- west-end-landmark newsforum Summer 2016 11 Spotlight on the Putney Society Spotlight on the Putney Society The amenity society for Putney and Roehampton By Judith Chegwidden

t all started with a tree, specifically an elm out its own Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) tree which screened the view of a hospital We aim to identify ways in pollution monitoring in 2011 and again this Ichimney from residential neighbours but year and lobbying Wandsworth Council and which was about to be felled. Richard which we can increase our TfL to introduce effective measures to cut Newton, one of our founding members pollution. Many bus routes use the High living in the affected road, objected and visibility, attract new Street (according to measurements made contacted fellow residents, and wrote to the members and improve our by Kings College buses account for around local newspaper and the Civic Trust. This 67% of the pollutants) and TfL have now was a catalyst for a group of concerned campaigning strength. introduced hybrid buses or have retrofitted residents to get together to form an catalysts to other buses in an attempt to cut amenity society. By early 1960 a NO2 and particulate emissions. Going constitution had been drawn up and 34 forward we are working with the Council to members enrolled. At its inception the Putney and Roehampton; in the late 1960s ensure that the effectiveness of these Putney Society was fortunate in its friends we produced a detailed report measures is checked and to seek other and members. It received advice from the recommending seven local conservation ways of improving air quality such as Chairman of the Chelsea Society and from a areas, several of which were subsequently limiting lorry/van deliveries at busy times local councillor and member of the LCC. designated by Wandsworth Council. (restrictions recently introduced) and Amongst its active members were two Although the Society is not opposed to looking at the effectiveness of differential young architects, one of whom organised a construction in the area as long as it is in parking charges for older diesel vehicles (as survey of the district, which formed the keeping with the surrounding architecture, it happens in Kensington and Chelsea). basis of the Society’s polices on planning. has objected to overdevelopment of some The condition of the overground and Regular scrutiny of local planning sites in Putney particularly where height underground stations continues to be an applications started almost as soon as the has been an issue. It is clear that the issue – one of our long serving vice Society was set up, as were regular pressure for higher buildings is not abating, presidents joined in 1974 because of the meetings on transport and traffic issues. despite the impact the “canyon effect” run down nature of Putney Station. Today Today the structure of the Society is along main roads can have on air quality. we are concerned about the snail-like surprisingly much the same; from the In common with many other amenity progress on “Access for All” beginning it has had Buildings, Transport societies across London we are concerned improvements at the same station – one of and Open Spaces panels (albeit with rather about the amount of commercial space the busiest in London. longer and more portentous names). In (mainly but not exclusively office space) We have successfully campaigned for 1970 the Community Panel was set up and that is being replaced by residential the extension of 20mph zones in large all four panels continue to flourish with apartments under the permitted parts of Putney and continue to press for regular monthly panel meetings attracting development regulations. The resulting improved cycling routes. at least 5-10 members. Household loss of local employment has knock-on membership now totals around 900, which effects for local shops and restaurants Aircraft noise From the outset the Society probably represents about 1,400 residents which lose important daytime trade. We has been a vocal supporter of HACAN in in Putney and Roehampton. believe that a thriving community is one their attempts to reduce the impact of Our Bulletin has been a key method of which offers a balance between residential aircraft noise over southwest London. We keeping in touch with members since the and commercial interests. have backed our MP, Justine Greening, and inception of the Society – initially typed and our local council in their opposition to the cyclostyled in the home of one of the Traffic and transport construction of a third runway at Heathrow. founding members. We are one of the few The problems of the traffic flow from one of We submitted our own response to the societies to issue 11 newsletters a year and, in London’s major river crossings being forced Airport Commission and were distressed to the last twelve months, we have moved to into the Victorian Putney High Street have, find that its recommendations were for an colour printing; there is so much panel activity unsurprisingly, dominated our discussions increase in runway capacity at Heathrow. and local issues to report that the Bulletin over the last 50 years. In the 1970s the We will continue to challenge its findings on often runs to 6 pages. We are working Society campaigned against the threat of noise, affordability and ability to meet EU towards making our website more interactive the Motorway Box. Today we still struggle air quality standards. and using Facebook and Twitter to raise with the impact of heavy traffic in the town awareness of our campaigns and meetings. centre, with the knowledge that this traffic Heritage results in one of the highest levels of air The Society has produced eight blue Key issues over the years: pollution in London. Recent studies have plaques since 2007 to commemorate the The built environment From the outset shown that poor air quality is the third major lives of those that have made a significant the Society has been proactive in protecting cause of death in Wandsworth. The Society contribution to the area. Plaques have the quality of the built environment in has been campaigning vigorously to reduce been erected for Captain Lawrence Oates, pollutants for the past five years, carrying the Antarctic explorer; Gavin Ewart FRSL, 12 newsforum Summer 2016 Profile The Putney Society

Contact: Judith Chegwidden email: [email protected] w website: www.putneysociety.org.uk.

Judith Chegwidden St Mary’s Church the poet; Lord Hugh Jenkins, Labour Community Age: Founded in 1959. politician; Norman Parkinson CBE, The Community Panel has a wide the photographer; Sir William remit – issues range from health to Circumstances of Birth: Concerns about a tree felling Lancaster, philanthropist; J R policing by way of education and was the catalyst for concerned residents to form an Ackerley, writer; Edward Gibbon, affordable housing. It has recently amenity society. historian and Thomas Cromwell, run a successful first aid course Tudor statesman. The last plaque which led to the discovery that there Biggest Successes: (1) A monthly bulletin (paper and was unveiled by Hilary Mantel in are few defibrillators in the area and emailed) and a lively website; (2) Working with local 2013. to start to campaign to increase both residents in achieving a satisfactory planning permission the number of defibrillators and to for Putney Wharf, behind our parish church, after years of Riverside and open spaces improve knowledge about their meetings, appeals, and a Public Inquiry. The result: an Members of the Society worked whereabouts. It is surprising that the award-winning riverside redevelopment that has with other local groups in a emergency services have very partial transformed this part of Putney town centre; (3) Strong successful campaign to prevent the information and we hope to remedy opposition to very tall (26 and 21 storeys) landmark main drive site for excavating the this over the next few months. The buildings opposite East Putney station resulted in refusal Thames Tunnel (or super sewer) provision of mental health services of planning permission; (4) Citizen science NO2 pollution being built at Barn Elms (close to remains a concern and the Society measuring exercise highlighting heavy pollution in our Putney Embankment). We feel for has organised meetings on local town centre and subsequent work with Wandsworth our neighbours in Fulham, where primary mental health services such Council and TfL to introduce less polluting buses; (5) Blue the access site will now be located. as mindfulness and sleep clinics as plaque scheme to commemorate eminent local people. Many of our members consider that well as responding in detail to Biggest Disappointments/Frustrations: (1) Strong this expensive infrastructure consultation of the future of opposition to massive development on Putney High development may not be the best secondary and tertiary mental health Street/ Lacy Road led to recent refusal of planning way to deal with the additional services in south west London. permission, which was then overturned by the Mayor of burden of sewage and surface But we should remember that London; (2) Failure to encourage younger people to join water disposal in London. we are not always right - In the the Society. A major concern throughout our 1970s members of the Executive history has been the protection of opposed the sale of Church land to Present Preoccupations: Air pollution levels in Putney, trees and open spaces. Over the fund the rebuilding of the historic St reducing traffic levels and speeds, enhancing the years we have worked with Mary’s Church after a destructive pedestrian environment on Putney High Street; trying to Wandsworth Council and the fire. Today the rebuilt St Mary’s is a retain trees or ensure replanting of trees at major Wimbledon and Putney Commons thriving community hub where we development sites along Upper Richmond Road; keeping Conservators to plant trees wherever hold many of our meetings. watch on the plans for regeneration of the Alton Estate in appropriate. In recent months we Roehampton; loss of office space to residential have also become involved with Future - Promoting the Society development. volunteering on Wimbledon and We are very aware that many people Putney Commons and Putney Heath in Putney and Roehampton are Working Details: Registered charity; Executive Committee to work with the Conservators to unaware of the Society and we aim currently 13 strong; four panels (Buildings, Community, protect the heathland from scrub to identify ways in which we can Open Spaces, Transport); membership: 900 households invasion. As funding for municipal increase our visibility, attract new and businesses; annual subscription shortly to be raised to parks is cut the need to create members and thus improve our range from £12 to £18. Eight members’/ public meetings support groups for local parks is campaigning strength. We have just p.a. on topics of local and national interest; programme of becoming clear. Recently the Society set up a discount scheme for our social events and visits to places of interest; community acted as a facilitator in the creation of members encouraging them to shop activities e.g. litter-picking, first aid course. the Friends of Wandsworth Park. at local small independent traders. Special Characteristics: Victorian/ Edwardian suburb divided by major arterial roads; Roehampton estates; iconic Putney Embankment with boathouses - start of annual University Boat Race.

