17/19 Clarence Road Development Plan

[Sally McEnallay]

Hi, 

Just had a letter from Brent (attached) re. a development proposal for 17/19 Clarence Road. We live next door. The proposal is to turn it from a doctor's surgery, which has already closed, into 5 flats! These would have the potential to house up to 16 people - and given the price of rental property in London are likely to be fully occupied. I have objected to the proposal on the following grounds via the Brent Planning Site:

• Number of flats/potential tenants - pressure on parking, rubbish collection, noise pollution.
• Privacy issues - a roof terrace and juliet balconies are proposed on the back, and an extension
• Quality concerns - flats proposed are only just bigger than the statutory minimum, and Dr Husssein's record re. building - incompleted extension work and illegal tree work, do not give me confidence
• Environmental - they are proposing 5 cycle racks as a sop to the council, but this will involve further paving in the front garden, and are very unlikely to be fully used, I am worried about further extension work damaging further local biodiversity, run off problems in winter and heat retention from hard standing in summer
• Community - it is nuts to close a GP surgery and allow such intensive development when the local surgeries are already bursting at the seams. The proposal argues that the plans are returning this building, which is double fronted, to residential use, but the use was as two family houses - not crammed flats for up to 16 people. There's no requirement for any sort of affordable rent, since the proposal is under 10 dwellings. 

Please let me know your thoughts. 

Thanks