Elderly to make way for children

Published: 24 September 2010

• ELDERLY residents in Pimlico are being moved out of Greenwood Court to make way for large families against the objections of neighbours. 

Westminster City Council last week gave planning permission for the 42-flat sheltered housing block to be converted into 16 flats for large families (three to four children). 

Residents in adjoining properties objected on the grounds of increased noise, loss of privacy and overdevelopment, increasing the number of occupants from 42 to over 90, two-thirds of whom could be children. The flats are on five floors (no lift) and outside terraces are being added which will increase noise levels in the otherwise quiet, narrow courtyard at the back. Westminster has gone against its own planning guidelines which specify a preference of “mixed” development with not more than 33 per cent of any particular type of housing unit. 

Greenwood Court in Cambridge Street is a conversion of a row of five-storey terraces – quite unsuitable for family accommodation with steps up and down to the street, internal staircases, and no playground or parking. 

Across Lupus Street is the huge Churchill Garden estate with 1,700 flats with lifts, parking and playgrounds. Surely this is much more suitable accommodation for families than converted terraced houses.

Ylva French
St Georges Drive, SW1