NKForum: EXTENDED BY 2 WEEKS - PRE-SUBMISSION CONSULTATION - Sunday 27th June 2021
Dear <<First Name>>
EXTENDED : REGULATION 14 PRE-SUBMISSION CONSULTATION ON THE DRAFT NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
SUNDAY 27TH JUNE 2021 11:59PM
We are thrilled that our Neighbourhood Plan consultation is going so well with over 500 responses so far, but we want more! To make this a truly resident - led Plan we need your input on the Plan Policies. To be fully representative of the North Kingston community, we need as many considered responses as possible. So, if you have not completed the survey yet, please do so over the next 2 weeks and let's try and aim for that 1000 figure. Please do ask your local friends and family to complete the consultation survey on our website; https://www.northkingstonforum.org/
We do have a very small supply of paper copies should you know of anyone without access to a computer who would like to contribute. Just em@il us with their details.
north kingstonforum@gmail.com
It is true the Plan is a bit of a heavy weight, it is a technical document (as all Plans are) and will likely take a while to read and digest. For this reason we have produced a Policy Summary (aka Executive Summary) which explains the most important features of the Plan, and is found on the consultation home page.
Why do we need a Neighbourhood Plan?
We have produced a 10 minute video which explains why we need a Neighbourhood Plan and to help everyone to understand the pressure we are all under. The recently adopted London Plan New Homes target is over 900 new homes per year for the next 10 years borough-wide, and may possibly increase.
All Councils now have to submit an annual audit to Government with the number of new homes built. Should Kingston Council not achieve the target as outlined in the London Plan, penalties apply. This is called The Housing Delivery Test. The Town Centre and local surrounding areas are under pressure for new homes, including North Kingston. The Neighbourhood Plan seeks to manage future change carefully and successfully, but we cannot do it without your input. SAYING NO TO CHANGE IS NOT AN OPTION
Update on the Kingston Local Plan
Some of you may remember the last round of the Borough-Wide Local Plan consultation back in 2019. This was called the Local Plan - Early Engagement, and included a 'Call for Sites'. The consultation asked for your views on how future growth could be accommodated. We understand the next round of consultation will start very soon, and is called Regulation 18 consultation - Further Engagement, alongside a further Call for Sites. As soon as we find out more, we will update you.
Developments Canbury Car Park - If anyone has recently looked, you will see there are 300 documents in the planning application now. Enquiries with the council indicate that reviews are still ongoing with unresolved issues on traffic and the removal of the cycle lane along the Richmond Road. There is no indication when a decision will be made at a Planning Committee determination meeting. Our numerous objections to this planning application can be found on our website.
Gala Bingo - we are hopeful the Tarpaulin may be removed in the not too distant future, but are concerned the original consented planning application for the site from 5-6 years ago may no longer be viable. A potential further increase in height is a worry.
Additional potential developments just over the railway line include: Wilko Building: additional 3 storeys for 60 flats with retail on Ground/Lower Ground Greencoat House Clarence Street(opposite Kingston rail station): 200 'co-living' studios and flats with work space and communal facilities Thames Side Wharf: Very early proposal for 2 towers (~180 flats total) on the riverside just north of John Lewis. Currently 2 disused sites being used as private car parking. Owned by the Fenwick Family. No website information available yet.
FAQs
Since launching the Reg 14 consultation we are delighted to have a number of additional members, for some this is their first newsletter. Welcome! To help ease people into understanding what the NKForum is and what is can and cannot do, we have produced an FAQ document which outlines all the facts. This will shortly be added to our website.
Neighbourhood Planning in London
There are over 100 groups working hard all over London trying to develop Neighbourhood Plans , an exceptionally difficult task in London. However, 9 groups have now made it past the post, the being The Isle of Dogs, in an area where they are experiencing unprecedented residential development density, with many large and closely packed residential buildings being built and proposed by multiple developers, and Camley Street, a business area near Kings Cross.
SWLondon does not have that many groups however, the Wimbledon group who are still at a very early stage of development was keen to hook up with groups further along the process, and to gain experience from us. so a story was born in Darling magazine about the Ham and Petersham NForum whose Plan was adopted by Richmond Council 2 years ago, NKForum midway through the process and Wimbledon who have are just starting out. This small project has been brilliant in bringing groups together.
Well that is all for tonight, and we will keep you posted as we move along with the consultation, and update you should any planning applications come our way.
Kind regards
Diane Watling
(Chair North Kingston Neighbourhood Forum)
Early morning North Kingston looking east with Albany park road in the foreground.
