EASTeight » Andrew Boff

Your future Tesco – Decision day, 10th October

Andrew Boff — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 08:43:58 +0000

The fate of the businesses which occupy the Westgate Centre will be decided on 10th October at a planning committee at the Town Hall.

Notting Hill Housing Trust’s plans involve demolishing the busy industrial units on Westgate/Bocking Street, which employ at least 35 people and which are in very short supply, and replacing them with the same type of commercial units that have been empty for years along Sheep Lane, Triangle Road and Mare Street underneath a 6 storey development of flats. After being empty for a period the Council has been allowing these commercial units to be converted for other uses, including chain supermarkets. Recently, the Council allowed a change of use to the B1 offices at 24/47 Mare Street, without consulting Broadway Market traders, which resulted in a Sainsbury’s opening there this year.

Tesco would love to get a unit at Westgate which could kill the businesses on Broadway Market who have made the area the success it is.

Small businesses at the Westgate Centre, many of which directly serve the local community (eg. Rebel Rebel, Doorstep Laundry, Dog Villas, etc.) will find it extremely hard, if not impossible, to find local accommodation as work units with parking spaces are in extremely short supply in Hackney.

Tenants of the units have been told they can’t comment on they plans or it would result in them breaking their agreement and risk them being evicted.

Fun no Games

Andrew Boff — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 07:18:02 +0000

Another Tower bites the dust

Andrew Boff — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 21:33:04 +0000

The Tower Block on London Lane has been turned down by the Council for planning reasons that may make it difficult for a new one to be proposed. The loss of daylight for neighbouring properties, being out of character with the area and a lack of affordable housing means that Council Officers could refuse the application down without it being referred to a planning committee. It also means victory for No Hackney High Rise, the group formed to oppose the development.

No Hackney High Rise are now looking forward to talking to developers Southern Housing to bring forward a more human scale development.

Another tower proposed

Andrew Boff — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:46:41 +0000

A proposed new tower block proposed for Corbridge Crescent, just south of the Regent’s Canal in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, will puncture the skyline of E8 and neighbouring postcodes.

The developer, The Aitch Group, have employed Quattro Public Relations, headed by Labour bigwig Paul Dimoldenberg, to undertake public consultations in the area.

A questionnaire they’ve circulated to neighbouring residents asks such loaded questions as ‘Do you think the area would benefit from improvements to public spaces’ and their website promises to keep the cobblestones, which may distract conservation minded residents from the fact that this is a huge development of a similar nature to the one turned down in Dalston only a few weeks ago.

The development seems to be in contradiction to most local plans; the Tower Hamlets Local Development Framework rejects tall buildings other than where there are established economic clusters, such as Aldgate and Canary Wharf with the London Plan taking a similar line.

It’s difficult to see how the application, expected in the summer, could get approval. Unless, of course, not enough people comment on it or the case against the plan is weakened if the 10 storey development at London Lane were to be approved, so establishing a precedent for tall buildings in the area.

Pauline Pearce to run for Council in Hackney Central

Andrew Boff — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 10:35:00 +0000

‘Hackney Heroine’ Pauling Pearce is to throw her hat in the ring to be the next Councillor for Hackney Central. Making her name by a youtube video showing her standing up to rioters in last years’ disturbance, Pauline will be running with the support of the local Liberal Democrats. (Video contains strong language). The election will be on the same day as the elections for London Mayor and the London Assembly on May 3rd.

Greenwash Towers is dead (for now)

Andrew Boff — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 21:38:30 +0000

Hackney’s Planning committee have turned down the application for an 18 storey tower block by Dalston Kingsland Station. To cheers and loud applause from a packed public gallery, Councillors unanimously rejected the scheme after protesters, headed by Bill Parry Davies of Open Dalston, criticised the lack of affordable housing, the scale of the development and the effect that it would have on overshadowing Ridley Road Market.

Residents now have to expect an appeal from the applicants who maintained that it is an acceptable scheme which complied with the Dalston Area Action Plan, a document that permits tall buildings up to 15 storeys.

Open Dalston: Celebrate Dalston’s fight for environmental and social justice.

Sign up for your planning alerts!

Andrew Boff — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:16:46 +0000

Want to be told if someone wants to cut down a protected tree on your street? Or demolish an historic building? Or stick up a tower block? Or apply for an alcohol licence? Any Hackney resident can sign up to EASTeight‘s planning applications alerts service and we’ll check to see if a planning application has been submitted near your home and email you an alert.

Every hour, we check what applications have been lodged on the Council’s planning register for the whole of Hackney and then check to see if it is within a distance, specified by you, from your home postcode. If it is, we’ll send you a quick email reminder and a link to more details.

Boris cash for town renewal

Andrew Boff — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:49:02 +0000

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has given Hackney £5.3 million to make major improvements to the town centre following the riots in August.

Hackney will be spending the bulk of it on a new fashion retail hub, hoping to create up to 200 jobs whilst attracting visitors and investment to the borough.

The hub will be developed around Hackney’s existing Burberry store in Chatham Place. The store will be used as an anchor to attract other fashion and design retailers to the area.

The funding will also allow the Council to appoint a team of architects and retail specialists to work with local businesses in Mare Street, the Narroway and Clarence Road to produce design guidelines and business plans that will attract as many customers as possible. Businesses will then be able to bid for funding, through the Council, to carry out improvements to shop fronts in line with the guidelines.

No mention is made by the Council as to whether the buses that clog up the Narroway will be redirected, one of the biggest problems in increasing footfall.

If in doubt, knock it down

Andrew Boff — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:47:38 +0000

After years of campaigning to get the Park Keeper’s cottage on London Fields back into use, Hackney Council has finally responded to campaigners about their plans. They’re going to knock it down.
Unoccupied for more than 20 years, the London Fields User Group had approached the Council to use the cottage as a base for park rangers and as an ecology centre. The Council’s excuse for many years has been that it was holding back on any plans for London Fields while it considered the future of all of the park keeper’s cottages in all the parks in Hackney.
The Council says: “The building is no longer required for the management of the park and the Council believes that it should take action before the building falls into further disrepair. You will be aware that the building has recently been re-secured after being occupied by squatters. It continues to be an eyesore to the park and represents a risk to local community safety. Demolition of the existing building would not preclude the Council from considering a proposal funded from the community or a local business but this would also need common land approval.”
Hackney recently spent £9 million on renovating Clissold House in Clissold Park.

Love at the Lido

Andrew Boff — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:23:54 +0000

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