Building project aims to restore green space near Mill Lane

Last summer, there was consternation when trees and other vegetation were cleared from a strip of land running north of Mill Lane, beside the railway and behind houses on Fordwych Road. Besides representing the loss of one of the few natural habitats in the area, this seemed to presage the start of a major building development.

Now SLLB, a firm of architects, are preparing a planning application to build on the land. They are seeking the public's views on their proposal before submitting it to Camden council.

According to their consultation website, the proposal would restore a significant amount of green space, with sensitivity to biodiversity. There would be a large building to the front of the site, along Mill Lane, comprising flats and houses. The existing building, shown in the picture above, would be demolished to make way for the new structure. The architects say:

We have been working on a scheme which will result in the land being acquired from the current owner and the open space restored to a green, biodiverse state. This is something we believe strongly to be in the public interest. It is however only possible to achieve our aim through enabling development.

This artist's impression below shows what the scene above might look like following the development.

Daniel Smith of SLLB told Northwest 6 that the site owner approached them following the furore caused by his removal of the trees and vegetation from the land last year. They now have a commitment from a housing association, Genesis, to join the development and they would expect other backers to come on board if the proposal gains planning approval.

The proposed green space would not necessarily be a public space. One option is that it could be a subscription park, to which local residents would have access if they paid an annual fee. A model for this exists locally at Mapesbury Dell. Another option, is that there would be no public access and the space would be managed to promote biodiversity. This is apparently the option preferred currently by Camden council.

Daniel Smith says the purpose of the current consultation is to gain insight now into the public's concerns or other opinions so that the architects can address these in the design of the planning application. SLLB ask you to submit any opinions before 29 April.

Changes to local roads

After seeking our views last year, Camden Council is making some changes to roads around Mill Lane.  These are intended to make things safer for pedestrians - particularly children going to school.

Mill Lane itself is to get two new zebra crossings.  Work to install these has already begun - adding to the density of roadworks already happening in the area thanks to the Thames Water excavations.

A 20 mph speed limit is to be imposed on the roads around Beckford School - Dornfell Street, Broomsleigh Street, Glastonbury Street and Ravenshaw Street.  80 per cent of the 186 respondents to Camden's survey supported this measure.  But only 48 per cent expressed support for raising the junction - bringing the road level to that of the pavement - where Dornfell Street meets Ravenshaw Street.  So this proposal will not proceed.

Pedestrian safety in West End Lane

A nasty accident last week, in which a man lost his legs, has led to calls for measures to improve pedestrian safety at West End Lane's junction with Iverson Road.

Some people feel the traffic lights do not give people enough time to cross the road.

More details from the Ham & High.

Groups Near You

News reaches Northwest 6 of a new website to help you track what's happening in your neighbourhood:

GroupsNearYou.com is dedicated to helping you find local email lists or other online groups that cover the area you live in. Being part of such groups is an interesting way to find out what's going on in your neighbourhood or street at a more local and personal level than a newspaper, and there's research to suggest it'll help your quality of life in the long run!

Tracking what's going on at  a more local and personal level than a local newspaper is very much what Northwest 6 is about too, so we're keen to see this flourish.  Groups Near You relies on members of the public to populate its pages with information.  So if you know of the contact details of civic and campaigning groups in West Hampstead who are on the internet, be sure to post them.