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Local councillors urge Lothian estate residents to reject plans by for-profit, private company to take control of local homes

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Local Myatt’s Fields councillors have urged residents on the Lothian estate to reject plans by a for-profit, private company to take over control of local homes as a new consultation kicks off on the proposals.

After a year of what has been described as “baffling” delays from Vision Homes (Lambeth) Ltd and PACCA TMO, Lambeth council tenants and leaseholders on the Lothian estate will finally get their say on these troubling proposals. A consultation about the plans will start on 13 November and run until 18 December with residents set to receive information about the plans from an independent electoral organisation that will be running the exercise.

The proposals, which are the first time a for-profit company has attempted this kind of council home takeover in the UK, have drawn considerable fire from the local community and councillors. Cllr Paul Gadsby and Cllr Annie Gallop are warning residents that these proposals could result in:

  • New bills for residents: Vision Homes are proposing a new ‘Sink Fund’ charged to tenants, but they haven’t said much the charge will be, if there is any cap on how much it will be and what the fund will be used for. Vision Homes could also increase other bills like service charges during the year and ask you to pay VAT on services like repairs.
  • Concerns over the future of local homes: If Vision Homes were to sell homes on the estate to another company in the future, like a private developer, they will not be obligated to ballot residents to ask if they are happy with this sell off. Residents will also not be able to elect people to represent them on the “new board” that will be set up to run your estate: members of the board will be chosen by Vision Homes.
  • An organisation with no track record of running homes taking control of housing services: This for-profit company has no track record of running social housing. If this transfer goes ahead it would be the first of its kind anywhere in the UK.

Cllr Gadsby and Cllr Gallop are urging residents to express their concerns about these plans in the consultation: if residents indicate they are favour of this for-profit takeover, a ballot of council tenants will happen in early 2024.

Cllr Gadsby and Cllr Gallop said:

“We have heard from many residents on the Lothian estate who are worried sick about these proposals. We would strongly urge residents to reject these proposals.”

“We want to thank the many residents who have spoken to us about these worrying plans: please get in touch if you want to speak to us further. “

Further reading on these proposals

Local housing boss warns residents could be left worse off by for-profit private company takeover plan

For-profit outfit unable to provide basic information about their proposals

Leaseholders will lose out under local home takeover plan

Lambeth Council places new restrictions on Lilford Road Business Centre redevelopment

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A range of restrictions has been imposed on the proposed controversial redevelopment of the Lilford Road Business Centre following lobbying by local residents and Myatt’s Fields’ Labour team.

The development is likely to bring new jobs to the area and create a fresh start for the dilapidated buildings at the business centre. There are also proposals to create new green landscaping around the site and install sustainable travel infrastructure for employees, like bike storage sheds.

But many residents were concerned that the original proposals would have allowed delivery vehicles to move to and from the site for more than 100 hours each week which could mean a huge increase in traffic in the heart of a residential area that Lambeth Council has acknowledged is a congestion and pollution hotspot.

The restrictions were imposed by the Council’s Planning Committee at its most recent meeting. Cllr Paul Gadsby told the committee:

“I want to focus my comments tonight on a real concern in the community about an increase in traffic from this application.

“The applicant is proposing a window of 16 hours every weekday when vehicles can move to and from the site:  the Council’s transport assessment suggests that peak hour movements will increase by 60%, this will result in hundreds of extra vehicle movements to and from the site each month, perhaps thousands over the course of a year. And while the developer has ruled out pleasingly the use of takeaway deliver firms in response to the community’s concerns, it hasn’t ruled out grocery or other high intensity delivery outfits: this model being pushed by developers across London is causing chaos in other residential areas, like Lilford Road, where residents are subject to increased noise, congestion and pollution, especially from speeding motorbikes.

“It should be noted that Lambeth Council has identified this area as a traffic hotspot with millions to be allocated to reduce traffic in the area: residents might rightly ask if this is a waste of money should this application go through unamended.”

As a result of the campaign by the community and councillors, the committee approved the application but placed more than 30 conditions on the development to address the community’s concerns.

They included:

  • Tough monitoring procedures to ensure the applicant abides by the delivery hours approved by the committee.
  • A requirement for the developer to appoint a “community liaison officer” who would be on call to answer any concerns raised by local residents.
  • The conditions also confirmed that delivery hours would be limited to 7am to 11pm weekdays – down from the 24 hour delivery window originally proposed.
  • So called “dark kitchens” (takeway food outlets) would be barred from operating on the premises.

