Author: Cyril Richert
I received the latest newsletter from the Councillors of Northcote ward with article on the Bolingbroke site. I have selected a list of subjects that we have also published on this website (links provided with cjag.org):
NORTHCOTE WARD Special E-bulletin
Building a new school at Bolingbroke Hospital
September 2010.
Welcome to the latest Northcote e-bulletin with information about the Council’s Spending Reviews; Bolingbroke Hospital planning applications and links to half term activities. Please forward the bulletin to friends and neighbours in the area.
Cllr Jenny Browne, Cllr Peter Dawson, Cllr Martin Johnson
Northcote Ward, Battersea
Email: Heretohelp@wandsworthconservatives.com
Bolingbroke Hospital Planning Application by St George’s NHS Trust
St George’s NHS Trust as the owner of the Bolingbroke Hospital site, and having declared it surplus to requirement last year, has now submitted 2 planning applications for the redevelopment of the building to provide mainly residential flats together with some health facilities.
Full details of both of these applications are available on the Council’s Planning Website by entering the application reference (see below) at http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/gis/search/Search.aspx.
Application ref 2010/4235 is for the alteration; extension and part demolition of the former hospital to provide 50 residential flats and space for some health facilities.
Application ref 2010/4237 is for the partial demolition of the Grade 2 listed building; alterations & extensions to the building and the relocation of the nursery rhyme tiles.
It appears that St George’s Trust has submitted these applications as part of its attempt to gain maximum value for the site. However we can assure you that Wandsworth Council, as a priority purchaser, is negotiating with St George’s so that the site can be acquired for the new secondary school being proposed by the Neighbourhood School Campaign group (NSC) and their chosen education provider (ARK). In time this will lead to further planning applications being submitted and consulted on relating to the conversion of the building to a school and possibly health facilities. There is considerable uncertainty though about the provision of GP health facilities as since 2009 the Primary Care Trust (NHS Wandsworth) has said it does not have the capital funds to invest in such new facilities.
It is very important that you send your comments about these planning applications to the Planning Department as soon as possible.
Email planningapplications@wandsworth.gov.uk or write to The Borough Planner, The Town Hall, Wandsworth High Street, London SW18 2PU.
Please include your name and address and the application reference numbers (see above) and the site name – The Bolingbroke Hospital.
We will continue to argue that the Bolingbroke should be maintained in community use and not redeveloped for flats or houses – see below for the submission we made last month in response to the Trust’s pre-application consultation exercise.
In addition the following specific issues will need to be addressed:
- The protection of the important features that led to the Bolingbroke being designated last year as a Grade 2 listed building; in particular the preservation of the nursery rhyme tiles
- The proposed conversion of the listed building to mainly residential flats will require major intervention and subdivision of the building’s interior
- The loss of significant and long established public facilities if the building is redeveloped for mainly residential flats rather than for other community usage
Submission by Northcote Ward councillors to the St George’s NHS Trust’s “pre-application consultation” – September 2010.
As the Northcote Ward councillors we are writing in response to the invitation issued by St George’s NHS Trust to comment on its pre-application exhibition held at Chatham Hall last week and the proposals outlined in the leaflet circulated locally. In so doing we would draw your attention to the statement issued by Wandsworth Council asking St George’s to correct the misleading information in the consultation document.
In autumn 2009 Northcote Ward councillors and Jane Ellison, now Battersea’s MP undertook a survey of views in the local area about the future use of the Bolingbroke Hospital site. Over 1000 people responded and the overwhelming view was that the Bolingbroke should continue in community use, particularly health services and / or education, and not be redeveloped as residential flats / houses or offices.
We organised the survey so that we could gauge the views of residents as St George’s drew up plans to sell the site. Since the survey last autumn the Neighbourhood School campaign has received massive local support for the proposal to establish a secondary school on the site, further reinforcing the results of our survey.
Therefore we do not think that the proposals currently being put forward by St George’s meet the hopes and aspirations of the local community and therefore they should be withdrawn.
>>Read on CJAG: Free secondary school proposal revealed, but money still unconfirmed by government
Wandsworth Council – Spending Reviews
The council could have to find savings of around £55m over the next four years as the Coalition Government gets to grips with the national budget deficit. Though the size of the task will begin to come clearer after last week’s comprehensive spending review the details of local authority grants will not be known until December. See Council’s savings challenge. A report by Council Leader, Edward Lister, to the Finance & Resources committee can be accessed at www.wandsworth.gov.uk/osc/finance – see agenda papers for 29th September meeting. Also Cllr Lister has written to council staff about changes to staff terms and conditions.
>>Read on CJAG: Spending review 2010
Clapham Junction – Exemplar scheme starts
Work has started on a major project to improve Clapham Junction’s road network and enhance the look and feel of the town centre.
>>Read on CJAG: Clapham Junction Town centre improvement work begins
76-78 Chatham Road SW11 (HiQ Garage)
The planning application to redevelop the garage site with 4 residential units has been approved subject to conditions. Details are available on the Council’s Planning Website ref 2010/2333. The Planning Inspector has supported the Council’s rejection of an earlier scheme for a larger number of smaller houses / flats.
>>Read on CJAG: The latest news on the HiQ Garage 76 – 80 Chatham Road, SW11
