6th October 2008
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This was the actual quote expressed by a large number of residents when asked to expand on the notion that they wanted the site developed. They had come to the 'consultation' expecting to see a sympathetic plan for the site.
We are worried that we are going to be saddled with an awful and massive overdevelopment of the old Hollingsworth site in Braybrooke Road. Our fears have not been allayed by a slick "consultation" where we naively thought that the developers may ask our opinions on what we'd like on the site, instead of which we were informed that they thought around a hundred units would be fine - never mind the impact on the area. The curent application is for 89 flats.
Research showed that Exit Asset Management was an eight quid company company set up in November 2006 so no track record, and described as a 'Business & Management Consultancy' - you can check the Companies House entries for Exit Asset Management here and their annual return here. No annual accounts have been filed. They imply that the Architect's track record was their track record this simply isn't true. My guess is that they're not interested in building on ther site, all they want to do is obtain planning consent for a vast number of housing units so that the site value will increase and the owner, Hovedean Properties (see below) can then sell it on. They have made much of the majority view that yes, the site shoud be developed but ignored the rider that what was proposed was totally unacceptable to the extent that many residents said that they would rather the site remained undeveloped.
At 2.5 times the height the proposed development would dwarf the Victorian terrace of Lower Park Road and would be clearly visible from the whole of St Helens Road from the roundabout to the Park cross roads - would that be a fitting backdrop for our beautiful Alexandra Park? - it would in fact be a running sore visible from most of the Victorian Hastings Valley from the Castle, West Hill, Lower Mount Pleasant Road, Quarry Road, Lower Park Road Priory Avenue, Priory Close not just Braybrooke Road where it would brood sullenly casting long shadows on the sunless chasm it had created and wow!! the flats would have north-facing balconies - that means no sun on them - so that they could look out over the park they had just blighted!,
Exit Asset management have submitted an application for a monolithic slab of a building comprising 89 flats with only 62 car parking spaces (very small cars only). The development is excessive and there are good and sound planning reasons for the Council's Planning Committee to reject the application. Write to the planning board to tell them to reject the application. The formal application was finally submitted 1st October and describes EXIT Asset management as 'Agent' c/o another 'Agent' Stiles Harold Williams - an estate agency based in Croydon.
Density
Parking
Planning History of the Braybrooke Road site 1989 Outline planning application for around 100 residential units including starter home and warden care flats and 85 car park spaces above and below ground withdrawn July 1989. Full planning application for 83 Flats refused July because it was too large. 1989. Developer lodged appeal and public enquiry held. Refusal upheld. Inspector's reasons for refusal click here
1993 Outline planning application for three-storey development of 60 flats in three separate blocks refused because it was still too large. Planning Inspector upholds refusal click here for his report
December 1992. Outline planning application for two and three storey development of 43 flats in three separate blocks granted subject to conditions December 1993.
1997 Renewal of planning permission for erection of a 2 and 3 storey development of 43 flats in 3 separate blocks.
1998 Full planning application for new car showroom and offices granted subject to conditions June 1998.
1999 Full planning application for new car showroom and workshop facility together with car display forecourt and parking areas granted November 1999.
2002 Full planning application for 56 apartments in four blocks including car-parking refused May 2002.
2003 Full planning application for 4 blocks of four storey flats, 56 in total with associated parking for 56 cars refused May 2003
More to come, meanwhile listed below are some other observations, including notes on document BRR 03 submitted by EXIT in support of their application.
FACTclick for copy
of our original
leaflet
This was the actual quote expressed by a large number of residents when asked to expand on the notion that they wanted the site developed. They had come to the 'consultation' expecting to see a sympathetic plan for the site.