Last Word: We shall continue to fight for our charity’s objects: to promote, for the public benefit, the improvement, development and preservation of the character and amenities of the Putney and Roehampton Putney Bridge area of historic, ecological or other public interest. newsforum Summer 2016 13 Transport News from the Friends of Capital Transport Campaign Andrew Bosi discusses the results of the consultation on Crossrail; the Gospel Oak line to Barking; the latest on HS2; and police response to sex crime on the underground

Crossrail 2 publishes consultation results Crossrail2, which would not be necessary The results of the consultation which if Euston were avoided altogether. It also closed on January 8th were published on There was some indication that does not involve Old Oak Common. the day of the Budget. The 357 page the government feels it has lost Euston Express and Double Deck Down report details the arguments put forward provide High Speed track all the way from by over 20,000 respondents. control of the HS2 scheme, with Old Oak Common. Double Deck Down The largest response was in opposition HS2 Limited taking decisions accommodates all the existing services on to the station at King's Road, Chelsea, but top of HS2, with minimal impact on there was an equally well argued case without reference to them. housing, although again the problem of made for it by a significant minority. There Crossrail2 would remain. Both require a was overwhelming opposition to Balham temporary terminus at Old Oak Common, displacing Tooting Broadway, for which a which would give more time for sensible wide range of supportive arguments was to be over as quickly as possible and were thought about the link to HS1. The put forward. There was considerable increasingly unwilling to consider the temporary terminus is on the opposition to the plans for Wimbledon, and petitions before them. As the last part of government's radar as they struggle to a preference for Turnpike Lane/ Alexandra the route to be considered, it was felt that balance the needs of thousands of Palace over Wood Green. More London and Camden lost out. passengers using Euston Mainline station respondents were opposed to the impact It is likely therefore that Camden will go every day with the need to redevelop it, on Wandsworth Common, Shoreditch Park first in the Lords. Co-ordinated by the which would arise even without HS2. and Bradbury Street in Dalston. Camden Society, there is now an There was some indication at the CBT The stated purpose of the consultation impressive array of alternative schemes, all RAIL CHAT meeting in April that the was to minimise petitions against the Bill of which seem better to meet the stated government feels it has lost control of the once it enters Parliament. It would objectives of HS2 while causing less scheme, with HS2 Limited taking therefore be surprising if they continued to disruption to Euston station and the decisions without reference to them. advance Balham over Tooting. On the other approaches to it. Since HS2 have While they may not empathise with local hand, there is pressure to reduce the cost themselves failed to resolve the question of people over the twenty year disruption at and speculation that the New Southgate a connection to HS1, and have no clear plan Euston, they probably do not like the idea branch will fall as a result of this economy for Euston, the Committee would do well to of a new railway arriving at a building site. drive, or be relegated to a later phase. take these alternatives seriously. The As we go to press, Crossrail2 has Transport Infrastructure Commission needs HS2 - another critical report published a first response to the concerns to take a grip before any long lasting In the meantime a further National Audit raised in the consultation. It includes a decisions are made. The concept of the Commission report has questioned vigorous defence of New Southgate. Commission, even if it is perceived to be whether HS2 can keep within its spiralling There is hope offered to some local headed by someone gung-ho for any railway budget if the present timetable is concerns, including Bradbury Street, but development, would be sound if they were maintained, suggesting that a later start elsewhere they remain wedded to their allowed to appraise the alternatives before date might significantly cut costs. original ideas. They say they are anxious to Governments became committed to one minimise loss of residential properties and idea or another. We already have a Crossrail Reprieve for BTP sex crime unit are looking at ways to achieve this. Act that puts support services in the way of British Transport Police seems to have HS2 at Old Oak, simply because HS2 had thought better of their plan to disband their Transport & Works Act Order published not been thought of when the Bill was unit of specialist officers dealing with sex for Barking Riverside drawn up and enacted. crime on the underground. With the The Order to be made under the Transport The list of alternatives is impressive. impending introduction of Night Tube there & Works Act for an extension of the Gospel High Speed Rail relies on the use of are concerns that crimes against the Oak line to Barking Riverside has been existing lines out of Euston, but has the person, particularly against women, will published. Disappointingly, there is not advantage of reducing journey times to see an increase as a result of providing a even passive provision for the intermediate many more major population centres than service in the hours when drink fuelled station which so many respondents to HS2. By serving New Street rather than crime is more likely to occur. earlier consultation have called for. Curzon Street, it retains interchange with Cross Country and other services. It relies Southern Railway - the Mayor responds HS2 enters the Lords on Crossrail absorbing the semi-fast In response to the chaos on Southern There was considerable disquiet at the services to Tring, currently operated by Railway, the Mayor of London has called on performance of the House of Commons London Midland. It preserves housing in government to withdraw the franchise. select committee looking at the hybrid bill West Euston but does not address the There are precedents for this: South- for HS2. Members were often absent threat to social housing between Euston eastern in 2003 and ECML in 2007. from sessions, seemed to want the thing and King's Cross posed by the plans for 14 newsforum Summer 2016 Towers of London - buy-to-leave concerns City North at Finsbury Park - yet more buy to leave? by Diane Burridge

