Five charged after drugs raids in Wandsworth, Battersea, Kennington and Ealing

... Skye Pitter, 19, of Courtenay Street, Kennington, was charged on Thursday, 25 June with possession of criminal property. ...

Green fingered staff and students at Archbishop Tenison’s school by The Oval cricket ground get hands dirty in community planting session

... But staff at Archbishop Tenison School, beside The Oval cricket ground in Kennington, have been making use of their green fingers – and doing both. ...

Charlton’s coronation drinking fountain

... In spite of the regal delay, it took until February 1903 for a contract to be issued for the drinking fountain, which went to Messrs Whitehead and Sons in Kennington. A total of £225 had been raised locally, with Sir Maryon-Wilson stumping up £100 of that, which seemed appropriate as it was his idea in the first place. At the time of issuing the building contract, they were still £25 short of the total, and a campaign was set up to persuade the malingerers to pay up. ...

Lambeth awarded £2.6m Covid-19 transport funding from TfL

... TfL awarded £728,000 for cycle routes in Rosendale Road, Kennington Road, and one from Peckham to Streatham.   ...

The best small parks to explore in London

Kennington Park, SE11

... Opened on the site of the former Kennington Common (the home of everything from Chartist rallies to the first professional cricket matches to be in London), Kennington Park enjoys somewhat of a radical reputation, often serving as the gathering point for protest marches (both historic and modern) before they descend on Westminster. ...

BRIXTON HISTORY / FEATURES / NEWS / PARKS

In photos: the open spaces and flower garden of Kennington Park, south London

Mon 15th June, 2020 - by mike urban - Leave a Comment

... With its long and fascinating history and links to protest, politics and cricket , Kennington Park is one of London’s more interesting green spaces, hosting areas for wildlife and biodiversity, sports facilities and plenty of open space for picnicking. ...

... In 1853, model houses created by Prince Albert for the Great Exhibition were moved from Hyde Park to Kennington Common and used for park staff. ...

The wonderful volunteers of Brixton People’s Kitchen – in photos

Caroline P, 56, is a local from Kennington and normally works in a charity shop on Walworth Road.

Since lockdown she and her partner have been volunteering at Brixton People’s Kitchen.

Fight the proposal for 11 Storeys on Montford Place - Update

Fight the proposal for 11 Storeys on Montford Place - Update

Ref 20/01086/FUL

Heritage and Design Critique report

Thank you very much to those who have contributed towards the cost of the report. It is complete and was submitted to the Council on Tuesday morning, together with the comments below. Pending resolution of IT issues there, it should be available to download from the Lambeth website. 

The report makes it clear that this development would indeed result in instances of substantial harm to the heritage assets, which definitely helps our case.

Any more donations to the crowdfunder would be very welcome to close the gap a little between the £2,280 currently raised and the final cost which was £3,300. Link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/fight-the-proposal-for-11-storeys-on-montford-pl and I can send donors a copy of the report. 

Objections

There are over 70 objections registered on the Council’s website. There is still time to submit yours if you haven’t yet done so. The link is: https://planning.lambeth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=makeComment&keyVal=Q7PD4BBO08P00  or you can email Case Officer Cuma Ahmet: CAhmet@Lambeth.gov.uk. 

There is a list of objections on the GoFundMe page linked above - feel free to copy and paste if you don’t have time to write your own. 

Comments submitted to the Council on the heritage aspects of this proposal

We believe that the proposed development would result in an unacceptable amount of harm as identified in NPPF para 194 i.e. harm to, and loss of, the significance of designated heritage assets, resulting from development within their setting. 

