PETITION AGAINST 100 - 112 York Road Development's Excessive Scale, Height and Density

Senex Capital's has submitted a new application to convert Price's Candles Factory on York Road. http://planning.wandsworth.gov.uk/WAM/showCaseFile.do?appType=planning&appNumber=2012/1444.

This is a revised version of application 2011/2950 that was refused on 19-01-2012 on grounds of having insufficient affordable housing, of excessive height and density and out of line with York Road surrounding developments (effectively a waterfront development).

We submitted a petition against the original application 2011/2950 (132 signatures: Price's Court and Candlemakers Apartment residents). We need your support and are aiming for significantly more through GoPetition from the community as a whole.

1. 9 storey building facing Candlemaker’s, Bridges Wharf and Price’s Court – was 10 storeys
2. 6, 3 storey terraced houses facing Price’s Court and Orbis Wharf – no change
3. 6 storey building opposite Candlemaker’s – no change
4. 27 affordable housing units – was 17
5. Business premises: retail 142sqm; business space 624sqm; car showroom 694sqm.
6. 102 parking bays mixed retail and resident – was 103 (prior 80 residents + 23 retail bays)

SENEX have made minor changes under a new application. This effectively disregards the prior objections and clears the slate. In theory, we have to resubmit a complete set of objections. However, it is clear this is 90% the same development. So we argue that the principles of our prior objection hold true. There is no significant change, other than the removal of small 10th floor (redistributed across other levels) and the addition of 10 affordable housing units.

ISSUES:
Disproportionate to immediate neighbours on the same block - Price’s Court, Candlemaker’s and all other properties along York road.
• Mass, height and density of the scheme is overbearing and excessive.
Looking at all roadside buildings along York Road from Wandsworth Roundabout up to Falcon Road, the prevailing height is around 4/6 storeys, again supporting our objection on the basis of excessive height of this proposal in relation to its height and bulk and overall density – compared to others along York Road.
• Points along the horizon: Should not be compared nor confused with ACTUAL river front properties. Proposed development is on York Road, 200m from river Thames and 50 m from the river at its furtherest and narrowest point.
• Should not exceed 5 storeys.
• Highest point should not compete with nor obliterate iconic, historic Candlemaker’s tower.
• Materials used are not in keeping with the historic Price's Candle site – should be similar to Price’s Court and Candlemakers Apartments.

Increasing the number of residential units over 9 floors adds to bulkiness and density and developers have not addressed the REAL ISSUE, which is height, density and scale. All they have done is lob off the 10th mini floor and redistributed it elsewhere.

Max height along York road is 6 floors, majority being 4 to 5 floors. Senex is using a waterfront development, Bridges Wharf as comparison and trying to get away with it.

We are not against redevelopment of this site as it needs it, but we feel the council is more concerned about £1million+ S106's (financial incentives awarded to them) than the owners, residents of neighbouring blocks opposing the developments height and the community as a whole.