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Defiant: protesters gather outside the houses on Sunday morning |
Battle to save old people’s homes
Renovation of unique block would be too costly, says housing association
DEMONSTRATORS have fired a warning that any attempt to turn a West Hampstead old people’s home into a block of flats will be fought.
Campaigners refused to let a torrential downpour on Sunday morning dampen their spirits as they gathered outside the Douglas and Olive Waite Houses to protest against plans by Octavia Housing Association to demolish the building in Priory Road.
Elderly residents of the block, a unique hexagonal design opened by the Queen Mother in 1970, were emotional as they told the New Journal they didn’t want to leave.
Liela Medani, who has lived in the block for 15 years, said: “We’re like a swan on a lake and instead of taking the hook out of our throat they are slaughtering us to feed other people.
“It’s a beautiful building, solid and sound. It’s just neglected. They left it on purpose and did not repair it for the purpose of demolition.”
Another tenant, who did not wish to be named, said he would be “very sad” if a wrecking ball was taken to his home. “It’s very pleasant and I enjoy the garden,” the retired civil servant in his 70s said. “It’s abominable.”
Two years ago Octavia sent a letter to residents out of the blue informing them they would be “decanted” and could not be guaranteed a new home in the borough. On that occasion, the scale of opposition led to to the plans being withdrawn.
Earlier this year, they presented tenants with their new scheme, which would see them housed on the building site during construction and offered a new home there should they want it.
Sue Esterman, chairwoman of conservation group the Combined Residents Associations of South Hampstead (CRASH), said: “The tenants resisted at first to having the place pulled down and then they were told it was going to happen anyway and ‘you can work with us or against us’ by Octavia. It’s very difficult for them.”
She said CRASH were against the design on the grounds that it was attempting to fit too many homes on the site and was out of keeping with the conservation area.
“They’re trying to get as many units as they can onto a tiddly site,” added Ms Esterman.
Octavia said they were meeting Camden’s housing need by more than doubling floor space and creating more than 50 family homes on what was originally a site containing just four Victorian buildings.
A spokeswoman also said renovating the site would cost too much money and that the new rooms are a better shape.
But some opponents say the proposed design isn’t a fair replacement.
Noemi Blager, an architect from Priory Road, said: “It’s a pastiche. We want good quality architecture, not a copy. Affordable housing should provide good accommodation but also good design.”
An Octavia spokeswoman said: “We have not neglected the building, it has simply reached the end of its useful life and it is not cost effective for anyone to repair it.
She added: “We had a public consultation, in which we invited the entire local community to make comments and it became apparent that there was a very diverse range of opinions. Our aim was to ensure that our tenants were happy with any new proposal, which is what we have achieved.”
The planning consultation deadline ends on Wednesday. |
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