• The applicant aspires to deliver 3,000 homes across a portfolio of 7 sites in London, i.e. they are building in bulk. However Montford Place is the smallest and most sensitive site in the portfolio. Building in bulk is not appropriate here and even with this very tall proposed scheme the site remains insignificant in terms of providing homes for Londoners. 
• The Independent Expert’s report identifies numerous instances of harm that would result from the proposed development. This harm includes instances of substantial harm. NPPF para 194 says that any harm to the significance of a designated heritage asset from development within its setting requires clear and convincing justification, which has not been provided; furthermore, the heritage assets include grade II and grade II* listed buildings, for which NPPF paras 194 (a) and (b) require exceptional and wholly exceptional justification, so the justification is all the more insufficient. 
• The site is within Kennington Conservation Area (CA), which has London-wide significance and is noted for its smart terraced housing. If permitted, this development would be roughly double the height of any other building in the entire CA. This would set an extremely unfortunate precedent which would conflict with the very reason for the designation of the CA and could result in erosion of its fundamental character as the Council will be less able to resist tall developments within it. 
• Contrary to paras 184 and 185 of the NPPF, the proposal fails to preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the CA, as the development would neither make a positive contribution nor leave it unharmed. 
• The circumstances, relevant policies, and legal framework are wholly different at this site when compared to the consented Oval Gas Works and Tesco Kennington sites (the "Berkeley” sites). Unlike the Berkeley sites, this site is surrounded on three sides by nationally listed buildings and one locally listed building, and is within the CA. The Berkeley sites are providing 1,300 housing units; this proposal would provide just 139. 
• It may be argued that the Berkeley developments harm the same heritage assets as the proposed development would. However, this is no justification to substantially increase the harm by allowing this present application to proceed. 
• The application documents confirm that the site has a value of £5.6 million if developed in line with existing policy.  Therefore there is no justification in viability terms to inflict the proposed harm. 
• We do not believe the proposed development would meet the statutory tests as set out in case law (South Lakeland DC, Bath Society, Barnwell Manor and Forge Field cases), as detailed in the Independent Expert’s report.  
• Therefore, and to quote from the Independent’s Expert’s report, we respectfully request that Lambeth Council reject this harmful scheme and encourage a much lower scale development that respects the quality and character of the Kennington Conservation Area, respects the scale of the existing surrounding buildings, and minimises the harm to the numerous heritage assets that surround this site.

155 pubs in South London where you can pick up a takeaway pint

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The Dog House (Kennington)

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The Prince Of Wales (Kennington)

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The Black Prince (Kennington)

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How work on the London Underground Northern line extension has restarted

... The major Transport for London (TfL) construction project connecting Kennington to Battersea Power Station was stopped when the coronavirus lockdown was introduced in late March. ...

... It will connect Kennington to Battersea Power Station, via Nine Elms, allowing local commuters to get to the City and the West End in just 15 minutes. ...

... The extension will stretch for a little over one and a half miles, branching away from the rest of the Northern Line at Kennington. ...

... Work is being done at Kennington to accommodate the new tunnels but trains will otherwise be stopping normally there. ...

Buying a home in Zone 1:two key central London areas loved for their community feel and boutique shops

...

Homes for sale in SE11: Kennington

Average price: £796 per sq ft

Homes in the triangle between Vauxhall, Kennington and Elephant & Castle range from Georgian townhouses in tucked-away garden squares to Victorian flats and new-build apartments. There are also plenty of ex-council flats, helping to keep average prices down.

Johnny Male, sales director at estate agents Daniel Cobb, says prices of homes in SE11 are almost half those of similar homes across the river in Westminster. He feels that snobbery plays a part in this north/south divide.

Even so, one of the fine Georgian townhouses in Kennington Road or in “exquisite” Cleaver Square, close to Kennington station, would cost about £1.3 million, on average.

Another photogenic option would be one of the two-bedroom cottages built by the Duchy of Cornwall around Cardigan Street and Courtenay Square at the turn of the last century. These “tiny but adorable” homes cost about £900,000.

£975,000: a two-bedroom Grade II-listed terrace house with pretty rear garden in leafy Courtenay St, SE11, overlooking Courtenay Square

For more affordable options, a two-bedroom period conversion flat would be about £600,000, with a one-bedroom ex-council flat from about £300,000.