wo 23 storey towers alongside a 12 Of the 308 private apartments outside the central zone. Section 4.3.2 of storey building are planned next to remaining, 161 have already been sold off- the Finsbury Park Development TFinsbury Park station, very near plan overseas. A tour of the East is now in Framework Supplementary Planning Finsbury Park. Described in publicity as a the pipeline for the remaining 147 homes Document (March 2016) states that tall ‘flagship, mixed-use development... left to sell. But there will also be a launch in buildings in this area are no longer creating a new destination for shopping London, I was reassuringly told, as I looked supported under current policy. One has to and dining’, it seemed to me like yet downcast upon hearing this information. ask: then why was this development another soulless overdevelopment in The development will be completed by supported in the first place, changing the London. 2020, and will include a supermarket, a whole area in one planning approval? At a public display in May 2016 new western entrance into Finsbury Park No wonder people renting and wanting organised by the developers Telford station, a cinema and gym, as well as 17 to buy a home (the majority) feel alienated Homes, in partnership with the Business commercial units. if this is the housing that is being built, Design Centre Group, it was difficult, for It is unbelievable that Islington Council even by ‘caring’ councils. What are we example, to see any play areas for children. approved this development – going against doing to London, as similar- type Upon request, I was shown two small their own planning policies: tiny private developments crop up all around the city? areas: one on a roof and a small gated one play areas, obstructive views of the towers People one day will look back in dismay at tucked away in the shadows of the towers. when looking from Finsbury Park, so little how the city was changed detrimentally so Perhaps families are not expected to live social housing, and many units sold to quickly. in this development. The hosts of this overseas investors, probably as ‘buy to exhibition did not know what sizes the leave’. To see the agreed Plan: units would be when asked. And of 355 What sort of ‘communities’ are we w http://www.islington.gov.uk/public residential apartments planned 47 will be developing? How could Islington Council records/library/Planning-and-building- for ‘affordable’ rent (12%), managed by have allowed such ‘regeneration’? The control/Publicity/Public-notices/2014- Newlon Housing Association. And I dread Council’s own planning policy states that 2015/(2015-03-16)-Finsbury-Park to think what the ‘affordable’ rent will be. no more than 10 storeys are allowed

Towers of London - more buy-to-leave concerns - Helen Marcus reports The drive for more tower blocks in London The Vauxhall Tower 1 St George Wharf is developers are increasingly using “viability” continues. The number of proposals a depressing symbol of much that is wrong assessments to get round this obligation. submitted has almost doubled in the past with the housing market at present. Nearly year from 263 to 436 structures of 20 600ft high with 50 storeys, it dominates the Westminster revisiting its policy storeys or higher. London skyline, looming over the Houses Robert Davis, deputy leader and cabinet Work has already begun on 89 of these, of Parliament and damaging the integrity of member for the built environment at with planning permission granted on 233 its world heritage status. Westminster City Council, told the London more. A further 114 proposals are awaiting Of the tower’s 214 apartments, almost Real Estate Forum in June that “the City approval from city planners. Some 73 per two-thirds are owned by foreign buyers Council is now revisiting its building height cent of the schemes are residential; only who do not live in them; a quarter of the policy, which now stands out-of-date. We three such schemes were refused last year. apartments have been bought by are in the process of drawing up of a set of More sky-scrapers are planned for sites companies registered in offshore tax principles to frame the debate, which will in the City, at 1 and 40 Leadenhall (dubbed havens. No one is registered to vote in the explain the issues and set out the Gotham City) and 22 and 150 Bishopsgate, UK in 184 of them. They are not homes but challenges. “And whilst the West End will although it is now being said that their investment opportunities. therefore be protected from a rash of completion may have been thrown into The scheme was granted planning skyscrapers, its future remains of doubt after the EU referendum. permission in 2005 by John Prescott, while paramount importance to Westminster”. Deputy Prime Minister in the last Labour “Only through a full debate can we Residential towers Government, overruling not only the local promote the right kind of growth that The Estates Gazette London Residential authority, Lambeth Council, which had supports the City Council’s economic Research has found that 90% of all tower refused permission, but also the planning goals, but also protects the exceptional applications have been in Opportunity inspector. heritage that Westminster has to offer.” Areas, with nearly half of them in just 4: Many fear that not only the historic It is not clear whether he means more Greenwich Peninsula (54), Isle of Dogs character of London is being put at risk, but towers or more control of them! (50), Lower Lea Valley & Stratford (46) and its social fabric. Planning permission for It has just been reported that the City Vauxhall, Nine Elms, Battersea (42). Tower residential towers is supposedly contingent are also to consult on sites for more Hamlets has 93 new high rises. on the provision of affordable housing, but towers. newsforum Summer 2016 15 New and Affordable housing A novel plan London Supermarket for affordable Housing sites for homes Commission residential final report development

ccording to a report in The Times in he London Housing Commission n Newsforum no 71 last year we March, three footballers have set chaired by Lord Kerslake issued its reported that Tesco and Sainsbury were Aup a charity called the Legacy Treport on March 7. It acknowledged Iselling off sites they no longer wanted to Foundation that aims to deliver that “In the long-run, an economic policy develop. Now it appears from a report in thousands of affordable homes to that encourages a more even distribution the Estates Gazette in May that more than communities across Britain. Rio of business activity across the country - a dozen large London supermarket sites Ferdinand has teamed up with Mark thus making London a relatively less are being brought forward for residential- Noble, the captain of West Ham, and attractive place to live” - might help to led redevelopment. The supermarkets, Bobby Zamora, the ex-England striker, to alleviate London’s housing crisis but trying to drive efficiencies in their develop the homes that will include a “Measures to reduce demand, such as portfolios, are keen to cash in on London’s mix of social housing and affordable by achieving more balanced economic increasing land values as they continue to homes for key workers such as nurses growth across the UK, can form only part battle against each other to remain price- and teachers. Each housing of the solution”. competitive. development will have a sports academy It acknowledges that “large-scale Large, multiple-acre sites in central at its centre, using coaches from the conversion of office or retail space to new London with car parks can accommodate area’s local football team to train homes on the scale required would risk hundreds of homes and are worth tens of children. Mr Ferdinand, who grew up in a creating a new problem, by significantly millions of pounds, which supermarket council estate in Peckham, said he reducing London’s space for work and operators want to realise. Estates Gazette wanted to bring a sense of community to employment”. identified 15 sites either being sold, some of the poorest areas of the country The report does not appear to coming to market, or with planning and has promised to coach at some of acknowledge the role of speculation in permission. the centres. making homes unaffordable, or make any They are using partnership models that The charity has struck a deal with recommendations as to how to tackle the allow them to keep their retail footprint authorities for 1,800 homes in Newham, problem. While recommending that with its high day-to-day turnover, while east London, and 1,100 homes in more land be found to build houses, a realising the residential value of sites. Bedford and is approaching other review of greenbelt land near public Four Tesco stores, including sites in councils, offering to build on brownfield transport sites, and “improving planning”, Brixton and Hackney, have been offered to land or regenerate run down council it fails to mention that developers already housebuilders and it is thought that Barratt estates. McLaren Property will help build hold 270,000 unimplemented planning may be working up plans for a residential- the homes, funded by private investors. permissions, or their land-banking led scheme for Morrisons 4.9-acre site, in Councils will then be offered leases. practices. Camden. Others include Sainsbury’s sites Building a new deal for London: in Ladbroke Grove, Ilford: and Whitechapel; Housing associations merger Published 7 Mar 2016 Tesco stores at the Oval, Brixton, Hackney In April it was announced that three The report and its recommendations can and Bow; and Asda’s 8.8-acre site Canary housing associations in the south of be found on the IPPR website: Wharf site with planning permission for w England, London & Quadrant, The Hyde www.ippr.org/publications/building-a- 850 homes. Group and East Thames, are to merge, new-deal-for-london creating one of the biggest housebuilders in the country with the aim of delivering £1bn of European money to fund new social housing in UK 100,000 affordable homes over the next decade across London and the southeast. It has been confirmed that the European schemes by housing association across The merger is part of a wave of Investment Bank (EIB) agreement to the country. consolidation among private but non- provide £1bn for new social housing The EIB previously invested in low-cost profit, state-regulated housing investment across the UK, in partnership housing in Britain in 2013, when it made a associations. But will they still provide with the Housing Finance Corporation £500 million loan under the Affordable homes at “social” rent that are genuinely (HFC) will go ahead despite the recent Housing Finance (AHF) initiative to affordable against incomes? There is no referendum vote. The money which will registered providers of social housing in mention of these in the plans. fund delivery of 20,000 homes is said to the UK. Government has imposed cuts to be the bank’s largest ever support for social housing rents and decreased social housing anywhere in Europe. See more at: grants to the sector. Now the The 30-year long-term EIB loan will be w https://www.http://bit.ly/29Wvjtc government is conducting a review into matched by HFC, and benefit from a the role of housing associations, asking government guarantee, and is expected to what the sector can do to encourage support £2bn of overall investment in new building. social housing and urban regeneration

