Kingfisher Leisure Centre Debacle
UPDATE: SOS KINGFISHER campaigners submitted a petition and questions to the Corporate and Resources Committee on Thursday, 30th March 2023. You can watch the meeting here. (section is in the first 40 mins)
Unfortunately, it was a very disappointing affair and Residents were not able to obtain any comprehensible answers to the questions. The responses provided were vague, with promises for a potential decision by the end of the summer. As taxpayers, we are currently facing the cost of this disaster, which has amounted to £3.5 million and is still increasing as we are also paying for the site's security. Background: Kingston Council has released a statement on its website on March 10, 2023, announcing that it will be postponing all future proposals to construct a new swimming pool and leisure centre in the borough. The reason given for this decision is attributed to financial pressures. After it was estimated that the cost of replacing the roof of the Kingston Kingfisher Leisure Centre would be only around £5 million, and despite the local opposition and demands for Plan B, the centre was demolished in 2021.National bodies including Sport England and many local people objected to the demolition while there was no clear time-frame for opening the new centre. See supporting statement by Councillor John Sweeney, Portfolio Holder for Business and Leisure at Kingston at the time here The council had previously made a promise to build an improved leisure centre in the same location as the Kingfisher, but as of four years later, the borough is still awaiting the construction of the promised facility. The council's recent statement was shockingly disappointing and lacks any substance. It did not provide any commitments or assurances regarding the construction of a new leisure centre in the near future Sign SOSKINGFISHER petition here Material Council Decisions Leading up to ill-fated demolition: 10 February 2022 meeting of the Place Committee Meeting 17 February Corporate and Resources Committee meeting 01 March Counci meeting - The budget proposals approved include, in the General Fund Capital Programme, £40 million to deliver the new Kingfisher Leisure Centre. 16 February 2022 Planning application submitted to the Council 24 February 2022 Application validated FULL REPORT BY THE Assistant Director of Strategic Planning & Infrastructure (23.03.2022) Latest press coverage: Kingston Nub Kingston Courier MyLondon ITV London News Architects Journal KINGFISHER FIASCO where to go next: Corporate and Resources Commitee Meeting Thursday 30th March 2023 7.30 pm Guildhall, Kingston upon Thames Seething Wells Filter Beds
Seething wells filter beds is situated about a mile from Kingston Town Centre, on Portsmouth Road. Its located opposite the grounds of Hampton Court Palace, a Grade I listed building and Home Park. It comes within the Riverside South Conservation Area. Owned by Isle of Man registered Cascina Limited.The site has been subject to numerous unsuccessful planning applications for development and currently appealing Kingston Council. Local Residents Action group needs residents help to continue their fight.
This is not only a unique local nature and wildlife asset but also a national heritage asset which should be protected.Site has also a unique and functional relationship with the listed buildings opposite side of Portsmouth Road and therefore it is an integral pat of the wider setting of the Conservation Area it is located. What YOU can do to help Save Seething Wells 1. Make a representation to the Planning Inspectorate supporting RBK’s decision to refuse Permitted Development rights for hard surfacing and fencing at Seething Wells. The owners have appealed this. Respond by 15th March. 2. Attend RBK’s Culture, Housing, Environment and Planning Committee meeting on 17th March at 7:30pm. The committee will be deciding whether to make the Article 4 direction removing Permitted Development rights relating to fencing permanent. https://moderngov.kingston.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=699&MId=9182 3.Write to your local ward councillors, Portfolio Holder (rebekah.moll@kingston.gov.uk), Development Management (development.management@kingston.gov.uk) and Biodiversity Officer (elliot.newton@kingston.gov.uk) to express your concern at the site’s SINC status being at risk. Cambridge Road Estate
The Cambridge Road Estate, (the site) is located in south-west London within the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. The site sits along Cambridge Road / Kingston Road (A2043) which links Kingston town centre to the A3. "Part detailed / part outline planning permission for a mixed use development, including demolition of existing buildings and erection of up to 2,170 residential units 290sqm of flexible office floorspace (Use Class E), 1,395sqm of flexible retail/commercial floorspace (Use Class E/Sui Generis), 1,250sqm community floorspace (Use Class F2), new publicly accessible open space and associated access, servicing, landscaping and works" Planning Application Ref. No: 20/02942/FUL | Received: Thu 19 Nov 2020 | Validated: Thu 03 Dec 2020 | Status: Pending Consideration For Full application Details and Documents Visit Council Portal Here For more info here Eden Campus
edencampusviews.co.uk/Planning Application is updated, Residential Tower is now reduced to 16 storey.
