The Forest Hill Society have written to oppose the application from Morrisons Supermarkets to convert M&Co on London Road. Below are the details of our objection:
I write on behalf of the Forest Hill
Society to object to planning application DC/14/89770 for alterations to the
shop front and side access arrangements at 10-12 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23
3HF.
We understand that planning permission is
not required for the change from the current A1 retail use of this property to
the use of the proposed supermarket.
However, this application raises a number of important issues about this
proposal that we believe will be detrimental to the function and operation of
the shopping area of Forest Hill. We
believe that the Council should be extremely concerned about the
highways and
servicing impacts that will arise directly from the proposals within
this application
in that they facilitate a much more servicing intensive use that
conflicts
directly with the surrounding streets and pedestrian users. No
information on servicing, deliveries or refuse arrangements is included
with this application.
The proposal in this application includes
changes to the side access into this building from Havelock Walk, partly for
access to the upper floors but this also gives access to the main store area
"for access and means of escape for ground floor retail unit". We are concerned that this change to the side
access may be intended to be used for servicing and for deliveries for the new
supermarket and that both Havelock Walk, and this busy stretch of London Road
is highly unsuited to this arrangement or possibility. Another concern that we have is that the new
set back doorway onto this edge creates a hidden space and may facilitate crime
and antisocial behavior in this area.
No information is provided in this
application to explain how the regular heavy servicing necessary for a
supermarket use will be accommodated on this busy corner of the South Circular and
TFL red route. The proposed changes to
the building to not make it clear how this will work or whether they intend to
use the front or side access for servicing.
It is also not clear where deliveries are to be stored before they go on
the shop floor. If the existing service
bays are to be used that are along London Road 20m or so away then this will
mean trolleying deliveries from this point into the store on a very regular
basis. We would like to understand
whether TFL have been asked to comment on the impact this may have on the
adjacent bus stops.
No obvious space is provided within the new
internal layout for storage, refuse or the other paraphernalia that goes with smaller
supermarkets and which if not properly planned for end up on the street causing
a nuisance to pedestrians and other town centre users (there is a
particular current problem with this at the small Tesco Store on
Kirkdale/Willow Way which causes problems for pedestrians and other
users as well as looking unattractive). This is one of the busiest and most congested
corners of Forest Hill already with bus stops, vehicular traffic, servicing
bays, road crossings and many shop units.
This corner cannot cope with the amount of bins that are already located
here and any more will cause considerable harm. At the very least we would expect a planning
condition that prevented the locating or storing of trolleys for deliveries or
store use, bins or other items outside of the store on the public highway. The current shop frontage has a set back
doorway which at least allows those entering the shop to shelter from the busy
street. The new shop front arrangements
do not allow this.
We are of the view that there is no need
for an additional cash point in this location as there are at least 5 others
within 50m of this point. This is a busy
and narrow area of the pavement given its use and location and this will just
add to the congestion. We would disagree
with the applicant's statement that the pavement is wide in this location.
Our last concern is about the design of the
shop front itself and whilst these changes are not extensive we are concerned
that they do not enhance the character or appearance of the Conservation
Area. This is therefore a missed
opportunity to improve the area and particularly this building which is one of
the least attractive in the town centre but in a highly visible location.
In summary, our objections to this
application are:
- Lack of clarity over servicing and refuse proposals and arrangements that come about as a direct result of the proposed changes in this application;
- The purpose of the enlarged side entrance included within this application and its impact on Havelock Walk;
- The design of the new access onto Havelock Walk and the potentially dangerous set back area along the alley way;
- Impact on the street scene of additional servicing vehicles along London Road;
- Impact on access to and the operation of Havelock Walk (which is entirely unsuitable for large vehicles or lorries);
- The missed opportunity to enhance this building and this part of the Conservation Area; and
- There is no need for an additional cash point machine in this location.
We hope that you will be able to refuse
this application until acceptable proposals for servicing the new use are
established that will minimise any impacts on this important corner of the town
centre. We believe that any servicing
proposals should be widely discussed prior to any application being approved so
that the traders, shoppers and other users of the town centre can understand their impact and have a chance to comment on them.