16 newsforum Summer 2016 Legal challenges Provision of Brixton The London affordable Nightclub Land housing Saved – for Commission now A flawed process

n November 2014 a written lanning permission was controversially n the last newsforum we asked ‘What Ministerial statement introduced a granted by Lambeth Council planning is the London Land Commission up to?’ Inew policy concerning affordable Pofficers under delegated powers to Iand raised concerns over the map it housing, amending the National redevelop Brixton’s legendary Club 414 for retail published of publicly owned land. Its Planning Practice Guidance. Its effect and flats, despite huge public interest and prime aim having been stated to be was to reduce requirements on small hundreds of objections. finding brownfield land for housing, it sites of fewer than 10 units, and the listed parks and MOL in a quite random vacant building credit*. As we Social and community significance and inexplicable way, including golf reported last year, West Berkshire The Club had important social and community courses and allotments, and appeared to District Council and Reading Borough significance. Opened shortly after the Brixton contain errors. Council challenged this and Mr riots of 1985 it has played host to many famous The new Mayor has now described Justice Holgate found in favour of the Jamaican performers. this initiative as “A flawed process of councils in a Judicial Review last July. The objectors were given permission by Mr identifying public land for homes.” It has However that ruling was Justice Collins to challenge the decision at a been revealed that it not only included overturned in the Court of Appeal in Judicial Review which was heard in May at the green spaces but scores of sites that will May when Lord Dyson, Master of the Royal Courts of Justice. never be built on, including 10 Downing Rolls, Lord Justice Laws and Lord At first the Council refused even to agree to a Street, City Hall, and the British Museum. Justice Treacy upheld the Secretary of statement of reasons that included unlawful The website says the information is State for Communities and Local delegation as a reason for quashing the planning currently being analysed by City Hall “to Government appeal. permission, and did not accept that the Court further unlock and speed up the They have now ruled that the could make an order requiring the planning redevelopment of this land”. Government's policy on the provision application to be re-determined by its planning A nice “buy to leave” tower block to of affordable housing set out in a committee. However after much negotiation in replace No. 10 perhaps? Written Ministerial Statement was not the corridors of the Court, the Council and the inconsistent with the statutory developer accepted Mr Justice Gilbart’s direction planning scheme and was lawful. that the planning permission be quashed as Right to light judgement *'credit' to be applied which is the having been taken ultra vires, and be re- A couple in the Hertsmere area north of equivalent of the gross floorspace of determined. London who had planning permission any relevant vacant buildings being The Council did accept that it had failed to for an extension at their home believed brought back into use or demolished consider the (then emerging) Lambeth Local Plan, they could go ahead with the building as part of the scheme and deducted which was adopted just one week after the grant work. from the overall affordable housing of permission. Crucially, the Lambeth Local Plan Their neighbour, a building surveyor, contribution calculation. recognises the importance of protecting the night time economy in Brixton and supports leisure had not formally objected when planning permission was first sought, Important analysis of government uses where they contribute to the vitality and because he wanted to avoid offending role in promulgation of policy viability of Brixton town centre. his neighbours and being labelled The Court's judgment is an important “awkward”. analysis of the role of central Planning and licensing interest He did write to Hertsmere Council government in promulgating policy, This important case will be of interest to both pointing out the light problems but the nature of such policy, and its planning and licensing practitioners. unfortunately stopped short of a formal interaction with the underlying At the heart of it was the Council’s refusal to objection hoping the plans would be statutory scheme in the planning field. consider the role played by nightclubs in rejected. However, they were approved. It also contains an important analysis contributing to the culture and economy of The surveyor asked the couple to of the scope of the obligations on Brixton town centre. change the design of their extension decision-makers to carry out a lawful Bill Linskey, Chair of Brixton Society, which blocked out light to his bathroom, consultation, as well as the scope and comments: The council’s guidance on what goes and a garage which was used as a application of the public sector before the planning committee gives too much workshop and office, but they refused. equality duty. discretion. Not even a councillor has the right to call-in such an application to the committee - they The building surveyor sued, arguing that the extension broke the right-to- Regina (West Berkshire District can ask, but the ultimate decision lies with the light rule by putting his home in the Council and Another) v Secretary of chair. Unfortunately, the court decision seems shade. The judge agreed and awarded State for Communities and Local based on an alleged breach of the “statement of damages. An Appeal Court hearing Government May 11, 2016 community involvement” rather than the planning procedures although, of course, the latter should confirmed the judgement, underpining be tightened in the light of this case.. the importance of right-to-light.

newsforum Summer 2016 17 Legislation and governance Concerns about the quality of Legislation Report warns about the alarming state of our legislative processes