“SE11 has an amazing community,” says Male, who lives locally. “I adore it there. We all support our local shops, which are mostly around Kennington Cross, and there are some very good cafés.”

The postcode is just clear of the frenzied housebuilding going on at neighbouring Elephant & Castle and Nine Elms, but that doesn’t mean there are no new homes.

The frontrunner is Oval Village, off Kennington Lane. As the name suggests, it’s close to the cricket ground.

The flats went on sale at the start of last year and residents will move in from the beginning of 2023. By 2027 there will be 1,309 flats on site.

Prices start at £648,999 for a one-bedroom flat and £883,000 for a two-bedroom flat. Residents get a gym and pool, roof terraces and gardens.

The nearest Tube station is Oval, just into Zone 2 on the Northern line. Elephant & Castle Tube, on the Northern and Bakerloo lines in Zone 1, is a 10-minute walk away.

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Picnic food and drink deliveries to London parks, from tapas to cocktails

... For lunch, Dalston’s Dusty Knuckle Bakery is delivering its signature artisan sandwiches to parks anywhere within a 1.5-mile radius, or simply dial-a-pizza to your chosen spot. Sacro Cuore in Kensal Rise is shipping its Neapolitan pizzas to Queen’s Park — just call ahead and meet your rider at the park gate 10 minutes later. Meanwhile Kennington hotspot The Collective is delivering its organic sourdoughs to anyone dining in Kennington Park. ...

Museum of London, Kennington Manor House 1636

Stop the Blocks

Stop The Blocks

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Planning appeal now underway Comments must be made by Friday 26th June 2020

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Kennington Heritage Links

Dear Companions

As you know, a group of us is battling to block an 11-storey high-rise building in our Kennington Conservation Area

We are learning a lot as we go...!!!

I've lived here since the mid-80s and, as you know, love it!

I have always been able to reach out to the community on all manner of issues,

most recently getting the Lights up in the Tree of Hope...

I am now wondering if we might again band together to connect up on heritage issues

After quietly, smuggly enjoying our patch until now, 

it seems the rest of the world has realised what a gem we have here

and the developers have begun to swoop 

Fair enough...

However, I believe we do need to stand up to protect our notable heritage assets,

which have survived the ravages of time, wars, neglect, etc

for the younger people following in our footsteps

It seems that several of the groups that were around a decade ago are no longer active

It's such a shame to have lost that knowledge and wisdom;

however, we do still share a wealth of talent

There are several Conservation Areas in our neighbourhood, both in Lambeth and Southwark,

so, firstly, I'd like to find out if there is any interest in setting up such a Network...

Perhaps we can pool resources so we don't all have to keep re-inventing the wheel...

Initially, let's just see if anyone is interested and, if so, 

how we might develop a suitable vehicle for moving forward

If you are interested, please be in touch and we can see where it leads

Do pass this on to anyone else who might be interested in such an endeavour...

Stay well

Best wishes

Cathy

kenningtonheritagelink@gmail.com

Virtual art walk in Vauxhall on Wednesday 10th

Art Explorations on line – Vauxhall and Battersea

Date/Time
Date(s) - 10/06/2020
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Fear, fury and a failed state: ‘Black people are hurt and killed by police without repercussions in the UK too’

... Over the weekend I went for a jog through the small park near my flat in Brixton, South London. There I passed an 18-year-old whom I mentor. I’ll refer to him as Carl. Carl was jogging too. We slowed to greet one another, then I veered north, towards Kennington. Carl stayed to complete laps of the park, which is next to his housing estate. 
The difference in our jogging routes – Carl’s closed and repetitive, mine open and free – might seem unremarkable. But it marks out an invisible line of socioeconomic and racial inequality that would divide us if we hadn’t met nearly five years ago at a local community centre. I am free to go to Kennington whenever I like, but Carl is not. A territorial rivalry exists between young, predominantly black men in north Brixton and Kennington. Carl knows that by stepping beyond a certain point he is risking his life. By the age of 16 he had dodged knives. He has felt a bullet graze his ear. He inherited a constant state of insecurity from olders at a young age. He didn’t have a choice. ...

