New flats bid after years of dirt and noise

Cllr John Bryant: School plan

JUST weeks after the noise and dirt involved in the construction of a multi-million pound block of flats stopped fed-up neighbours now have another battle on their hands.
They are fighting proposals for another large-scale development across the road from the portered, landscaped estate in Hampstead, rumoured to be home to a number of Premiership footballers.
The Pulse apartments at the corner of Hampstead’s Lymington Road and Finchley Road opened before Christmas, a year late and after complaints from neighbours about excessive noise and dirt during construction.
Now residents have received a letter from architects acting on behalf of Alan Day, owner of the Mercedes Benz showroom at the corner of Lymington and Finchley roads.
The company wants to demolish the building, which they say is now at the end of its life, and build a 610 square metre car showroom – or three retail shops – with up to 76 flats above the building.
Of these, 19 have been earmarked as affordable flats to be managed by Genesis Housing Association and let to local people. The remaining 57 are for private sale.
Developers say the new building will provide much-needed affordable housing, better use of the site, a suitable complement for the Pulse development and provide “a vibrant, modern gateway” to Lymington Road.
But Joanne West, treasurer of Lymington Road Residents Association, said her immediate response was “Oh no, not again!”
She added: “We have only just got through three years of dust, chaos and lorries.
“We are just getting used to the Pulse, which is a modern building compared to many on the Finchley Road.
“I’ve been disappointed at how little time they’re giving us to respond.
“They’ve sent just one letter dated February 16 and they want responses by March 1.”
Lib Dem councillor John Bryant is concerned about the impact of the proposed development but believes the community could benefit from the scheme. He said: “More and more families have moved into the area and we are at stretching point in terms of primary school places and health facilities.
“We should negotiate with the developers for a new primary school or health centre.”
A spokesman for architects Broadway Malyan said that letters had been hand-delivered to residents on Thursday.
He added: “This is a voluntary consultation that Alan Day is doing as a gesture of goodwill to the community and we welcome the views of residents.”
An exhibition on the proposals was due to take place yesterday afternoon (Wednesday) and today at the car showroom.
The company is hoping to submit a formal application for planning permission to the Town Hall early in March.