Residents on a Peckham estate have raised a banner in opposition to proposed rooftop homes on their blocks.
The council’s proposals have not yet received planning approval, but would see two storeys totalling 32 homes, built on Stanswood Gardens and Marchwood Close, Southampton Way Estate, Peckham.
Residents say there has been a lack of consultation, and fear the development would be too disruptive and imperil the blocks’ structural integrity.
Nick Flowers, Southampton Way TRA chair, said: “This is our estate and people have a stake in this place and if you want to make changes you need to consult.”
Nick says, in March this year, two separate meetings with the project team and landscape architect were cancelled.
In June 2020, the council did consult residents through letters sent out and zoom meetings but Nick says, regardless of their findings, the council “carry forcing on with their project.”
Approximately two-and-a-half weeks ago, the council reportedly commissioned an intrusive site survey to assess the state of foundations, but residents are still waiting on the results.
The development is now on hiatus, with residents awaiting the council’s next announcement.
Nick also said: “I’m concerned about the safety aspects”, and said the age of the buildings, built at least fifty years ago, might make them unfit for additional stories.
A report by building surveyors Arup, commissioned by Southwark to look into rooftop homes, found buildings built prior to 1970 were more susceptible to “disproportionate collapse”.
‘Disproportionate collapse’ is where the failure of one structural element results in the failure of others.
Niyan Mohammed, who has lived on the estate since 2006, said: “It’s not good to put flats on top because the building is weak!”
Sometimes, where blocks cannot support additional storeys, an exoskeleton is installed to make the addition of rooftop homes possible, which can be disruptive to residents.
The council has promised that no developments would go ahead without total certainty that they are safe.
Residents also complain that their estate, with blocked drains, leaking roofs and cold rooms, desperately needs repairs.
However, if the rooftop homes development goes ahead, it could include a new roof element, external wall insulation, installing a new lift and associated estate improvements.
Nick said: “Residents have been promised kitchens and bathrooms for decades and are now being told they can only get them if they accept [the rooftop homes].”
However, with a 16,000 person housing waiting list, the council needs to build new homes and rooftop homes are seen as a speedy, cost effective method of doing it. Residents living on the top floor of a block with planned homes would also get automatic rights to move in, whether they are a tenant or leaseholder.
Southwark Council was approached for comment.
Well done to Southhampton way Estate .