Caxton Grove: Heat Pumps, Letter of Support.
Dear Planners,
The Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Forum supports the amendment to replace a communal heat pumps system with individual heat pumps for the 36 flats. The unfeasibility and unviability of an eventual connection to a district heat network was highlighted in the Energy Statement by XCO2 for London Borough of Tower Hamlets, February 2024 (Pages 5-6) – and also p.54 of Part 3 of the Design and Access Statement
Our understanding is that there there will be a separate heat pump for the community centre that is being re-provided on the ground floor of the site.
The Forum has consistently requested that the Forum and local groups such as Malmesbury residents who will use the community centre, be consulted in planning the layout of the new centre as set out in the Design and Access Statement, part 3, p.47:
Community Uses
An indicative layout showing how the community centre might function is indicated to the right. This layout, which is based on that of the current facility, has been designed in conjunction with the consultant team to ensure a coordinated and achievable structural and mechanical engineering solution. The final layout of the new community building will be determined following planning approval, and will be developed with the involvement of all relevant user-groups and stake-holders to ensure the community facility delivered is not only suitable for all but a significant improvement on the current facilities.
It was disappointing, when in August the Forum was sent the attached layout for the new centre, with no involvement in the design by the local community, and no mention who developed the proposed layout.
The Forum contacted the Project Manager, Laura Duncan, to share our basic concerns about the layout – such as no serving hatch between the kitchen and the hall, and no visible signs of essential built-in storage cupboards to enable storage of tables, chairs and other items such as equipment of user groups.
There is no designated cleaning room area taps and a sink for emptying mop buckets and for keeping cleaning equipment and materials.
Careful consideration also needs to be given to the provision of toilet facilities, particularly in relation to guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) regarding single-sex spaces and the 2024 update1 to building regulations for Toilet Accommodation.
The Neighbourhood Forum remains willing to discuss with the different parties involved these matters to help ensure the new centre is fit for purpose, and better than the old centre. We are concerned however that, compared with the planned housing, relatively little resources have been allocated for planning the community centre. It is not too late, but it would be irresponsible and wasteful if the new community centre is not carefully designed with the involvement of local stake-holders so that it does not meet local needs.
During the September cabinet meeting, the Mayor and other cabinet members stressed the importance of the new community centre in discussing use of Section 204 of the Housing & Planning Act 2016 to compensate local residents for a reduction in their right to light .
Thank you for the opportunity to raise these concerns, and the Forum remains committed to working constructively with the Council on these and other development matters.
Roman Road Bow neighbourhood
- The Building Regulations 2010, 2024 edition – for use in England https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6901feb971b575684c3cf7c4/ADT_2024_rev16Jun25.pdf