100 Avenue Road proposed 24-storey skyscraper: Planning application and appeal

100 Avenue Road: Planning application and appeal

 

A message from the Belsize Residents' Association.

 

24 Storeys starve others of sunlight!

We are writing to you to let you know what we are doing about BRA’s continued objection to the proposed development at 100 Avenue Road. We are asking for your support and for a financial contribution.

Last year, Camden rejected Essential Living’s planning application to build a 24-storey tower alongside Swiss Cottage open space. Many BRA members supported the local campaign, since the damage to the open space and to our conservation areas would be unacceptable. Essential Living appealed against Camden’s decision. The case will be heard at a planning inquiry before an independent inspector in July. Essential Living has hired an expensive and strong legal team and Camden will defend their decision as the main party.

But the inspector has granted the Belsize Residents’ Association rule 6 status, which means we too are a party to the Inquiry. The Inspector would like to hear evidence about the impacts of the proposal on local residents. BRA has taken advice from a specialist barrister who has told us that a strong, expert-led case can be made. Until now, we have paid for advice using our reserve funds and done a really good job using volunteers: you’ve written objections, gone to meetings, lobbied the Council. Our Committee members drafted a persuasive Statement of Case which the barrister we consulted saw and liked. The Inquiry offers an important chance to make the case but puts a high premium on independent, expert evidence.

We know, not least from members at the AGM, the importance you attach to this and will be using as much of our contingency reserve as we prudently can to pay the costs. But that will not be enough. We would make our case using whatever funds members can generously give, but we think that the costs would be in the region of £15,000.  Given the nature and complexity of the case, we cannot guarantee that we will win.  But we wish to do our very best for our members and for the local community as a whole.

Our Statement of Case focuses on the impact of the tower on our conservation area and on Swiss Cottage Open Space.  We are liaising with other groups who intend to focus on other issues and may seek funding for that purpose.  We will, however, use your contributions to fund the BRA case.   

Please act now. Please give generously.

Please make cheques payable to the Belsize Residents’ Association and send them to BRA c/o Anne Stevens Flat 1, 20 Netherhall Gardens,

NW3 5TH. Online payments can be made to Belsize Residents’ Association, Santander Bank, Account number: 19524004 Sort Code: 09-01-55. Please ensure you include the reference “Donation”.

To find out more please contact info@belsize.org.uk or telephone 0207 794 0874.

Best wishes

Prabhat Vaze, Chair, Belsize Residents' Association

Further notes

 
The details of the venues and times for the
inquiry are as follows:
Week 1Tuesday 14th July.
 10 am.  BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H
9JP (tube- Euston, Euston Square, or Russell Square.  168
bus from Belsize Park)Wednesday 15th July.
10am. BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H
9JP.Thursday 16th and Friday 17th July. 10
am.  The Council Chamber, Camden Town Hall, Judd
Street, London, WC1H 9JE (tube- King's Cross.  46 bus
from Swiss Cottage)

Week 2Monday 20th July.
10am.  To be confirmed.  Should the Inquiry run on
this day, it will take place at The Council Chamber, Camden
Town Hall, Judd Street, London, WC1H 9JE (tube- King's
Cross.  46 bus from Swiss Cottage)Tuesday
21st July. 10am.  The Council Chamber, Camden Town
Hall, Judd Street, London, WC1H 9JE (tube- King's Cross.
 46 bus from Swiss Cottage)Wednesday 22nd
July.  Inspector's site visit to Swiss
Cottage Open Space.  Time to be confirmed.  Venue: Swiss
Cottage Community Centre.Thursday and Friday
23rd and 24th July. 10 am. The Council Chamber, Camden
Town Hall, Judd Street, London, WC1H 9JE (tube- King's
Cross.  46 bus from Swiss Cottage)

Please do make every effort to attend
particularly on the first day of the Inquiry and for the
Inspector's site visit.  Please do spread the word.
Many of our usual supporters will be working or on holiday
so we really do need local people to turn out.

Thank you again for your support.