n his paper Dangerous Trends in Modern all at any point in its Parliamentary passage. parliamentary scrutiny and control. In some Legislation and how to reverse them, The paper proposes the introduction of two cases, consultation that should have Ipublished by the Centre for Policy Studies new elements to the legislative process: finished well before a bill is introduced is left in April, Daniel Greenberg, a leading • The Explanatory Notes for each Bill and until after enactment. And there is far too parliamentary draughtsman, warns that the Act should record the scrutiny given to much use of “Henry VIII clauses” which length of new Bills and the number of the legislation in each House; they should allow the executive to amend, by mere clauses they include is becoming so great also record incidents of certain powers statutory instrument, existing or future acts that Parliament is unable to scrutinise them for subordinate and quasi-legislation that of parliament.” properly. These trends “threaten the undermine Parliamentary control; Lord Judge, Lord Chief Justice of effective protection of the rule of law”. • This information should be consolidated England and Wales 2008-13, agreed saying The vastly increased number of clauses into a yearly review, which would be “Lord Lisvane does not exaggerate the in new Acts reduces the effectiveness of debated in both Houses of Parliament. alarming state of our legislative processes. parliamentary scrutiny and allows the These concerns were echoed in letters to Law-making by secondary legislation has Executive to wield ever greater power over The Times in May. Lord Lisvane, Clerk of become habitual. Every year statutory Parliament. the House of Commons 2011-14, wrote: instruments covering something like 12,000 The “line-by-line” scrutiny process has “The threshold between bills and printed pages come into force. The real become diluted to such a degree that it can secondary legislation has risen in recent problem is and remains law-making on a no longer be described as taking place. years, with significant matters of policy and vast scale without adequate - indeed with There are often lengthy and significant parts principle frequently being left to regulations virtually no effective - parliamentary of a Bill that receive no detailed scrutiny at made by ministers, often with insufficient scrutiny.” Laundered money and London Homes Right to Buy fraud The revelations about the Panama papers transactions were pushing up house prices BBC Radio 4’s File on 4 ran a programme earlier this year brought into prominence The Law Gazette said in October 2015 at the end of June on an unintended once again the way in which the use of that the cumbersome regime imposed on consequence of the Government’s Right secret offshore structures linked to solicitors to tackle money laundering is not to Buy scheme: fraudulent applications corruption, criminality and money working. The evidence is in sky-high house being used for money-laundering. laundering is distorting the London property prices. The Audit Commission estimate that market and helping to push up prices. cases of fraud have increased nearly five But what is most shocking is that it has all Commons motion fold since 2009/10 and now cost the public been known for some time and that nothing There was even a motion in the House of purse £12.3m a year. Since the has been done. In March 2015 Transparency Parliament last July, which had cross party government greatly increased right to buy International UK, published research entitled support including from Jeremy Corbyn and discounts there has also been a further Corruption on your Doorstep: How corrupt Peter Bottomley, “That this House notes the increase in fraud and it has also emerged capital is used to buy property in the UK. recent screening of From Russia with Cash that Right to Buy property deals may be It found “growing evidence that the luxury on Channel 4; expresses its concern that the being used to launder dirty money. What property market in the UK is a safe haven proceeds of corruption are being laundered has alerted council officials to the problem for laundered wealth, facilitated by the through the London property market via the is the number of people applying under the laws that allow UK property to be owned use of anonymous offshore companies” Right to Buy scheme who are also by secret companies registered in offshore The government has responded by claiming housing benefit. havens such as the British overseas planning to create a central register that Companies can make big profits by territories”. Billions of pounds-worth of will reveal the beneficial owners of offering tenants help to buy their home in properties are owned by secretive offshore offshore companies. UK companies will order to get their hands on valuable companies covering up corruption. It is now have to reveal their “significant” owners properties. It is said that local authorities being openly said that London has become for the first time from 30 June 2016. are struggling to cope with the increased a global magnet for corrupt funds making But at the same time they are planning number of applications, and they are the city arguably the world capital of money to privatise the Land registry, which, as the simply not able to carry out sufficiently laundering, and that the flow of corrupt cash MPs pointed out should be part of any thorough checks to prevent fraudulent has driven up average house prices. action to remedy the situation. They applications from being successful. Transparency International described it as recommended that corporate transparency Many housing associations also do not an “abuse of the global financial system.” becomes a Land Registry requirement so have the resources and skills to prevent The Times reported that the National that any foreign company intending to hold fraud which could potentially result in the Crime Agency was alarmed by the number a property title in the UK is held to the loss of millions of pounds worth of much of homes registered to complex offshore same standards of transparency required needed homes. corporations. They too said that these of UK registered companies.

18 newsforum Summer 2016 Legislation and governance Changes to recent Inquiry on legislation Local Plans Government concessions on The Housing and Planning Peter Eversden and Act; Briefing Paper on the Neighbourhood Planning and Michael Bach report Infrastructure Bill; grave concern about the Land Registry London Forum’s response

The Housing and Planning Act Neighbourhood Planning and The Local Plans Expert Group The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Infrastructure Bill The Local Plans Expert Group (LPEG) was helped to secure an amendment to the The government has published a Briefing set up by Government in September last permission in principle provision of the Paper summarizing the planning reform year to help streamline the local plan- Housing and Planning Act. It was agreed it proposals currently being made in the making process. It produced a report in should be changed to make it clearer what Neighbourhood Planning and March with 47 recommendations . was meant by the 'qualifying documents' Infrastructure Bill The LPEG report highlighted difficulties that would be used to grant permission in The main provisions are: assessing and meeting housing needs principle. The RTPI argued for more clarity • privatisation of the Land Registry. through local plans as a central issue, the in order to prevent an Act of Parliament • the National Infrastructure Commission dominance of which was sometimes to the permitting any document created by the to be made statutory. detriment of other local plan elements. Secretary of State to grant a blanket • measures to speed-up and simplify the The report also raised insufficient permission across England. neighbourhood planning system; for engagement with local communities as an Baroness Williams, the communities reviewing and updating plans; to issue. minister, laid a government amendment provide a duty for the Government to which set out the qualifying documents support groups wanting to do London Forum Respose that can grant permission in principle to neighbourhood planning. Michael Bach for the London Forum, local plans, registers and neighbourhood • pre-commencement planning conditions welcomed the report and agreed with the plans. to be imposed only when they are majority of its recommendations. It is, The policy proposal to sell off high-value absolutely necessary. perhaps, unsurprisingly, heavily focused on council houses, will now be subject to all • compulsory purchase: process to be housing delivery to the exclusion of other homes sold being replaced one-for-one and made clearer, fairer and faster, including types of objectively-assessed need. like-for-like, and national parks and areas of a new statutory framework for agreeing However, the Forum is disappointed outstanding natural beauty have been compensation. that, with the exception of the duty to granted an exemption The paper can be downloaded by typing cooperate, little of it relates to London and Baroness Williams indicated she was Briefing Paper Number 06418, 18 May does not acknowledge the special status of willing to meet peers’ “powerful” 2016 the London Plan. arguments with changes to the legislation at third reading. Opposition to sale of the Land Registry Confusion between the role of local The proposed sale of the Land Registry in plans and neighbourhood plans. Private renters particular has caused enormous concern. One of the major weaknesses of the report The government resisted calls to A number of high profile organisations is the lack of understanding that all key strengthen protections against eviction have spoken out against it including the policies including spatial ones need to be in and rent rises, and to require landlords to Conveyancing Association and the plans and be readily identifiable. There make homes fit for habitation. Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). appears to be confusion in the LPEG Generation Rent has campaigned for The Land Registry has recorded the between the role of local plans and important changes including: ownership of all land and property in neighbourhood plans. The latter are • a right to claim back rent from a landlord England and Wales since the 1860s. An unlikely to cover the total area of a local who has neglected disrepair in the attempt to sell it by the last government authority. Local plans cannot be restricted home was halted by Vince Cable and the Liberal to “strategic policies”. Other types of • Local councils to be able to keep fines Democrats. Borough-wide policies need to be in the giving greater incentives to go after The CMA warns that, by the introduction Local Plan, not relegated to neighbourhood slum landlords of a profit motive, access to its data would plans which are not the place for Borough- • Councils to be able to ban landlords and in fact be degraded in order to weaken wide policies nor will neighbourhood plan seize their properties competition to its own commercial coverage be anywhere near products. It would harm consumers and comprehensive even in 10 years time. Private peer’s bill restrict innovation and choice. London Forum is concerned that the Generation Rent will continue to lobby An online petition against the LPEG's recommendations could result in MPs and the new Mayor of London on privatisation received over 256,000 weaker Local Plans in future. these fronts. In June a Renters' Rights Bill, signatures and was delivered to the then At the end of May the Communities and that could ban letting fees reached its Business Secretary Sajid Javid. Local Government Committee launched an second reading in the House of Lords and The results of a government inquiry into the LPEG recommendations now awaits a date for committee stage. consultation on the sale, criticised for The LPEG report can be downloaded from However it is unusual for such bills to being launched just before the Easter Bank w http://bit.ly/29ToJlY succeed. Holiday weekend, is now awaited. newsforum Summer 2016 19 Round the Societies Round the Societies A round-up of news from our member societies. By Diane Burridge

