Major Planning Developments in the Herne Hill Area
Herne Hill Junction Regeneration
Video: Our vice-chair John Brunton talks about the Junction Project
Work Starts on Park Boundary: 30th May 2009
Good news! Despite a number of delays, we are glad to report that work has now started on the most important element of this project – realignment of the boundary around the main entrance to the Park to create the pedestrian island and the slip road for traffic going north from Norwood Road into Dulwich Road.
Protective fencing has gone up along the Park boundary. Once further fencing has been erected inside the Park and protection for trees installed, the toilet block, walls to the east of the entrance and the two flower beds will be removed. A temporary pedestrian entrance to the Park will be created just to the west of where the toilet block currently stands. Provision will be made for the occasional access to the Park of large vehicles, for events such as the Lambeth Country Show.
Also, once the protective fencing has been completed, the metal Park gates and railings will be removed for refurbishment. Trial refurbishment of one fence panel has already been carried, with very satisfactory results.
When the slip road and other work in Dulwich and Norwood Roads has been completed, a start will be made on the final main phase of the project – upgrading and refurbishing Railton Road and closing it off to through traffic. The Junction Regeneration Project Board is still considering the final design details for the Railton Road design.
On present plans, work on the slip road etc. should be completed in the autumn; and Railton Road in February/March next year.
Go-ahead Confirmed: 9th April 2009
On 9th April, a message came from Derrick Anderson, Lambeth's Chief Executive, to those on the Friends of Brockwell Park Committee who have been leading the opposition to the regeneration plans for Herne Hill. Derrick Anderson's message stated that "works on the main part of the junction are planned to commence soon after Easter. I can confirm that no instructions have been given to suspend the works pending the undertaking of an independent review".
The review referred to is a comparison between the approved scheme and an alternative design submitted at the last minute by those opposed to the project. A detailed examination and evaluation of the 'alternative' scheme has already been carried out by independent consultants and by Lambeth's own experts. As reported in the last Newsletter, on safety grounds alone the agreed scheme is the preferred option.
At a recent meeting with local community representatives who are members of the Junction Project Board, Lambeth's Executive Director of Housing, Regeneration and Environment, Chris Lee, gave his full commitment and strong support for the project. He also described it as a key feature in his Department's Business Plan and had assigned it "high priority".
Lambeth has received the final formal confirmation from Transport for London (TfL) of £1.6 million funding for the project. This means that most of the necessary funding is now in place. The latest estimate for the total project cost is £1.8 million. Any short-fall will be made up from a combination of Section 106 (planning gain) funding and money from funds for promoting accessibility, highway safety schemes and walking.
Work on some of the peripheral aspects of the project continues. The improvements to Rymer and Hurst Streets are almost complete. We have received assurances from Lambeth that work on the main part of the project, that is the area around the entrance to Brockwell Park, will start in early May or, under a worst-case scenario, by the middle of that month. On this basis, the project will be largely completed by mid September. While the work is under way, access to the Park will be via a ramp to be constructed immediately to the west of the present toilet block - soon to be demolished. Special arrangements will be made for pedestrian access to the Park during large events, such as the Lambeth Country Show in July.
Further information is included in a Newsletter published by Lambeth (see below) that is being delivered to 7,500 households in Herne Hill.
Lambeth Announce the Go-Ahead for the Herne Hill Junction Project: 18th March 2009
Lambeth has announced that the London Mayor’s office and Transport for London (TfL) have given final approval to the project; and TfL has confirmed the necessary funding for 2009/10 so that the main part of the project can now go ahead. This will involve the changes to the area round the Park entrance and the improvements to Railton Road, including pedestrianising the southern end.
Read Lambeth's April Newsletter on the Junction Project (Adobe pdf: warning! 3.50 MB)
It is over 20 years since letters were published in the St Paul’s Church parish magazine calling for something to be done abut the Junction and seven years since a similar proposal was passed at a meeting of the Herne Hill Forum. Herne Hill can now look forward to this long overdue regeneration and resolution of the problems that have for too long plagued our town centre.
Work began in January on the first phase of the project in Rymer Street and Hurst Street. This involves regenerating the footways and carriageways and constructing speed tables. It will be followed by other peripheral work in Milkwood Road (a raised zebra crossing outside the tunnel entrance to the station) and in Railton Road. In addition, as part of a local safety scheme, two new zebra pedestrian crossings will be constructed in Dulwich Road: one on the south-east side of Shakespeare Road and the second on the north-west side of Hurst Street.
On Wednesday 19th March 2008, Lambeth’s Planning Committee approved the application for changes to the Brockwell Park boundary. Ten local organisations, including the Society, gave evidence in support of the application.
The planned changes represent only a small part of the project. They will have a minimal impact on the Park and that impact will be entirely positive – removing unsightly structures and making park access safer and more pleasant. However, without these changes the project would not be able to go ahead.
Brockwell Park is a Conservation Area. Hence permission for the changes had to be obtained from the Government Office for London (GOL). GOL has confirmed that they have no objection to the proposals. In addition, as the Park is also classed as Metropolitan Open Land, permission had also to be obtained from the Secretary of State for Communities and the Regions. Agreement has now been obtained for change of use of the small piece of Metropolitan Open Land needed for the project. All this, plus a funding commitment from Transport for London, means that all the main barriers to starting the project have been overcome.
| Late in the day the Committee of the Friends of Brockwell Park submitted alternative design proposals for the area round the Park entrance. Their proposals introduced a curve into the slip road to move it a few metres towards the centre of the junction; an exit onto Dulwich Road closer to the junction and an entry to the slip road rather reminiscent of turn-off from a dual carriageway. Lambeth commissioned independent consultants to produce a safety comparison between the agreed scheme and these alternative proposals. The consultants’ recommendation was that the agreed option should be that preferred on safety grounds. Lambeth has also carried out a detailed examination of the ‘alternative’ scheme, with the conclusion that it was unable to support the alternative proposals. |
What's the Background? Tell me the Facts
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