Proposed gym behind houses of Talbot Road and Abbotswood Road

[Weegee]

Is there going to be a health and fitness club built behind Talbot Road

and Abbotswood Road?

Today, we received a printed email from a resident about the proposed

development.

Im trying to picture where the developers plan it.

Does anyonne know any more info on this gym?

[Ladygooner]

I know some of the residents on Talbot Road got together to try to buy the land to stop any building on there but they lost out to the gym

[local estate agent]

http://planningonline.southwarksites.com/planningonline2/AcolNetCGI.exe?ACTION=UNWRAP&RIPSESSION=%7B%5B%2A%211D1A020B050304731D3C3D31617C041E28360020373B2D3A033A2131681B1102001216030D02040A06016F691120283F3A3606243629243A06176F7D7077757C7B7660017562122B3C203B2A2A0705737C616071717A767D796A%21%2A%5D%7D

Click the link, as you can see the out lined application has been rejected...

[Ladygooner]

lea - Do you have the application number? Can't find it on the list?

[Siduhe]

Try 07/AP/1211

[Ladygooner]

Thanks!

[Loz]

the out lined application has been rejected...

It was rejected by Southwark, but then approved on appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. We are hoping Southwark will now take this to the High Court.

The most ridiculous thing about the plan (and ignored by the appeal tribunal) is that the gym proposes to have access via the St Francis Estate residential area. That means people coming in via the road to Sainburys, past the already dangerous curve next to the football club, up Abbotswood Road, into Talbot Road and then taking a small driveway between two houses on Talbot Road to get to the gym. They have an option to use the driveway next to Dominos, but the don't want to do that for reasons best known to themselves.

The local residents association - led by a very formidable lady called Jean - haven't given up on stopping this, or at least stopping it diverting dozens of cars at peak times through a quiet residential area.

[local estate agent]

From what I understand, they will need to knock down a property in Talbot Road to gain access via this route...

Highly unlikely, but i am sure if they were to offer the owner of the property enough money?? Money talks.....

(dont quote me on this, its just what i have heard throught the grape vine)

[Loz]

There is a small laneway between two houses that they want to use, and that the developers would need to purchase. Hopefully the current owner of the laneway - whoever that be - won't sell to the b&ss*%ds. AFAIK their plans don't (currently) include knocking down a house for access.

[spc]

My understanding is they have no access to the site and have been trying to buy a garden in Talot Rd or a house to knock down. but both owners have so far said no.

[local estate agent]

Planning has now been accepted!

Proposed work to start next year, access via Abbotswood/Talbot Road.

[ratty]

My neighbours are over the moon with this - it's funny how opinions differ.

I am worried about increased traffic and parking etc, it's daft but my cats are used to the road being a cul de sac. Now they will have to get used to it being a busy thoroughfare! :(

[benmorg]

there's so little land between Abbotswood/Talbot road and the train line that it's hard to see how this gym could be big enough to generate any noticeable increase in traffic. What could be more of a problem is parking, as parking spaces are in short supply on these streets and fiercely guarded by residents! I think the gym's customers will probably have to walk, so maybe the plan for a footpath up past dominos pizza place is a good idea.

I think it's probably good news for home-owners in the area as they will now have sainsburys, the station and a brand new gym all on their doorstep, which can't hurt house prices and will make it very easy to find tenants if they want to let their property.

[local estate agent]

The land the gym will sit on is 230sq.metres. it will be arranged over 2/3 floors.

Theres is going to be 32 parking spaces next to it also....

road access through abbotswood and talbot road

[Ladygooner]

So now we have the traffic for Sainsburys, the car wash, Sainsburys staff parking and the gym? Should be fun!

[TheePope]

Ladygooner Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> So now we have the traffic for Sainsburys, the car

> wash, Sainsburys staff parking and the gym? Should

> be fun!

And what's with those new wooden bollards that have appeared next to the Dulwich Hamlet's car park? I guess it's to prevent people parking there and getting in the way of the football coaches? Or maybe to stop the fly tipping?

As for the gym, it will doubtless increase traffic and clutter the streets with more cars. The number of cars on the road has increased in the four years I've lived on the estate which is a bit annoying considering most houses have 1 space for off-street parking.

benmorg suggests it should be good news for homeonwers - but the point is there's already a gym on the doorstep at Dulwich Hamlets as well as the one on Lordship Lane. So it's all about the flats really - and I wouldn't be too chuffed at being overlooked by them or being right next to them. Assuming the Garden Centre also gets replaced by flats the urban density of this little bit of ED is going to get even thicker, which is galling as just over the road on the DKH estate there still appear to be numerous boarded up flats which really should be made available.

Rant over!

[benmorg]

I wasn't aware the proposal included flats... Maybe they'll mothball the project if the housing market doesn't recover.

[benmorg]

local estate agent Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The land the gym will sit on is 230sq.metres. it

> will be arranged over 2/3 floors.

>

> Theres is going to be 32 parking spaces next to it

> also....

>

> road access through abbotswood and talbot road

where exactly is it located? I can't see any space on google maps, unless the owners of the long gardens at end of Talbot road have sold off the bottom halves. Or is it in one of the patches of woodland by the train line?

[local estate agent]

It is to be sited between the rail track and the gardens of talbot road!

They originally wanted to build flats, but couldnt get planning. I think they are getting the gym built so that they can then fill all the other land with flats ( as once something has been built, planning permission for others buildings is more relaxed)

[TheePope]

Thanks LEA - I thought I was going mad then as was sure the original plan included flats!

Basically they're trying to shoehorn into a tiny bit of land, and have to build new access through a cul-de-sac to do so.

[benmorg]

so they must be planning to cut down the trees in the thin strip of land along the railway line. Any flats there are going to uncomforably close to passing trains, which won't help with selling. And presumably not outdoor space besides balconies overlooking either the train line or people's back gardens. Not a great plan as residents will be able to object to intrusion of privacy, and the street will lose the screen of trees blocking train noise. If the developers are using the gym as a stepping stone to building flats, I think they could come badly unstuck.

[AcedOut]

Please be a Virgin Active.

[karter]

excuse me but isn't there already a gym up there? The hamlets?

[local estate agent]

Yeah, the trees are coming down....

[ratty]

According to my household deeds the trees have preservation orders on them!

PS you can see my backgarden and shed on that picture ! Cool!

Unbeleiveable that the council has given planning permission to this hairbrained scheme tbh!