Forum Topic

Allied Carpets Site

Fantastic news everyone - the Inspector has dismissed both Bexwell Property's Appeals regarding the development of the Allied Carpet's site!  A very big thank you to you all for all your time and effort - it was well worth it and just goes to show that we do have communities in London and we can achieve things - suspect there will be some not so arrogant people in Bexwell Properties today!!! The press would like to do an article on our achievement and have asked if we could get as many residents as possible to gather at the Allied Carpets car park at 9:30am on Tuesday 31st October for a photo shoot.  Please come along and mention it to you neighbours, friends etc. Many thanks & well done! Cathnor Park Area Action Group

Caroline MacMillan ● 6817d20 Comments

"He appears to listen to no one but himself and hasn't a care in the world for the people who live in the area affected by these housing developments."Interesting comments; can you provide us with a few facts to back-up these assertions ?

Andrew Broadbent ● 6733d

Ken has not overturned this decision and is not able to.  The Prestolite site is much, much larger and is not in a designated conservation area, as far as I'm aware.  As this has gone to appeal and been turned down there is nothing that Bexwell Properties can do but either sell the site on or submit an alternative plan, as yet they have not submitted any alternative plans.This is not a Labour v Conservative issue, our Labour MP has been very vocal throughout on his negative view of this plan plus when the plan was originally turned down by the Council it was a unanimous decision by both Labour & Conseravtive Councillors.The local residents won and now we just have to wait and see what proposals are put forward from here.

Fiona Campbell ● 6736d

Livingstone has overturned the Prestolite plans which had been OK'd by Hammersmith Council, so he could do the same here.  He appears to listen to no one but himself and hasn't a care in the world for the people who live in the area affected by these housing developments.

Caroline MacMillan ● 6737d

MarkThanks for the clarification. I was a bit chronologically confused.I do see some merit in the mayor (of whatever political colour) taking a 'strategic' overview of property development across London, but I don't really consider the Allied Carpets site as of great strategic significance!Nevertheless, I personally hope that some sensible, sympathetic redevelopment of that site does occur, since it isn't currently a useful amenity or of any aesthetic value, and it doesn't provide any form of housing. It's an eyesore which cheapens the area.

Edward Noel ● 6739d

EdwardI think Greg was talking in the past tense. He was taking part in a debate in committee about the GLA Bill - which proposes a big extension in the Mayor's planning powers. If you remember, Livingstone originally wanted the Tower block at the Allied Carpets site.I am not aware of any plans for the site not (which does not mean there ARE no plans!)

Mark Loveday ● 6740d

I remember people being very happy that the scheme for this site had been dismissed by the council, but Greg Hands' newsletter today seems to be saying that Livingstone has overruled the council and is giving it the go-ahead. Is this really true?To quote from GH's newlewsletter:-'The (Allied Carpets) scheme was turned down by the Conservative council and was refused on appeal, but Mayor Livingstone then recommended it for approval. He said:  “This was an excellent scheme by Allied and Morrison, with a ground floor car showroom and a part 4 storey, part 10 storey building with 50 residential units (50 per cent. affordable) that delivered many London Plan policies.”'

Edward Noel ● 6740d

I agree, Margaret.  We do need a cinema.  We used to go regularly but it got so tatty and to be honest, can't stand the smell of pop corn so we go elsewhere (Watermans ... NO POPCORN).  They don't advertise on the the films showing except for the posters and you get the feeling they are just not trying.

Caroline MacMillan ● 6807d

I suppose it depends whether you consider another Tesco with new council buildings up above as "development".  I personally do not.Of course I want to see improvement on these sites - I'd like the cinema site to stay as such and despair that something so valuable to the community is being neglected in this way.  My original post was to suggest the running down of this site is being done deliberately to discourage cinema goers and so a case can be made to turn it into yet another supermarket

Margaret Cameron ● 6810d

Some small shop units to encourage individual traders, not a mega supermarket unit.  Housing units, mix of private, rental and especially some for essential service workers.  And built in a manner in keeping with the surrounding area and certainly not reaching higher than current roof lines.  Some green space and trees.  How does that sound?

Caroline MacMillan ● 6810d

Dear Caroline, Margaret, Margaret and othersI think it is great that you managed to stop an unwanted development on the Allied Carpets' site, but what I'm interested to understand is whether you are against any changes in use of either the Allied Carpets' or the cinema site?After all, Allied Carpets is a hideous building and not a very useful amenity, and, to paraphrase the previous post, the cinema is falling into dilapidation.What would you like to see happen to those sites?

Edward Noel ● 6811d

The cinema on this site is now becoming so rundown and there is no effort being made to fix.  This makes me wonder if they know something that we dont - namely that the Tesco purchase is far from dead.

Margaret Cameron ● 6811d

I don't know anything about the background to this, but presumably Allied Carpets must want to sell, so one assumes that there will be alternative plans for that site submitted soon. Is anyone aware of any alternative proposals?

Edward Noel ● 6812d

Back to the drawing board, I suppose.

Caroline MacMillan ● 6812d

That's interesting news, and I hope your photoshoot went well this morning.Following the council's rejection of the Bexwell scheme, what is likely to happen to the Allied Carpets site now?

Edward Noel ● 6813d

Thanks, Margaret.  Keep us informed ...

Caroline MacMillan ● 6817d

Not sure - they mentioned something about Tesco building new council offices. It could be from their previous attempt. If i hear anything more concrete i will let you know.

Margaret A Delaney ● 6817d

Keep me in the loop, Margaret.    Are they current rumours or long gone ones?

Caroline MacMillan ● 6817d

OK hopefully the rumours are incorrect

Margaret A Delaney ● 6817d

No, have to say it seems to have gone rather quiet on that front.  Maybe the new council have other ideas for it.

Caroline MacMillan ● 6817d

I have heard rumours that Tesco is still trying to buy the Nigel Playfair Avenue site - is this true, do you know anything about it?

Margaret A Delaney ● 6817d