Planners throw out bid to build homes on haven for wildlife in Agamemnon Road
Luxury estate would be an ‘inward-looking enclave’
Published: 30th June, 2011
by DAN CARRIER
A BID by a property development company to build a luxury estate on protected open space in West Hampstead has been thrown out by Camden Council.
Home-builder Linden Wates bought the former Gondar Gardens reservoir in Agamemnon Road two years ago. Despite the area being designated metropolitan open land and boasting rare plants, birds and animals, the company ignored planning restrictions and ploughed ahead with proposals to build 16 homes.
But this week it was told by the council’s planning department that its proposals were unacceptable.
The Town Hall found 16 legal reasons for refusing planning permission. They included loss of habitat for rare birds and animals, a lack of affordable housing and a lack of varying-sized homes to ensure a mixed community.
It was feared the development would cause extra congestion and that the homes’ basements could cause subsidence in neighbouring houses.
The Town Hall concluded that the designs would create an “inward-looking enclave which fails to contribute to community safety and security or promote social cohesion”. Linden Wates held two “consultation” sessions to gauge the views of people living nearby – and both times was told unequivocally that it was wasting its time and that nobody wanted the development to go ahead.
Residents said that, despite this, the housing group pushed ahead with the planning application.
Gondar and Agamemnon Residents’ Association chairman David Yass said his group was relieved the plans had been rejected.
He added: “We are delighted this has been refused and the council have upheld their own policy of protecting open space. Camden have stuck to their guns.”
A petition supporting the group’s opposition to building on top of the Victorian reservoir was signed by 1,200 people.
Mr Yass added that the developer had claimed the arched reservoir structure, which sits under grass, was dangerous and due to collapse.
He said: “They said the roof was in imminent danger of collapse. Camden sent in their own structural engineering expert, who strongly disagreed. They said it simply was not in any danger of falling down – and added that, even if it did, it could add ecological value to the site.”