"I'm tired of this": Caller's powerful reason why he's going to Black Lives Matter protest

... Michael called in from Kennington as he made his way to the protest at Hyde Park, taking place in solidarity with demonstrators in the US following the death of George Floyd. ...

Fight the proposal for 11 storeys on Montford Pl

Fight the proposal for 11 storeys on Montford Pl £465 raised of £3,200 target Donate now

Expert's report crowdfunder - TfL/Grainger proposed tall blocks on Montford Place 20/01086/FUL

Hi all

Further to the below, please help fund an expert's report to oppose this excessive development scheme.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/fight-the-proposal-for-11-storeys-on-montford-pl

A heritage report by RMA Heritage (https://www.rmaheritage.com) is our best chance of opposing this scheme. RMA's report would provide expert evidence to back up my views that the scale of the proposed scheme would cause significant harm to the setting of surrounding listed buildings and would not preserve or enhance the character or appearance of this part of the Conservation Area.  I believe the Alan Baxter Heritage Statement and Visual Statement have downplayed the harm caused.  The picture available at the link above clearly shows just how out of scale this backland development scheme is when compared with the listed terraces on Kennington Lane and Kennington Road and with Imperial Court. If we can prove it does significant harm, that is a serious problem for the application. 

The developer's daylight and sunlight report confirms that the scheme would cause light levels to fall to below the BRE guidelines in at least 135 neighbouring properties (1-49 Sherwin House,  1-60 Kilner House, 233-235 Kennington Lane, Imperial Court, 257 Kennington Lane, 352 Kennington Road, 356 Kennington Road, 350 Kennington Road, 231 Kennington Lane).

Delivering housing is a priority across London. However, this shouldn't ride rough shod over local heritage and the the local environment, which of course is what makes London a place that people want to live. It is our shared inheritance. And with the small number of units this proposal would provide this site is not even significant in terms of providing homes for Londoners. 

The report will need to be submitted to the Local Planning Authority very soon. Please help with the cost if you can. Any amounts big or small are welcome. Thank you. 

Please also circulate this email to anyone who is affected by this application. 

It is still important to post your comments on the scheme - details below from my email of 29th May. 

Best wishes

Tom

354 Kennington Road

p.s. Cathy - if you could please circulate to Kennington Lane and Imperial Court and anywhere else you see fit. 

---------------

Sent by me 29/5/20

Dear all

You may be aware of the planning application ref 20/01086/FUL to build blocks of up to 11 storeys on the TfL site next to Imperial Court. This is more than double the height of the bottling plant demolished 20 years ago and will obviously have a significant effect on surrounding properties. To quote the Daylight & Sunlight report they submitted:  

1.20. There are nine properties which will experience changes in daylight and/ or sunlight which are in breach of the BRE Guidelines. These properties are as follows:  1-49 Sherwin House,  1-60 Kilner House, 233-235 Kennington Lane, Imperial Court, 257 Kennington Lane, 352 Kennington Road, 356 Kennington Road, 350 Kennington Road, 231 Kennington Lane 

- count this up and it's over 135 individual properties!

Please may I encourage everyone to make comments on the Lambeth website. The link is here and deadline is 8^th June. Comments are usually accepted for some time after the official deadline however obviously the sooner the better. Write your own.. or for speed you can copy and paste the objections at the bottom of this email if you agree with me. You can also email the case officer Cuma Ahmet: CAhmet@Lambeth.gov.uk. 

I am also looking in to getting a paid-for independent expert’s report on the harm to heritage.

Feel free to circulate this to others who may be interested. I hasten to add that I am not against a suitable redevelopment of the Montford Place site.