50 years of the Highgate Society Influencing Greenwich Planning Documents Set up in 1966, as a campaigning organisation, to oppose The Blackheath Society, in June 2015, made comprehensive (successfully) plans to build a main artery for north bound traffic responses to Greenwich Council’s Local Information along Highgate High Street, the Society has since spawned Requirements List: Supplementary Planning Document. A good various groups. These include: Friends of Highgate Cemetery proportion of this feedback has been taken on board. In particular, (1975); Jackson’s Lane Community Centre (1975); The Harington applicants planning basement excavations will now need to Scheme (1980); North London Hospice Group (1982- with include detailed information in their submissions. And Financial fundraising support); Highgate Climate Action Network (2007), Viability Assessments submitted in support of larger and most recently the Highgate Neighbourhood Forum. developments will be publicly available without redactions. That these groups continue today is a great credit to the Society. The book: Life in a London ‘Village’: The Story of The Finchley Society programme of plaques Highgate Society 1966-2016, written by Peter Woodford and A plaque was recently unveiled by the Mayor of Barnet, Councillor edited by Richard Webber, gives the history of these David Longstaff, in front of the Peace Statue in Friary Park. The developments. plaque gives details of the history of the Park, and is one of a series throughout the area funded by The Finchley Society aiming Consultation challenges using new technology? to bring places of architectural or historical interest to the attention The St Marylebone Society, having responded in detail to many of people passing by. planning applications since 1948, is having to adapt to Westminster Council’s paperless planning consultation process. New plan for the Ealing town centre The Society has been given lap tops to enable members to look at In 2014, Central Ealing Neighbourhood Forum asked for views on drawings on-line, but naturally members are finding it difficult to how the area should be planned for the future. A draft read large documents on a small screen, particularly detailed Neighbourhood Plan was produced which is to be checked by an drawings. independent Examiner before going to a referendum of local Is such a process discouraging feedback due to these residents and businesses. If proposals are approved, this Plan will difficulties? Are other Societies facing similar problems? Feedback become part of the official Borough Plan. The Ealing Civic Society would be welcome as a key role for many Societies is responding has been involved in this process throughout. comprehensively to planning applications. For details: w www.centralealingforum.com .

2016 anniversaries in Brixton Future of Chelsea The Friends of Windrush Square and the Friends of Tate Library Taking the initiative, the Chelsea Society has adopted Policy Brixton, both sub-committees of The Brixton Society, organised Guidelines for the Future of Chelsea after much debate and the Windrush Square Community Day in April, in the 200th year of consultation. This is now on the Society’s website at: the windmill being built. The annual Windmill Parade and Festival w http://chelseasociety.org.uk/ followed in June 2016. April was also the 35th anniversary of the Brixton Uprisings: The Brixton Society’s newsletter (April 2016 edition) included an article 80 years of The Enfield Society Set up in 1936 to save Chase Green, the Enfield Society is by Devon Thomas who described how community actions arising celebrating its past and present in an exhibition at the Enfield from the riots propelled many black people in the area into Museum in the Dugdale Centre, three minutes walk from Enfield electoral politics. See w www.brixtonsociety.org.uk Town Station. The exhibition runs from May through to 8 January 2017. Success in controlling events on Blackheath w www.enfield.gov.uk/museum and www.enfieldsociety.org.uk The Blackheath, Greenwich and Westcombe Societies, working with local residents and Councillors, have been successful in getting Greenwich Council to withdraw its own application for a Commemorating loss of lives in Camberwell permanent licence to vastly extend the commercial use of Circus during the Second World War Field on the Heath. This would have replaced the need to submit a The Peckham Society has been awarded a grant from separate application for each event. Southwark’s Cleaner, Greener, Safer fund to erect an information Greenwich Council had sought a licence that would allow Circus board commemorating the loss of life of 23 young women when a Field to be used for up to 70 days a year. The three societies are V1 rocket (Doodlebug) exploded on a corset factory in June 1944, represented on the Blackheath Joint Working Party, and near Peckham Rye Common. This was the greatest loss of life Greenwich and Lewisham Councils have now agreed on the need within the former Borough of Camberwell during the Second to develop a joint policy for events on the Heath in order to World War. regulate the number and type of these in future years.

20 newsforum Summer 2016 Round the Societies

Full Judicial Review of Enderby Wharf (North) Legal action against Wireless Concert in Led by East Greenwich Residents Association and joined by Finsbury Park many other civic societies, including the Greenwich Society, a full The Highbury Community Association supported legal action in judicial review was granted for the planned development of June 2016 by the Friends of Finsbury Park against Haringey Enderby Wharf (North), which includes a cruise liner terminal. Council - in response to the impact of large-scale concerts. A The grounds for the review include the nature of the air quality request for a judicial review was made against the planned assessments presented to the Planning Board of Greenwich Wireless Festival which would use 37% of the Park area. This Council. According to the Mayor of London’s own consultants, as Festival in July is positioned conveniently near the Islington and one example, the diesel pollution from one docked hotel cruise Hackney boundaries - not the Haringey boundary. The cost of legal ship would be similar to that from 688 idling lorries. The fees was raised by crowd funding: complainants are arguing for on-shore power supplies to be used w www.crowdjustice.co.uk/case/save-finsbury-park/ instead. Ironically, the Royal Borough of Greenwich was The Friends of Finsbury Park sent Haringey Council a letter from designated an Air Quality Management Area, over 15 years ago. solicitor Susan Ring, a specialist in environmental and public law, A full hearing will be held at the High Court shortly. To support to inform them that they are acting unlawfully, as the size of the the case, a crowdfunding website was opened at CrowdJustice, concerts contravenes an Act of Parliament set up to protect and this very quickly reached its target of £16,000 with London parks. contributions from 226 backers. The whole application and approval process was very secretive. The Friends were told in January 2016 that the Council was Park Road Allotment Garden site as an Asset working with Wireless Festival organisers on an event application. of Community Value? Then Wireless started to promote the summer dates a week An interesting dispute has been brewing for some time over the before The Friends of Finsbury Park had even received the Duke of Northumberland’s plans to build on The Park Road application. allotments bordering his Syon Park estate in west London, Ten days were given to respond to the application, and feedback opposite Kew Gardens. The Northumberland Estate made the was only asked from named Stakeholders, including the Highbury land available for allotments 100 years ago around 1914 during the Community Association. There was no Risk Assessment, Noise First World War. Now they plan to build about 120 mostly two- Management Plan, Green and Sustainable Policy, Event bedroom low-rise houses for private rent which will help Management Plan or Area Map. When the Friends of Finsbury contribute towards £10m needed to pay for repairs to Syon House. Park contacted the Council they were advised that this information The Northumberland Estate wants to re-locate the allotments was ‘commercially sensitive’, and that a Freedom of Information to within Syon Park but allotment holders say the alternative site Request needed to be submitted. offered in the Park is unacceptable. At the Court hearing, Mr Justice Supperstone granted The Isleworth Society submitted a petition containing 400 permission for a judicial review on all grounds and then dismissed signatures asking that the Allotment Garden site be listed as an the claim for reasons that are still to be provided in his judgement. Asset of Community Value, which was approved by Hounslow The Friends of Finsbury Park believe that the judge was wrong to Council. dismiss the claim. As they note, this judgement gives Haringey The site is the last remaining part of Old Isleworth that is Council the power to exclude the public from more than 10% of undeveloped offering the local community a much needed tranquil the Park, and for more than 12 days in a year or six consecutive location in an otherwise urban setting, and is part of the historic days in a year. The Council submitted to the Court that it can do setting for the 600 year old All Saints’ Church. essentially what it wants with the Park. Such a listing only becomes effective when the land is sold, and This decision sets a terrible precedent for the nation’s parks, so the Society was surprised when the Northumberland Estate and the case has generated national interest from other Friends of appealed against this decision. The Estate has not indicated that it Parks groups. was planning to sell the land. Haringey Council is now attempting to secure yet more major The Estate requested the General Regulatory Chamber to hold events in Finsbury Park - for example, a rave and then drum and a First Tier Tribunal to examine their appeal. The Isleworth Society bass festivals in late September with Park closures for up to two (whose president is Caroline de Cabarrus, the sister of the duke, weeks. The organisers, Radioactive Clothing Ltd, are also applying and lives in a property overlooking the disputed site), is putting for a ten year licence to run four of these events per year with over together evidence for this Tribunal. Over 1,200 signatures 15,000 people at each event. These four events would likely close supporting the campaign to save the site had been collected, by large areas of the Park for up to six weeks or more. June 2016, through 38 Degrees. The campaign, led by Sharon The Friends of Finsbury Park have stated that: ‘This is only the Probets, is calling upon the Northumberland Estate to desist from beginning and, going forward, our fight will be joined by many all plans and activities to develop the site or relocate the more. We will continue to fight for what we believe is right and are allotments, now or at any time in the future. now considering an appeal’. For more information see w http://www.parkroadallotments.com/ newsforum Summer 2016 21 News briefs newsbriefs News and issues of interest and concern to note.

