The website of The Belsize Village Association
Only by monitoring and protesting (if necessary) planning applications, will we be able to stop inappropriate development in the Village.
Apart from bombastic residential developments, the key thing is to make sure that the predatory, lowest common denominator multiples, such as Tesco and Starbucks, never ever get a foothold in Belsize. They are a proven way to kill local retailers and damage a community, not to mention generating noise, rubbish and huge delivery trucks.
England's Lane and Hampstead have regular problems with stupidly parked Tesco delivery vehicles. The areas around Starbucks in England's Lane, Hampstead and South End Green are littered with debris and Starbucks cups.
Please all keep an eye on all planning applications and get in touch if anything disturbs you.
** UPDATE March 11 - Planning Permission Refused **
Belsize glass homes are safe as houses as application is unanimously
rejected - SEE THE HAM & HIGH STORY HERE
** UPDATE3 - 25/1/11 on 2c/d Belsize Park Gardens
Fundraising to prevent demolition and loss of open aspects
The planning applications to demolish the single storey Spence+Webster
houses at 2c/d Belsize park Gardens and redevelop them as five storey
houses, are to be determined by Camden planners on 24th February or
soon after (we will know a week before).
English Heritage have called for the houses to be listed but this request has been (mysteriously) denied by minister John Penrose.
Our only hope now is to persuade Camden Council to refuse planning permission. English Heritage have said the existing houses are of "considerable local architectural interest" and contribute "positively" to
the Belsize Conservation Area, and called the redevelopment proposals “harmful” to the Conservation Area.
English Heritage calls the redevelopment proposals
"harmful to the Conservation Area"
The greenery, open aspect and views which are afforded by the current low level glass courtyard houses will disappear if this goes ahead.
Save Belsize are preparing professional consultant reports to submit to Camden, and need funds to reach a target of over £5,000.
Please help by donating £20/£50/£150/250/ 500/ 1000 or whatever
you can - every little helps protect our neighbourhood.
Donate via Paypal on www.savebelsize.co.uk or send cheques to Uri Friedlander at 20 Belsize Avenue, NW3 4AU, tel. 0207 794 480. Financial transparency will beavailable so you can see where the money is going.
** UPDATE2 - 13/10/10
A letter from the owner of 2D Belsize Park Gardens
Thank you for the opportunity to correct some errors which have been published anonymously and displayed in the village. These are the facts as I know them.
The Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) were asked to consider listing the buildings at 2c and 2d Belsize Park Gardens in early 2009. They asked English Heritage (EH) to prepare a report and my neighbour and I asked an architectural historian to do the same for us. After seven months research and subsequent evaluation EH came to the conclusion that the houses should not be listed and DCMS confirmed that decision in November 2009. There is a statutory 28 day appeal period and an appeal was then lodged. The appellants asked for a concession of extra time to assemble their case and were given an extra two months. English Heritage were then again given the brief to examine the case and did further research and re-considered their conclusions. After another six months’ work they strongly confirmed their original conclusion that the buildings should not be listed in August 2010. DCMS, and John Penrose, the Minister, issued this decision on August 9th 2008. This then initiated a further 28 day appeal process and there was at least one submission within the period, once again asking for extra time to prepare a submission. This was granted and that applicant was given until October 4th to prepare a detailed case.
As you can see DCMS, EH and ourselves have already spent a great deal of time and effort on this issue even though the buildings can’t be seen and are not generally accessible. It is also interesting to note that the invisibility is due to the original planning process when it was agreed that because of objections the building would be sunk so as to be hidden behind the high garden wall.
The planning application is a separate issue. It was originally submitted in December 2008 and has since been revised so that the current version had a submission date of 12.02.2010 and a consultation period for questions and comments for interested parties was open until 12.03.2010. Progress has been stalled since then because of the listing process but the result of the application will be determined soon. Contrary to what has been stated elsewhere no trees will be lost as a result of this development. All the trees on the site have been surveyed and listed in the planning application and would be protected as part of the building permission. One tree is to be cut down regardless of the development because it is damaging the basement walls. But it is not prominent, being fifty feet back from the road in the middle of the existing buildings.
September 2010 - PLANNING PROTEST
ref 2C and 2D Belsize Park Gardens
URGENT ACTION REQUIRED before 24th September
Download 'objection to the demolition letter' HERE
& 'objection to new construction letter' HERE
NEW Save Belsize website - HERE
EMAIL jenny.fisher@camden.gov.uk NOW!
