The council will be asking developers to withdraw plans to build a nine storey tower block in the heart of Thornton Heath.
The applicant Kenexa (Thornton Heath) is being encouraged to meet with the community to discuss concerns over the design, lack of amenities, parking arrangements and poor access to the planned tower block and resubmit a more ‘appropriate’ application.
The tallest of the four proposed blocks at Station Yard, 56 Brigstock Road, shown in this 3D image (left) is nine storeys – measures 28.6 metres – and will loom over houses and gardens on Melfort Road.
Dorset based businessmen Stephen King and Andrew Hurll purchased the site behind the Iceland car park for just £675,000 in February 2018 from the engineering group Actavo.
They pair incorporated four businesses on 5 December 2017: Kenexa Estates Ltd for Thornton Heath, Truro, Norwich and Luton.
The 58 residential units offering 50 per cent of affordable housing includes: 22 one bedroom, 24 two bedroom and 12 three bedroom apartments. The plan also offers two commercial units for warehouse or storage. The buildings are likely to house around 200 people. The application makes provision for just 10 parking spaces.
The applicant also submitted a masterplan of what the whole site could look like if it were developed (pictured right). The freehold for the rest of site which is presently occupied by the Iceland store and car park is owned by the Notting Hill Housing Trust.
Kenexa doesn’t have to withdraw the application but Bensham Manor councillors have referred the application to the planning committee so it is properly scrutinised and have reserved their right to object if it isn’t withdrawn. Consultation on the application ends on January 31. Thornton Heath Community Action Team has set up a petition calling for a public meeting to discuss the proposals.
View The Chronicle December 2021 issue
