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Council wins permission to build flats up to 13 storeys next to Tottenham park

12 July 2022
3 Min Read

Plans to build 272 homes next to Down Lane Park have been approved despite objections
By Simon Allin, Local Democracy Reporter

A CGI of how the scheme will look from Down Lane Park (Credit Haringey Council/Levitt Bernstein Architects)
A CGI of how the scheme will look from Down Lane Park (Credit Haringey Council/Levitt Bernstein Architects)

A plan to build blocks of flats up to 13 storeys high next to a park in Tottenham has been approved by councillors.

Haringey Council won permission to build 272 homes at the former waste depot in Ashley Road, next to Down Lane Park, during a meeting of the authority’s planning subcommittee on Monday.

Half of the homes will be for social rent, including all of the 67 three-bedroom and 25 four-bedroom units.

The council received 14 objections and four letters of support for the plans during a public consultation. Council planning officer Chris Smith told the committee meeting there would be “no significant impact” on neighbouring residents as a result of the scheme.

But Reg Rice, who opted to speak as a Tottenham Hale ward councillor rather than a committee member – meaning that he was unable to vote on the item – claimed the council had “missed a chance” to create a new park in the area.

“We all welcome new housing,” he said, “but where are the recreational facilities for the people who live in these houses?” Cllr Rice also claimed people in north Tottenham had not been consulted on the proposals.

Rob Krzyszowski, the council’s assistant director of planning, building standards and sustainability, responded that nearly 200 letters had been sent out to local residents as part of the consultation, on top of previous engagement work by the developer.

Ruth Gordon, cabinet member for housebuilding, placemaking and development, told the meeting she had set up a “community design group” to redesign Down Lane Park. Jo McCafferty, director at Levitt Bernstein Architects, added that the development would “draw the park into its design” and provide more than 3,000 square metres of green space.

Several committee members raised concerns over the scheme. Pippa Connor, a Liberal Democrat member, said the amount of play space provided on the development appeared to be half the recommended amount of 2,802sq m.

She also said the scheme presented an opportunity to build a bridge over the railway to improve access to the Lee Valley.

In response, Jo said the play space standards for children aged up to 11 would be met by providing “play on the way” areas in public routes through the development and by making improvements to Down Lane Park.

Cllr Gordon said the council was working on a scheme to improve a railway underpass that provides access to the Lee Valley, which would help to reduce antisocial behaviour.

Labour committee member John Bevan criticised the design of one of the blocks, branding it “appalling” and “dated”.

Jo responded that her team had “worked very hard” on designing the buildings, which would “work very well together”, adding that the designs had received “strong support” from an independent panel of experts.

Following the debate, eight committee members voted to approve the plans, with Cllrs Connor and Bevan abstaining.

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