Responding to the outcome of the meeting, Cllr Gadsby said:

“Cllr Gallop and I want to thank local residents, MPs and community groups, including the Lilford Road Action Group and the Brixton Society, for the huge amount of effort they have put into improving these proposals.

“We did not get everything we wanted and would have liked to have seen further reductions in delivery times to and from the site, however, the plans have undergone a lot of change from the original proposals from the developers last year. This includes tougher traffic restrictions on the businesses using the site to rule out the very worst high delivery businesses which are unsuitable in a residential neighbourhood. We acknowledge that the developer has also listened to local residents, with a number of the changes made voluntarily by them following a lengthy period of discussion in the past six months.

“However, we will be watching the development as it progresses. The planning committee spent more than two hours debating the traffic points made by residents and councillors: it is now over to the developer and Lambeth’s Building Control Team to make sure the promises made at the committee are upheld, especially those relating to ensuring there no adverse effects on local roads and pollution from the site.”

Councillors to demand substantial changes to plans for new development at Lilford Road business centre

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Substantial changes to controversial plans to redevelop an industrial site in Myatt’s Fields are being demanded by our local Labour councillors.

The old Lilford Road Business Centre has been the subject of plans for redevelopment from a company, AG Bloom.

While welcoming the idea of bringing new jobs to the area and creating a fresh start for the dilapidated buildings at the business centre, local councillors have been concerned that the proposals to let 24 hour delivery vehicles move to and from the site could result in a huge increase in traffic in the heart of a residential area that Lambeth Council has itself acknowledged is a congestion and pollution hotspot.

The developer has already been forced to make significant changes following a campaign by councillors and local residents.

The threat of a high-intensity food delivery service – condemned as “madness”– has already been headed off. The developer has submitted a revised application that bars these so called dark kitchen outfits from operating out of the new commercial units, and restricts delivery times to 7am to 11pm – a significant change to the original proposals which would have allowed 24-hour weekday deliveries.

But Councillors Gadsby and Gallop say the compromises don’t go far enough and will press their case at next week’s Lambeth Council Planning Committee meeting.

They want further assurances that businesses which move into the Lilford Road Business Centre won’t damage the local environment or leave the local community with a nightmare of high traffic and pollution. They insist that operational hours should be restricted further. They will also urge the council to ensure that landscaping and greening plans are part of the development.

The councillors said:

“It is encouraging that the developer has moved some way to addressing the concerns of residents and local councillors. As we have said during our initial comments on these proposals, we do believe it would be madness to have a high intensity delivery service in the heart of a residential area that Lambeth itself has acknowledged is a hotspot for traffic problems. The borough has committed to spend significant public funds to address the current issues around Lilford Road, Loughborough Road and Myatt’s Fields park and we are extremely concerned these proposals will work against these plans.

“We will be attending the Lambeth planning committee meeting on Tuesday, 9 May to ask for further restrictions on delivery hours from the site. There are other improvements we would like to see, including more effort from the developer to work with local community groups to enhance the landscaping and greening plans attached to the development.”

The Lambeth planning committee will be taking place on Tuesday, 9 May from 7pm: the agenda for the meeting is here.

Penguin Michael Joseph wants to collect your memories of Myatt’s Fields Park

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Myatt’s Fields’ Park has set up a new initiative with Penguin Michael Joseph to collect memories and reflections from local residents about the Park.

To take part, residents can until 24 November drop letters into the Little Cat Cafe in the park or send them too: jademacestudent@gmail.com

More information below:

Plaque to local artist Nelly Roberts set to be unveiled on Loughborough Road

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A local history group is set to unveil a new blue plaque to local artist Nelly Robert on Sunday, 16 October at 3.30pm.

Nelly Roberts lived above a watchmakers shop at 92 Loughborough Road (at the time 72 Loughborough Road) for over 30 years from her birth in 1872. Nelly became famous for her orchid paintings across a long artistic career. More information about her life and work is outlined below:

The plague ceremony will begin at 3.30pm at the corner of Fiveways Road and Loughborough Road (SW9 7SF). More information about the work of the history group on Loughborough Road can be found here.

Local councillors are urging council tenants to reject plans for a stock transfer attempt on their homes

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Local councillors have urged council tenants on the Lothian estate area (formerly the PACCA TMO area) to reject proposals from a for-profit company to take control of their homes.

