The O2 Centre site in West Hampstead

• NEXT week Camden planning committee will scrutinise Landsec’s proposal for the O2 Centre site in West Hampstead.

We, as former Labour Swiss Cottage councillors, strongly oppose the current development plans, as they stand, mainly because of its massive dimension and lack of social, community, benefits.

The development presents an unnecessary excessive density and heights (1,800 units) with poor design and lack of green and public open space and a limited offer –35 per cent – of “affordable” housing which is less than Camden’s own policy.

History shows us that along the process this percentage tends to decrease even more, and the current volatile context with high construction prices, labour shortages and the need for the developer to buy additional land makes that outcome highly likely.

No firm commitments to reject the O2 demolition or to deliver substantial community investments in transport, health or education, leave us with only negative effects: high future maintenance costs of tall buildings; higher emissions of demolition and the buildings; higher flooding risks and to local wildlife in conservation areas; no positive contribution to climate change; social costs of tall buildings on families and health; and negative impact on already stretched public services.

We welcome and endorse the representations prepared by the Confederation of Local Community Groups, a valuable collective effort of 12 local organisations, probably the only positive community outcome of this development proposal.

Objections presented by the South Hampstead Flood Action Group are also a positive contribution members of the planning committee should also look at.

We urge planning committee members to vote against these concrete proposals of Landsec and to discuss alternatives with the community organisations, neighbours and the developer.

This time, they have material planning reasons to do so, existing research, increasing precedent planning policy decisions on poor design and a political mandate to honour climate change and social commitments for a green, sustainable and fair Camden.

NAYRA BELLO O´SHANAHAN,
LEO CASSARANI
& SIMON PEARSON
Labour Swiss Cottage councillors, 2018 to 2022