Comments deadline: Statutory Expiry Date Sunday 10 Jan 2021 But any representations received up until a decision is taken will be taken into consideration in the assessment of the applications.' RBK Planning Department. 2 Phased application. 1. Multiple Office Towers and Car Park facility (Unilever's name dropped) 2. Residential Tower block (22 Storey reduced to 16, No affordable Housing) Applicant Name Hathaway Opportunity Fund General Partners STATEMENT FROM RBK - Published: 8th December 2020 20/02495/FUL – 10 & 11 Storey Office Towers and Car parking Building 20/02499/OUT – 22 Storey Residential Tower "Kingston Council has received an amended planning application for the proposed Eden Campus in Kingston town centre in response to councillor and resident concerns. Councillors and residents raised concerns about the height of some of the proposed buildings, as did Historic England, while welcoming and recognising the overall boost to the local economy by Unilever expanding its presence in the borough. However, councillors are concerned that the reduction in height may result in a lack of affordable housing provided through the development. The financial viability of the amended proposal will be scrutinised by the Council’s external consultants. Cube Real Estate’s amended planning application for the site has been received today as part of the formal planning process and will now be shared for public consultation." Source: RBK Website 8th December For further visuals please visit Kingston Society Dedicated Website: (Drag slider to view before and after images) OUR January 2021 RESPONSE OUR November 2020 RESPONSE: Submit your comments by email: development.management@kingston.gov.uk Original application and Further Information Kingston Council Planning Portal Comments page Tolworth Tower Clusters
A new application for the Tolworth Tower site has been lodged with Kingston Council. If approved it will be a very large development of about 500 new units. The current tower is to be converted into 261 flats and the two new towers would have 136 and 102 flats. No affordable homes planned on the site.
Surrey County Hall
initial comments to: surreycountyhall@becg.com
Second exhibition: November 2020 - comments deadline December 2020 Planning Application: Submission January 2021 Whilst we support the re-development of the SurreyCounty Hall site in principle, we see the present proposals as completely visionless and inappropriate in their scale, quality and adverse impact on the existing local environment.
For full information on what is proposed please visit developers -2nd Consultation - site here. For further residents communications with the developers and Historic England's comments on this matter please visit Riverside Residents Association website HERE Our Latest Response (2nd Consultation) HERE Our Inital Response (1st Consultation ) HERE Canbury Place Car Park
Hybrid application for Canbury Place car park and 12-52 Kingsgate Road for the demolition of the existing buildings and the erection of two buildings to provide residential apartments
Revised application includes: reduction in height from 25 storeys above ground to 17 storeys above ground and associated design changes; reduction in number of homes from 445 to 389 units. Highway alterations, with the introduction of a left-hand turn from Sopwith Way into Richmond Road as part of the first phase of development and minor realignment of southern part of Seven Kings Way to allow the widening of the footway and new trees. Introduction of a left-hand filter lane at the junction of Sury Basin and Richmond Road. *17+1 storeys it WILL be visible from those crossing Kingston Bridge, the footpath alongside Home Park & in the distance from Richmond Park’s protected view. It will also dominate the view of Kingston Station looking from the town centre (from the south). Full application details here Response to the updated application by KSoc: here |
Live Planning Applications
Resident Public meetings Kingston Society, 7:30pm at the Judge Lecture Theatre, Tiffin School, Kingston KT2 6RL. Media clips
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Page updated on March 2021
