Enquiry To Wheather Derelict Land Between Cressingham Gardens Est And The Petrol Station In Tulse Hill Could Be Used For A Community Garden?

Local Councillors carried out an investigation to find out if the derelict land between Cressingham Gardens Estate and the Petrol Station in Tulse Hill at the vacant site at 107 Tulse Hill could be used as a Community garden. The site is 0.17 hectares in size, with its primary frontage situated on the eastern side of Tulse Hill, opposite the junctions with

Craignair Road

and

Claverdale Road

. The site is currently vacant and overgrown and was previously occupied by a detached house set in substantial grounds. This building was last in use as a Day Nursery (D1 Use Class), however was demolished over ten years ago and only foundations and the remnants of a basement remain. The site is enclosed by hoardings and a brick wall.

There have been two recent planning applications for the site, both of which have been refused by the Local Planning Authority. These are:

• 09/02961/FUL – Planning permission refused on 18^th December 2009 for ‘Erection of a part 4 and part 5 storey building to provide 24 self-contained flats including the installation of front and rear balconies, provision of refuse and cycle storage, with pedestrian access from Tulse Hill’.

• 08/04428/FUL – Planning permission refused on 19^th March 2009 for ‘Erection of a part 4 and part 5 storey building to provide 27 self-contained flats (15 x 2 bed and 12 x 1 bed units) including the installation of rear, front and side balconies, provision of refuse and cycle storage, with pedestrian access from Tulse Hill and Crosby Walk’.

Both of these applications have been appealed to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS), with both appeals dismissed by PINS thereby finding in favour of the Council.

The site is currently in private ownership (Urban Life Development (Tulse Hill) Ltd). Presently there is no likelihood of the site coming forward for community use as a vegetable garden.