Motor-racing in Battersea Park - compromise Book: The Lost Rivers of London After a strong and well-publicised campaign the Battersea Park The underground rivers of London, north and south of the Thames Action Group have reached a compromise over the plans to run a are of perennial interest. The first edition of this book, by Nicholas motor-race championship in Battersea Park.The Formula E motor- Barton, the most detailed description of the rivers and their effects race championship, which was approved by Wandsworth Council on London, was published in 1962 and has remained in print ever and set to continue every year, will now take place only this year since. For years it was the only book on its subject and the with full reinstatement afterwards. recognised authority. The Open Spaces Society, Save Battersea Park, the London Then in 2011 three new books on the subject came out at the Wildlife Trust, London CPRE, the Friends of Battersea Park and the same time; one was by Stephen Myers, water engineer and Wandsworth and Battersea Societies were among the author of Walking on Water — London's Hidden Rivers Revealed. organisations and individuals who had submitted 577 detailed This new interest prompted Historical Publications to bring in letters of objection to the Formula E event. Myers to add new research and detail to Barton's classic. Myers's A Judicial Review of Wandsworth’s decision challenging the engineering expertise has led to new information on everything hosting of the Formula E Championship in Battersea Park was due from hydrology and water tables to siphons and Bagshot sand. to be heard in May in the High Court. However it was announced Of particular interest is Stephen Myers's intriguing new theory that a satisfactory agreement had been reached over the future on the source of the Walbrook. He traces the river, previously use of Battersea Park and the objectors withdrew the Judicial thought to rise in Shoreditch, all the way north to Cloudesley Review action with costs to date being met. Square in Islington. This lengthy section of river never appeared on Kate Ashbrook, the Open Spaces Society’s general secretary any map because, according to Myers, it was “stolen” by monks. commented that while the result will ensure that the park is The brothers of Charterhouse built their own pipeline, diverting the protected in future, she was sorry that the legal challenges were upper Walbrook to build their own long-distance water supply, not tested in court. The issue at stake is the proportion of space which is still working today. that would have been taken up. “The Greater London Parks and This new third edition, substantially revised and extended with Open Spaces Order 1967 outlaws such events where they occupy new information, features 45 maps (29 in colour) which show in more than one-tenth of the open space. There are other events detail the courses the rivers take, nowadays mostly incorporated occurring in London which we also believe to be contrary to this into the drainage system. It deals extensively with their history, legislation, and we are ready to issue a legal challenge if we the industries they aided, such as milling and brewing, and also consider a common, park or open space to be at risk.” how they were degraded and eventually buried. For the statement on the legal settlement, and more information The routes of the rivers are superimposed on Geographers’ A-Z see; w http://savebatterseapark.com/news/ maps – all in colour - tracing the likely courses of rivers through the modern streetscape. New CEO at the Heritage Alliance The Lost Rivers of London by Nicholas Barton with Stephen Myers Kate Pugh OBE will be stepping down from her role as Chief Historical Publications ISBN: 9781905286515, hardback Executive of the Heritage Alliance later this year after 13 very 224 pages; 44 maps and 109 illustrations (many in colour). successful years at the helm. Kate has built the Heritage Alliance Available from w into an effective voice with more than 100 members, and http://www.countrysidebooks.co.uk/ Online price £18.00 thousands of regular readers of its Heritage Update newsletter, Lizzie Glithero-West is to be its new Chief Executive. Her Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill career has been mainly in the civil service, initially with the Office inquiry of the Deputy Prime Minister but since 2004 with the Department The Communities and Local Government Committee is for Culture, Media and Sport where she is currently adviser to conducting hearings into the Government's Cities and Local Baroness Neville-Rolfe. She has a degree in Archaeology and Government Devolution Bill which says “Whitehall and local areas Anthropology from Oxford, and an MA in History of Art from must go further with their devolution deals”. Birkbeck. In 2014 she was elected a Fellow of the Society of The Communities and Local Government Committee report Antiquaries. Her main task when she takes over in September will 'Devolution: the next five years and beyond', welcomes the be implementing the Alliance’s new strategy for the next four Government's commitment to devolution but urges Government years, Realising the Power of Heritage. and local leaders to do more to engage the public in devolution proposals, negotiations and outcomes”. Sir Edward Lister moves to the HCA w More information can be found on the Parliament website by London’s former deputy mayor for policy and planning, Sir Edward typing: Lister, has been named as the new chairman of the Homes and Inquiry into The Government's Cities and Local Government Communities Agency. He is currently the chairman of the Old Oak Devolution Bill and Park Royal Development Corporation.