I hope you are keeping well.

Tom

----- 

Objections include: 

·        The excessive bulk and height of the development would result in substantial harm to the setting of heritage assets, including the listed buildings on Kennington Lane, Imperial Court, and Kennington Green. Kennington Green is a set piece including two Grade II* buildings which is typical of the conservation area. This harm would not be outweighed by public benefit.
·        The site is not identified as a location for tall or large buildings in the borough’s Local Development Plan.
·        The scheme is double the height of a scheme designed in line with the heights outlined in the OAKDA Masterplan.
·        Unlike the Gasholders/Tesco sites, this site is wholly within the Kennington Conservation area, and is surrounded on 3 sides by nationally Listed Buildings.
·        As detailed in the Daylight –Sunlight report, the scheme would cause light levels to fall to below the levels in BRE guidelines in at least 135 neighbouring properties (1-49 Sherwin House,  1-60 Kilner House, 233-235 Kennington Lane, Imperial Court, 257 Kennington Lane, 352 Kennington Road, 356 Kennington Road, 350 Kennington Road, 231 Kennington Lane). This is a substantial impact. The Daylight & Sunlight consultants reason that because there used to be buildings on the site previously, it is ok to put buildings back; however, the previous buildings on the site (the bottling plant and office) were only about half the height of the current proposed building.
·        The site has a long history of, and is currently zoned for, employment use. Both current and draft policy requires development to protect and increase the borough’s stock of business space including offices and creative digital industries. The application does not deliver on this as it provides only 2700 sq m employment space on a 0.4 hectare site.
·        The applicant argues that the site is not viable without the proposed bulk. However, the viability statement identifies that it has a value in excess of £5million if developed in line with existing policy. Therefore the applicant has the option of conducting a profitable development without inflicting substantial harm on heritage assets.
·        The proposal fails to meet the emerging policies in the Revised Lambeth Local Plan. Policy H12 requires that the units are legally obliged to be rental units only for 25 years. The applicant is refusing this and proposing only 15 years.
·        The application, particularly the Transport Statement neglects to consider the impact of fast food deliveries to the development. 139 flats and the commercial units will result in tens (at least 30 per day) deliveries from companies such as Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Just Eat. These deliveries are often made via motorbike, and as locals we know the drivers often ignore the gate at the south end of Montford Place. The transport statement’s statement that “all deliveries and servicing trips will enter and leave via the northern end of Montford Place” is therefore incorrect. This high number of daily ad hoc deliveries would create a significant disruption and air and noise pollution to surrounding residents and it should be comprehensively examined and suitable solutions put in place. The proposed application does not do this.
·        The windows, roof terraces and balconies of the proposed development would impinge upon the privacy and amenity of surrounding dwellings, and also their outdoor space, in contravention of planning policy.
·        In 2003, a planning application was made (02/02411/FUL) to add an additional, sixth storey to Imperial Court.  This was refused on grounds that, by virtue of its position, height, bulk and massing, the proposed development would be damaging to the character and appearance of the Conservation area and would have a detrimental effect on the neighbouring listed buildings on Kennington Road.

How to buy a bigger property without doubling your mortgage:the key areas with the biggest savings for upsizers

... In south London, buyers move from Peckham, Camberwell, Kennington, and Oval out to East or West Dulwich, Sydenham and Forest Hill, says Becky Munday, managing director at Munday’s estate agents. ...

Michelin-Starred Restaurant Chefs Will Deliver NYC Pizza Culture From Borough Market

... ASAP Pizza, which appeared on Instagram last weekend with some very cartoonish block caps for branding, comes after Flor reopened for takeaway bread, pastries, and an instant-hit rhubarb and sesame swirl soft serve ice cream. It will launch for click-and-collect from 5 p.m. on 10 June, with a delivery area including London Bridge, Southwark, Elephant & Castle, and Kennington operating on Deliveroo from 11 June. ...