FOBP are concerned about the negative impact of the new Ropers Walk development and submitted the following comment to Lambeth planning in early January
Trinity Rise Planning Application (Ref: 20/02406/RG3)
We, the Friends of Brockwell Park, urge the Council to reject this application owing to its impact on Brockwell Park: a key visual amenity will suffer, with negative impacts on the views / sightlines from the park.
Brockwell Park is a Conservation Area: one of the greatest risks to the character of this area comes from potential developments around its perimeter. The planned redevelopment of Ropers Walk, with replacement of low-rise properties with taller buildings, would have a negative effect on the view from the park to the South and West. It is important, we feel, to highlight the views from SW to NW as this perspective is defined by low-storey invisible buildings, views of Trinity Rise church, and the direction in which thousands of people enjoy the sunset from within the park all year around.
Although Ropers Walk is not on the boundary with the park the replacement of 2/3 storey blocks with a single block 4 storeys high will dominate the skyline from Brockwell Park. The replacement block would be visible and intrusive when viewed from the park with a larger footprint, being built over a green open space and extending right up to the flank wall of the neighbouring block. Also it is planned to remove the mature English Oak, incorrectly identified in the planning application as a Turkey Oak, which at present helps to screen the existing block. Another significant loss would be the removal of the Lime tree on Trinity Rise. The “soft” boundary of Cressingham Gardens Estate with Brockwell Park with low rise buildings and its own open spaces would be lost. Any redevelopment plans must take into account detrimental effects on Brockwell Park as this is a Conservation Area.
We fear that this application sets a precedent for the “regeneration” of this estate, with taller buildings visible above the treeline and a significant impact on views from the park.