Residents say the scale of the 'infill' development is overbearing

An image of how the block might look, taken from the Deloitte report

January 20, 2023

Plans for a five-storey flats development on a busy road near Putney High School have been met with a series of objections by local residents.

Developers want to build the white concrete block alongside the existing Carlton Drive flats, which are on the corner of Putney Hill. If permission is granted, the development work would take a year.

The existing block, which was built in the 1960s and contains 27 flats, currently has a gravelled walkway between the neighbouring Victorian building at 41 Carlton Drive.

Deloitte has applied for planning permission to Wandsworth Council to build two two-bedroom and one three-bedroom flats in the area now taken up by the gravelled walkway next to the current block at 42 Carlton Drive.

A previous scheme was withdrawn in July last year before it reached a decision stage, and Deloitte said in a recent report to the council that the new plan incorporated a number of changes.

It said, “In particular, the massing and façade design and material have been revised to meet officer comments. The façade of the proposed development is now designed in a manner which closely reflects the appearance of the existing adjacent building, both in design, material and massing.

“The internal design of the proposed development has also been revisited to locate the previously external stairway internally, create a wheelchair accessible ground unit, and enlarge the lightwells within the lower-ground floor unit”.

The report adds that the development “reflects an aspiration to deliver a high-quality building which provides new housing and is a beneficial contribution to the local area.”

Each flat would have front balconies, with black aluminium sliding doors. There would be eight new cycle parking spaces as well as new refuse storage.

Comments on the scheme are being welcomed until Wednesday (25 January) and more than 20 objections have already been received, including many from Carlton Drive residents.

The comment by Andrew Liau who lives on the road was typical. He said, “Closing the gap between 42-43 and 41 Carlton Drive will reduce the open space between the buildings beyond reason.

“An additional building in this narrow space will block natural sunlight and create shadows for existing buildings, gardens and open spaces. It harms the amenity of occupiers/users and nearby properties through overshadowing.”

Fellow Carlton Drive resident John Babtie said, “The style and design of the existing building at 42 Carlton Drive is art deco, and next door at 41 Carlton Drive there are two Victorian villas. The proposed modern design does not integrate with the buildings adjacent to it. The scale of the proposed 5-storey building is overbearing.”

But there were also objections from residents living elsewhere, including Daniel Ayash of Putney Hill. He said, “The proposed building is another one in a string of multiple applications of various shapes and sizes by multiple parties that have consistently violated the architectural landscape and infringed upon wellbeing of current residents of the Carlton Drive.”

Other objections mentioned congestion issues, with the road being used as a ‘rat run’ between Putney Hill and Upper Richmond Road, as well as the daily school run and regular sports coach pick-ups.