There is a new last date of 24th September to protest
against the demolition of the existing single-storey
houses and the erection of two rather large and ugly
replacements on this garden location.
An open view that has been intact since the 1870's will be
damaged and this is supposed to be a conservation area.
Now we have a tree-lined vista, with houses built below the
outside walls, so that they do not detract from the street-scape.
After, we lose the open space and some of the trees,
although the new houses do not fill the site totally.
** Please see owners note ref trees below
Download 'objection to the demolition letter' HERE
& 'objection to new construction letter' HERE
EMAIL jenny.fisher@camden.gov.uk NOW!
** UPDATE - letter from the owner of 2D Belsize Park Gardens
Dear Robert
Please inform the members of the Belsize Village Association that the information you have been given is wrong. In our plans only one tree will be lost and that is in the courtyard of the existing buildings. All the trees visible in your photograph will be retained although one which is just visible in the back garden on the right is not healthy and may eventually need to be cut down. We are just as keen to keep all the trees as everyone else in the area, not least because we feel they enhance our new plans. We have had a tree survey prepared, as required by the council, and the maintenance of the existing trees will be stipulated in the planning permit if granted.
Stephen
JUNE 2010 - NEW PLANNING PROTEST
CONSTRUCTION OF GARDEN HOUSE
IN THE REAR OF 39A BELSIZE SQUARE
On behalf of Belsize Square Residents
As neighbours we are very concerned that approval of this planning application will set a precedent for the future – with the potential to impact all of you who enjoy the unique gardens in this area.
As you know, there is a massive initiative around Belsize Square and Belsize Park Gardens with the aim to stop this application being approved. Even though the official objection date has passed, it is still advisable to email in any objections letter. The more the merrier.
Attached IS the flyer that I have just been sent and asked to pass on
to anyone I know. This flyer contains much more detail and full
scope of the application.
DOWNLOAD THE INFO PDF HERE
March 2010 - PLANNING PROTEST
ref 2C and 2D Belsize Park Gardens
Many local people are unhappy about this planning
proposal and have asked me to let them have the
information needed to protest.
Now we have a tree-lined vista, with houses built below the
outside walls, so that they do not detract from the streetscape.
After, we lose the open space and apparently the trees,
although the new houses do not fill the site totally.
See what what the Belsize Residents
Association (BRA) have to say - HERE
Demolition of two architecturally important
modernist houses at 2c and 2d
Details Page for Planning Application - 2010/0499/C
Site Address 2C and 2D Belsize Park Gardens London NW3 4LD
protest or support the demolition HERE
The plan to build two new houses
Details Page for Planning Application - 2010/0484/P
Site Address 2C and 2D Belsize Park Gardens London NW3 4LD
protest or support the new houses HERE
March 2009 - PLANNING PROTEST - Belsize Park Gardens
Over 20 people turned out on Saturday 28 March to attend a protest against a planning application at 2c and d Belsize Park Gardens.
The application was later withdrawn by the developers
Planning Application - 2009/0265/P
PLANNING INFO HERE - HAM & HIGH STORY HERE
CAMPAIGN VICTORY - but keep an eye out for re-application
PERMISSION REFUSED - AUGUST 2009
BUT ORANGE WILL APPEAL - so keep an eye to protest again
Objections quoting the application reference number 2009/2524/p
Telecoms mast & equipment at 72 Fitzjohn's Avenue, London, NW3 5LS
The name of the Camden planning officer
handling the application is Max Smith
Please email your protest
with copies to
max.smith@camden.gov.uk
Chris.Knight@camden.gov.uk
fitzjohnsavenuehampstead@yahoo.co.uk
OR object on the web HERE
KEEP THE VILLAGE ALIVE
We have most of the shops
we need in the Village, but
they will not survive unless
YOU shop there.
Ham & High
KEEP IT LOCAL
Cut car use in Belsize
Get everyone you know to stop driving to Finchley Rd and shop
daily in the Village. It might cost
a bit more, but everyone
benefits.
SHOP LOCAL
Stay away from Finchley Road, avoid chain monsters like Sainsburys, Boots, Tescos and the other mass monopolists.
KEEP THE VILLAGE ALIVE
We have most of the shops we need in the Village, but they will not survive unless YOU shop there.
Find the horror story - visit Tescopoly
Ham & High Campaign - KEEP IT LOCAL
