Who are we petitioning?
Camden Council – petition is here
What do we want them to do?
Reject Planning Application 2018/3672/P to redevelop 55 Fitzroy Park with five houses, two of which would front directly onto Hampstead Heath, immediately opposite the Bird Sanctuary Pond.
Why is this important?
Hampstead Heath, one of London’s most treasured open spaces that is free and open to all, is under threat from large scale property development. Camden Council is currently considering plans to demolish an existing single house and annexe, to be replaced with five houses, all with basements.
In particular, the character and ecology of Millfield Lane, a historic path running along the eastern side of the Heath, is threatened. Two of the luxury houses would directly face the Heath across Millfield Lane.
This application potentially represents the development of Hampstead Heath by stealth. It is presented as a family-backed ‘self-build’ project which would be exempt from Community Infrastructure Levy (a charge designed to fund improvements to London infrastructure). A development of this size would also usually be expected to include an element of affordable housing given the additional floor space being created.
In 2015 an alliance of local community groups successfully petitioned the Council to refuse an application for an overdevelopment in a neighbouring property – The Water House – which would have had similar impacts on the surrounding area. We call on Camden Council to reject this new application because of the harm it will cause to the local environment, particularly Millfield Lane and the Bird Sanctuary Pond on Hampstead Heath.
Hampstead Heath belongs to us all and should not be damaged by large scale property developments, for personal gain . Concerns raised by the proposals include:
Potential for significant increase in traffic along Millfield Lane:
Loss of numerous trees, many bordering Millfield Lane:
Unprecedented levels of heavy engineering adjacent to Millfield Lane:
This development would permanently change the natural environment of Millfield Lane in many ways including:
More information about this development can be found on Camden’s website here.
Supporters of this campaign include:
CONTACT: fomlmailbox@gmail.com
PETITION: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/p/millfield2019
UPDATES:
31 July 2019 Petition has surpassed 4,500 and continues to grow. Latest Camden New Joural article now on line here.
27 July 2019 Petition stands at 4,417, help us to get it to 5000!
July 2019 Renewed objections from Kenwood Ladies' Pond Association, Heath & Hampstead Society, Fitzroy Park Residents' Association, City of London and Highgate Conservation Area Advisory Committee uploaded to Camden Council planning portal.
7 June 2019 Further documents from applicants uploaded on council website, fail to address concerns about environmental impacts and permanent increase to traffic in Millfield Lane.
20 March 2019 Now have 4000 signatures. Objections still being sent to Camden Council, you can see them here.
7 March 2019 Great coverage in the local press today, Camden New Journal (above) and Ham & High.
5 March 2019 3000 signatures in just over a week.
1 March 2019 Surpassed 2000 signatures on St David's Day! Support keeps coming in.
27 February 2019 We made 1000 signatures in little more than one day, petition still growing
25 February 2019 Online Petition launched and already growing!
PS: if you live in the London Borough of Camden, please contact your local Councillor to tell them how you feel about this development too. Quote planning reference for 55 Fitzroy Park - 2018/3672/P. Contact planning@camden.gov.uk
Did you know they have the final say by voting on the proposals at the council's Development Control Committee meeting? Highgate Ward Councillors may also address the planning meeting in respect of this application.