Comments on: Three Sneaky Developers

By: Fred Phipps

Fred Phipps — Sat, 17 Oct 2020 12:20:53 +0000

The loss of these 3 Regency bow fronted cottages in Corbridge Crescent is a tragedy for which
the developers should be severely punished. These cottages with their unusual features were
a significant landmark by the canal which couldn’t be compared to anything else. I’m very saddened by their loss as I always enjoyed looking at them while cycling along the canal towpath. Given their age and character why weren’t they properly protected?

By: Ria

Ria — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 14:25:42 +0000

Depressingly happening everywhere in London. Denmark street and Soho being redeveloped due to the Crossrail project. Reference John Roger’s video on YouTube.

By: Jane

Jane — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 20:42:23 +0000

It’s incredibly depressing. Nothing is left of these wonderful cottages.
I contacted Aitch group and received the following reply:

‘I can confirm that we are acting wholly in accordance with our approved planning application and conditions. The LBTH Planning Enforcement Team contacted us recently owing to further concerns having been raised. They have reached the same conclusion. ‘

I have contacted the planning dept at TH and my two local councillors asking for an explanation as to how Aitch have been allowed to get away with this. I was under the impression these cottages were protected.

Aitch and the like won’t be happy until our city is one shiny, bland mass.

By: Marcia Howard

Marcia Howard — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 14:15:36 +0000

I totally endorse Janet Stephenson’s words above.
And if Council planning departments don’t understand the wording on applications, they have no right to be in office. If words sound ambiguous at all, they should immediately challenge the application.
As far properties left empty to go to rack and ruin, that too should be dealt with robustly.
It’s happening all over the country, but it’s time all this crooked dealing and skullduggery is stopped in its tracks – now!

By: Jill wilson

Jill wilson — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 07:48:07 +0000

Sneaky… slimey…
Greedy…crimey??

By: Robin

Robin — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 01:30:39 +0000

This is outrageous. We can’t let this happen to the Whitechapel Bell Foundry.

By: Sam

Sam — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 22:26:46 +0000

When they started demolishing parts of the houses I contacted the planning office, they apparntly spoke to the contractors and said that the demolition undertaken up to then was in line with the approved method statement approved in their planning application PA/18/01701/S (https://development.towerhamlets.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=DCAPR_125968). The contractors have now clearly demolished more than in the approved method statement and should be held accountable. Unfortunately planning law has very little teeth and councils are overstretched, underfunded and ill equiped to face developers like this.
More complaints from the public about this sort of vandalism will go some way to helping prioritise action if developers have overstepped their permissions and might give future proposals more scrutiny.
I would urge you to email:PlanningEnforcement@towerhamlets.gov.uk and planning@towerhamlets.gov.uk to lodge complaints if you feel developers are not following the permissions granted to them.

By: Saba

Saba — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 14:17:26 +0000

We are equally betrayed in New York State. I live in Montgomery, NY. The preservationists did succeed in getting a small section of the lovely old town set aside as an Historic District with at least some zoning laws. Anywhere, no matter how close, outside the Historic District is fair game for huge warehouses allowing thousands of trucks to billow diesel fumes into the town and ugly stores to open. An additional small row of historic houses did not receive special zoning so hundreds of cars zoom up and down the small streets daily headed for a new night club, and the woods are gone and the animals are disappearing. The politicians make everything possible despite a strong voice of opposition from village residents. The politicians and the most residents are very conservative Republicans, so the politicians get reelected.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 14:08:55 +0000

Further to Vanda’s comment, I really believe there should be a law requiring landlords to maintain properties that they own, or risk forfeiting them… so often you see developers buy properties and purposefully let them deteriorate to the point where demolition becomes a viable prospect.

By: Eric Forward

Eric Forward — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 13:36:37 +0000

Real shame about the cottages, that section of the canal is one of my favourite bits. They’d also been used quite a a lot in various TV programs. My gut tells me that there is probably a disproportionately small penalty for this action. We see it all the time, big companies get slaps on the little finger, even when fined millions the rewards were in the billions making crime actually pay.