More on Gondar Gardens

Better reproductions of the exhibition boards used by Linden Homes and Wates Developments in Emmanuel school recently are available on their website - www.formerreservoirgondargardens.co.uk.
Its certainly an interesting proposal - but doubts abound as to whether it is the right use of the site. We also have our doubts about who would pay the rumoured £1.5 million per house to live below ground. Teletubbies perhaps?!
If you want to find out more about what the GARA residents think or for details of their special meeting - email them at info.gara@gmail.com
We will keep you informed about any further developments.

Gondar Gardens plans unveiled

Linden Homes and Wates Developments held an exhibition on Saturday of their proposals as they are at the moment for the Gondar Gardens resevoir site.  I too a few snaps on my phone of their display boards.  The quality isn't great - but you get an idea. (You can also get a bigger version of these snaps by clicking on them)

The developers were very keen to emphasise the low rise nature of the development - the artists impression below shows that just a few feet of the tops of the houses will appear above the level of the ground already there.

The next (rather poor) photo is of the inside of the existing structure.  The Victorian vaulting takes up most of the front of the site that appears to be a flat area of grass from on top.

By sitting the development in the bottom of the resevoir that already exists they are keen to demonstrate that the development will do little to interupt the impressive views that existing residents of Gonday Gardens enjoy.  These photos of their model don't really show it very well - but, once its built, their presentation suggests that it will be fairly hard for most existing residents to notice much impact from the development.

That said, the impact on the biodiversity of the site is still likely to be considerable.  The whole site enjoys special protection under Camden's planning regulations - and no matter how low-rise the development is, that is likely to be interupted by a massive disruption to the site as it is at present. There just aren't that many spaces in Camden that add to the biodiversity of the area.
Also whilst there is no mention of  any contribution to social housing.  Our part of London needs family sized homes - but it especially needs family-sized social housing.  This week's surgery was typical in presenting some very difficult overcrowding cases to us as local councillors - and if developments like this do nothing to alleviate the situation we'll never get on top of the problem.
We don't know how much the plans will change between now and submitting a full planning application to the council - but we will keep the blog updated of any news as it comes along.

The delayed West Hampstead Thameslink station

It seems that its not just trains that are subject to delays on our railways.  In West Hampstead its the station itself which is being delayed.
Planning permission was given to a new Thameslink station some time ago - and considerable works were done on the new bridge which will allow disabled access.
However, a revised planning application was submitted by Network Rail over the summer - and this has now been approved and the councillors have now been invited to talk through the implications.  Watch this space!

Thames Water works on Finchley Road

Flick's asked me to cross-post this item I've just put on our West Hampstead blog:

I've just heard that Thames Water will be doing work this weekend (Friday 8 October to Sunday 10 October) on Finchley Road by Burrard Road. The works are to repair a water main.

Here's what it will involve:

· Finchley Road will be reduced from three lanes to one lane southbound, between Weech Road and Croft Way

· No right turn into Finchley Road from Burrard Road

· No right turn from Finchley Road into Burrard Road

· The pedestrian crossing will be closed

Apparently the works will be going on 24/24 to get everything completed on time.

Gondar Gardens plans to be revealed

Linden Homes and Wates Developments have been in touch about a public exhibition they are holding about their plans for Gondar Gardens Reservoir site.


There's no extra details at the moment, apart from  the subject of their email-  "New Zero Carbon Family Homes in West Hampstead".


It seems that they are trying to sugar the pill of building over a site of nature and scientific interest; trading  biodiversity off against carbon emissions (and Camden's age-old need for family sized accommodation).  I'm not sure this is a winning strategy for them but they are clearly determined to give it a go.


The exhibition will be open to all and is at Emmanuel School, 101 Mill Lane, West Hampstead, NW6 1NA on Saturday 9^th October 2010, between  10.30am and 3.30pm.  If you are interested in what their proposals might be, come along and see how their plans are shaping up.