Wandsworth Council moves forward with new homes on Whitnell Way Estate. Residents cite worries over overcrowding and lifestyle impact.
The estate will lose 35 parking spots. New buildings, up to five stories, will replace them. Ten garages, 35 storage units, bin stores, and eight trees will also be cut down.
The council calls this the Homes for Wandsworth scheme. They aim for 1,000 new council homes by 2029. Last March, 13,513 households awaited council housing.
The planning committee approved the plans for Whitnell Way, with six councillors voting yes and four voting no. Some thought the homes would worsen life for current residents.
Councillor Nick Austin said the estate would be strained. Losing parking spaces is “a disaster,” he stated. The proposal “threatens to irreversibly damage” Whitnell Way and hurts green spaces, according to him. It also impacts residents’ daily lives.
The council got 153 objections. Residents fear overcrowding and a “disaster” and said the development will lower their mental health. They also believe they will lose sunlight, privacy, and needed parking.
One person noted that adding new homes limits current residents. A resident added that losing garages increases crowding, and that hallways could become unsafe with stored items.
The application claimed improvements would occur. It says the development delivers affordable housing and that the estate’s open space gets upgraded. They also plan new playground equipment and 85 new trees.
Council officers stated the sites are undeveloped. They admitted some impact on daylight for current residents but determined the distance between buildings acceptable. They balanced this against benefits like more affordable homes.