22 newsforum Summer 2016 News briefs newsbriefs The Editor’s round-up

GLA A-Z of Planning and Culture “House price rise to create fall in house prices” Speaking at the press launch for the new Tate Modern, the new A few years ago Private Eye ran this headline over one of its satirical Mayor, Sadiq Khan, announced a cultural infrastructure plan saying articles; recent reports about the housing market with their “Alice in that Culture will be as central to his administration as housing, Wonderland” quality, evoke a similar reaction. transport and the environment; it would be embedded in London’s Theories on the housing market and its unaffordable prices planning system, making it an affordable city for artists to live and become ever more contradictory. The Bank of England’s financial work. These commitments actually come from an An A-Z of policy committee and the Financial Times have talked of a buy-to-let Planning and Culture which was published by the GLA in October boom leading to a property bubble that ‘new rules will do little to 2015 under the previous Mayor. It attempts to formalise the role of quell.’ Yet now talk is of a ‘loss of momentum’ in residential building the planning system in providing cultural venues and facilities. and housebuilders offering discounts on London’s most expensive This curious document raises some questions, in particular, what is homes and since the EU referendum the big property funds have meant by “culture”? It mixes up museums, artists and arts venues suffered huge losses. The latest housing surveys released on July with general leisure activities and commercial entertainment, such as 14 delivered more mixed messages saying that there is a decline in skate parks, restaurants, pubs, pop-up shops and night clubs. There is buyers’ inquiries but that lending figures show a rise in purchases. no mention of opera, ballet, orchestras or concerts. How can a We are constantly told there are not enough houses and that document purporting to discuss culture omit any mention of these; only building more of them could bring down the prices. Now it are they not to be planned for any more? It is in sharp contrast to a seems there are not enough buyers; have they suddenly all Government Culture White Paper published in March which harks vanished? Or is there another explanation which has little to do back to Jennie Lee’s 1965 White Paper, and makes quite clear that with any shortage of bricks and mortar and everything to do with “Knowledge of great works of art, great music, great literature and housing having become a commodity out of which to make profits. great plays, and of their creators”, is what is needed. It is now admitted that overseas speculators are driving up Night clubs are highly problematic. They are commercial house prices. They buy off-plan with the sole intention of selling on ventures, all too often associated with noise, drug-taking and to take advantage of rising property prices, pricing local buyers out rowdy behaviour. Is it the role of the GLA to plan for more of them? of the market. At the same time investment in commercial Skateboarding is a leisure/sport activity, and open-air markets property in the UK has slumped, and, according to the FT, and short-term pop-up shops are commercial. Libraries are “Wealthy investors in search of income-generating investments mentioned only in passing amongst 13 case studies offered, which are looking to move from residential to commercial property”. are examples of the usual battles that local people have to fight to Where the people who simply wish to buy a home come into all preserve their amenities. Parks, which are often the venues for this is anyone’s guess. large pop concerts, are also not fully considered. Yet as we heard at With people having to rent because they can no longer afford to buy, the recent London Forum Open meeting, they are increasingly there are increasing reports of large companies stepping in with “build- under threat from lack of funding and inappropriate money-making to-rent” schemes across London. Some see this as a partial solution ventures by councils, frequently to the dismay of local residents, as to the problems as these are professionally run ventures, sometimes Diane Burridge describes on page 21. providing a better deal for renters than the traditional landlords. How are boroughs to subsidise artists’ studios when even their Wandsworth Council has taken advantage of the oversupply of powers to provide much needed subsidised housing are being new properties at the Battersea Power Station Development and removed, and they risk being sued by developers if they do not give has signed an agreement which will see 374 homes including 69 permission to re-develop what might be a much loved local building? three-beds and 35 4-beds offered to local residents to rent or buy The document raises expectations with its enthusiastic style of at well below market prices. presentation but seems to be a lost opportunity. However it does For more information: give an interesting list for further reading and can be downloaded w http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/news/article/13175/up_to_ by googling An A-Z of Planning and Culture (October 2015) 70_per_cent_rent_discounts_for_new_battersea_homes

Thames Water finances Vantage Point at the Archway gyratory With Thames now co-investing £1 billion in London’s £4.2 billion One example of the new trend is a 17-storey block of flats with 118 supersewer, the annual dividend paid to the Australian finance units on the Archway gyratory roundabout near Highgate, although house Macquarie has dwindled to £82 million compared with £170 this is not a new building. Formerly a tax collection department for million in the previous year. Macquarie’s stake in Thames is down to the Inland Revenue, clad in black glass, it has lain empty for seven about 25 per cent and it intends to quit the company altogether. years. It has now been gutted and completely refurbished by Other big investors in the company are the BT pension fund with 13 Essential Living, and given a new exterior with brighter, perforated per cent, the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund with nearly 10 per steel cladding. cent and a Chinese sovereign wealth fund with nearly 9 per cent. City Hall is remodelling the Archway gyratory, to calm traffic and Martin Baggs, Thames’ outgoing chief executive, conceded the provide a better environment for pedestrians. Directly beneath the company still had much to do to improve its poor customer service tower is Archway Underground station, giving direct access to the for which it has been penalised by the regulator in the past. City. newsforum Summer 2016 23 London Forum news and events Events for your diary Dates for your diary London Forum events

Membership renewal London Forum Open Meetings 2016 Last year we changed our membership renewal process so at The Gallery - save the Dates that it can all be done through the London Forum website. Subscription renewals reminders were sent in February by Monday 19 September email giving details of how to renew, including on-line. Provisional subject: the changes made in planning policies by We have introduced also a secure way in which members the Housing and Planning Act and the implications for London. can amend the details we hold of their officers and their organisation. Unfortunately some members are still not Tuesday 25th October London Forum AGM using this facility so that some of you will not be receiving followed by some talks and discussion on how civic societies our communications. can develop their work, reputation, and the engagement of Do please update your information on the Forum’s younger people. website. Information on how to do this is included in the email reminder. Wednesday 30th November As you all know, London Forum relies totally on Members’ Provisional subject: town centres. subscriptions for its budget. However, after the first six months of this year there are several societies which have Watch out for emails and consult the website nearer the not yet renewed their subscription. Please check if your time for more information payment has been made and if not contact The Gallery 75 Cowcross Street, EC1M 6EJ, (Farringdon station) [email protected] All meetings begin with refreshments at 6pm for a 6:30pm start

Delivering Newsforum by email If you have any items of interest for the We currently send you Newsforum by email in the form of a Newsforum PDF as well as posting you a hard copy. the Editor will be pleased to hear from you at: For most of you the PDF is the most useful form as it can be widely distributed at no cost. It also has the advantage that [email protected] web links can be accessed directly. We have reduced our costs by sending the summer London Forum on Twitter edition in PDF form only. It is environmentally more friendly, saving paper, and it also saves London Forum a great deal of Don’t forget the London Forum Twitter site. expense. With the enormous increase in the price of Stories; updates on the latest news as it comes in; useful web postage this is now becoming a major consideration. addresses. If you do not keep your hard copy and feel you could do Do pass on the address to all your amenity society contacts. without it, relying on the PDF, please let us know via one of Twitter can reach far beyond London Forum's e-bulletin list of contacts. the email addresses below, giving your Society name as well as email address, so that we could reduce our postal mailing w http://twitter.com/London_Forum list and save printing and postage costs. NB - note the underscore: _ in the name

For information about the London Forum contact: newsforum Editor Helen Marcus w www.londonforum.org.uk Editorial team Diane Burridge, Derek Chandler, Peter Eversden, Peter Eversden Chairman Peter Pickering London Forum, 70 Cowcross Street, Original design Ross Shaw London EC1M 6EJ Original Spotlight concept Tony Aldous Telephone: 020 7993 5754 Print Express Printing. Telephone 01733 230 800 email [email protected] Published by the London Forum, 70 Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6EJ. Telephone 020 7993 5754 Bill Linskey Membership Secretary Member societies are encouraged to use London Forum email [email protected] news in their own newsletters. While the London Forum is concerned that the views written in articles are relevant and Registered Charity Number 1093134 honestly held by the contributor, the opinions stated by individuals may not necessarily be held by the London Forum Executive, who are not in a position to vouch for their factual accuracy.

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