The Greater London Authority (GLA) has approved an application by PACCA TMO Limited and Vision Homes (Lambeth) Ltd, a for-profit company, to conduct a ballot on the future ownership of the council properties on the Lothian Estate area. If they are successful in the ballot, the homes will be transferred out of the control of the local council and will be run by Vision Homes.

In a letter to council tenants, Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Maria Kay, laid out the reasons why residents should be concerned about these proposals and vote no in the upcoming ballot: you can read her letter in full here.

Myatt’s Fields councillors Annie Gallop and Paul Gadsby have backed Cllr Kay’s comments, saying:

“These proposals have already caused a great deal of alarm in the community: we have received numerous communications from residents who are deeply concerned about how this has happened

“If successful, it will be the first time anywhere in the country where a for-profit company has taken control of council homes in this way. Vision Homes (Lambeth) Limited are a “for profit” company with no track record in owning or managing social housing. They will be able to charge residents more for their services and could pass on control of the housing, and the land on which it sits, to another organisation without a ballot.

“Although only council tenants are able to vote in this ballot, leaseholders in the area will have their lease transferred to the for-profit private company in the event of a “yes” vote”. We do think it is very unfair that leaseholders are unable to vote owing to the rules laid down by very badly drawn-up national legislation.

“We urge residents to make sure they vote No, in this important ballot: its outcome will have an impact on the daily lives of everyone in the Lothian estate area.”

A date for the ballot has yet to be set, but is likely to be in the next few months. Council tenant and leaseholder properties affected by these proposals are on the following streets:

  • Lothian Road (Dalkeith House, Silverburn House and Bathgate House)
  • Langton Road
  • Frederick Crescent
  • Myatt Road
  • Halsmere Road
  • Patmos Road
  • Tindall Street
  • Elliott Road
  • Cancell Road

If you worried or confused about this proposed takeover and want to know more, you can contact your local councillors Paul and Annie here – and give us your views on the proposals here.

Myatt’s Fields Park asks for residents’ help in a bid for Lambeth Community Funds

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Myatt’s Fields Park is bidding for £75,000 from the Lambeth Community Fund in order to fund its outstanding local community work – and it’s asking residents to support its application.

Talking about its bid, the Myatt’s Fields Park Project, said:

We want to: 

* Empower at least eight people a year to develop and run their own activities in the park. This will include personalised development and mentoring, accredited training, fundraising support and free use of the park’s facilities 
* Support at least five organisations a year to run events and activities in the park 
* Engage local people as community representatives, reaching out into the community, gathering information about community needs 
* Run events and activities for more than 3000 people a year 

This program will prioritise young and older people from the African diaspora and other people of colour as they are currently under-represented as park users. 

MFPP has applied to Lambeth Community Connections Fund for £75k over two years to pay for a new community engagement manager, marketing manager and community engagement costs. To be successful, we have to prove that we have local support. If you would like to see the change above, please do so.

Residents can pledge their support here.

Local councillors Paul Gadsby and Annie Gallop are backing the project, and are encouraging residents to do the same.

Myatt’s Fields Park hosts Pride in the Park event on Saturday 18 June

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Myatt’s Fields Park will be hosting a Pride in the Park event on Saturday, 18 June between 3pm and 7pm.

Details of the event include:

There will be fun for all the family with Rainbow Craft games for children and performances /music later on in the day for everyone.

Sit, eat, dance and celebrate love in a place where we all belong!

If you have any questions, please email Nathan at Nathan.Lewis@blackthrive.org.

Saturday, 18  June 2022 

3:00-7:00pm.

Blooming Lambeth Awards 2022 – nominations open!

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The Blooming Lambeth Awards (2022) have opened nominations for this year’s raft of accolades aimed at celebrating community gardening and other greening projects in the borough.

Nominations are open until midnight on Saturday, 11 June: full details on the awards are available here.

Outgoing Lambeth Mayor asks for more donations to “fantastic” Ebony Horse Club in Brixton

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Myatt’s Fields Councillor, and outgoing Mayor of Lambeth, Cllr Annie Gallop has urged the local community to make donations to her the “fantastic” Ebony Horse Club charity, which has been her chosen charity during the past Mayoral year.

Cllr Gallop has already helped raise £7,000 for the charity, whose mission is to use horses to raise the education, life skills, wellbeing and aspirations of young people from disadvantaged communities within Lambeth. Based in Brixton, the charity has won praise for its work with the community since its launch in 2011.

In her farewell speech as Mayor on Wednesday, 25 May, Cllr Gallop praised the charity and urged for more donations so it can continue its work with people. Residents can make donations here.