Linda Chung, Sanya Polescuk, left, & Jim Norton, founders of the NW3 CLT, by the hoarding

• THE hoarding around 31 Daleham Gardens says “Daleham Dreaming”.

But the dream of good, warm, homes, accessible to ordinary mortals rather than the wealthy, cannot become reality until the fears of the objectors to the planning application are overcome.

Our dream started in 2016 when Sanya Polescuk and I, both long-term Hampstead residents, believed we should stem the tide of losing public property to private developers.

We were disillusioned by the loss of affordable key-worker housing, a prime example being 29 New End a perfectly good nurses’ home demolished for luxury flats.

Wells Court, a sheltered housing building in the heart of the village, and Hampstead police station, were also on the market at the time. I knew both buildings well, their loss would greatly diminish our social fabric.

What could we do? The solution was creation of a CLT, community land trust, a voluntary body driven by local people, who work together to acquire land and buildings for affordable housing and socially desirable enterprises.

Our bids to acquire an interest from Camden, for Wells Court, and the Department for Education, for the police station, were met with blank responses.

I consider the sale of these two substantial Hampstead public assets a scandal which could have been avoided.

I stepped back once the NW3 CLT was in train but Sanya and the wonderful team ploughed on. After seemingly endless searches for suitable sites they found number 31.

The current planning application is for a sensitively designed, sustainable, building that fits comfortably into the neighbourhood. It comprises 14 flats, of varying sizes, to suit single people or families.

Two will be for council tenants. The remaining will be sold, half with 50 per cent discount on market value, and the balance at full price to help subsidise the scheme. A covenant ensures that affordable housing will be protected in perpetuity.

It will be easy to reject many of the objections as groundless and factually incorrect, but ultimately it will be up to Camden’s planning committee.

What is disturbing are the personal attacks on the motives of the NW3 CLT trustees when all its actions have been totally transparent and can be subject to scrutiny.

To support the application, write to: planning@camden.gov.uk and copy to Josh.Lawlor@camden.gov.uk, quote planning ref 2023/4241/P as soon as possible.

Your help will mean a dream can become reality.

CLLR LINDA CHUNG
Liberal Democrat,
Hampstead Town ward