Proposed Tower

This photo shows Southern Housing Group’s (SHG) proposed scheme for 22-44 London Lane. Designed by PRP Architects, the development of this .241 hectare site will provide 78 units of which only 18 will be allocated to social housing. Affordable housing will be allocated at the point of build/sale.

The Planning department at Hackney Council have expressed “concern over the height of the tower”. Yet the history of developments such as the Barratt Vanguard House Tower on Richmond Road (now blighting London Fields East Side) warns us that developers will ride rough-shod over both residents and the council to get their way.

SHG advocates that every “New development should capitalise upon and enrich the qualities of existing places with a distinctive and complementary response to the character, surroundings and environment” and should “promote a sense of community in the wider neighbourhood”. Yet this scheme shows a blatant disregard for both the community and environment that surrounds the site.

Residents will not be granted parking permits and there will be no parking spaces available on site. SHG maintain that a car club and adjacent transport will be adequate for the needs of residents, but this is totally impractical. Some car parking must be provided on site.

SHG sought the views of local residents at a public consultation in May 2009. Yet in spite of overwhelming pressure to drop the tower block at a further public consultation in June 2009, the tower still remains part of the scheme. Residents’ concerns have not been addressed.