10 Oct 2007 - Work underway on St Andrew's old hall site
Building work has started on the controversial development of the site of St Andrew's old church hall in Poppleton Road.Newlon Housing Group's application to build 9 self-contained flats was vigorously opposed by FORA and many other members of the local community. The site foreman told FORA Executive member, Trevor Goodchild, that the work would take around ten months to complete.
The decision by Waltham Forest Council to grant the development was officially made on 15 August,2007 -- although the application was narrowly passed at a meeting of the Planning Committee in November, 2006.
Between these two events, FORA's Executive undertook to explore the possibility of seeking a Judicial Review with the aim of having the development stopped. This was the outcome of a large public meeting, organised by FORA, which showed that the strength of opposition remained very strong.
In a recent letter to members, FORA's chair, Peter Leighton, said he regretted that the legal advice was that there was little chance of a Judicial Review succeeding.
"We have consulted two different, independent planning lawyers one of whom was a distinguished planning QC , at no cost to members, and they were both of the same opinion. We also looked at other avenues to have the development stopped or altered but found none that would be effective, " he said.
He also gave some of the reasons reasons why FORA had opposed the development:
" We do not believe it will 'preserve or enhance' the character and appearance of the conservation area. It will be architecturally out of character with its surroundings and is an overuse of the site, which has always been in communal use.
It will overshadow and block out the fine east window of St Andrew's church, a building listed by English Heritage as being of special architectural interest."