Controversial Broadway Development Gets the Green Light
Six storey tower to be built on former site of Prophecy Club
An application to build a six storey high building on the Broadway has been approved despite a number of objections including those of the Wimbledon Society.
The site at 141 The Broadway most recently housed the Made in Italy restaurant and was the former site of the Prophecy Members’ club. The proposal is to retain the current ground floor but demolish the first and second floors to rebuild another five storeys on top. These would contain sixteen one and two bedroom flats of which 6 would be sold on a shared ownership basis. The ground floor would continue to operate as a bar or a restaurant.
Site to be developed
The application was brought before the Planning Applications Committee for consideration in light of the number of objections against the proposal. There were ten objections in all including those made on the basis of the incongruity of the design and the loss of a local landmark. The Wimbledon Society was one of the objectors.
The building is currently flanked by modern office blocks and is not in a conservation area. Although objections were made on the grounds of the loss of parking spaces the residents of the new building would not be entitled to parking permits
The redeveloped building at the upper levels would follow the existing front building line and would present a ‘modern, contemporary external’ appearance with part brickwork, part metal cladding facades and front projecting bays. In terms of the height of the proposed building the planning officer’s report on the development says there would be a gradual transition between 151 The Broadway (CIPD) and Ashville House, in a ‘more measured and stepped arrangement’ than the existing building. The proposed building would feature a small internal courtyard on its eastern side.
The officer’s report recommending approval states, “On balance, it is considered that the design of the proposed extensions would satisfactorily relate to The Broadway street scene, Town Centre location and would respond to the retained parts of the ground floor. The proposal would create 16 new residential units within a town centre which would make a modest contribution to the Borough housing stock, offering flats with a good standard of accommodation and direct access to excellent public transport options. The proposal is in accordance with Adopted Site and Polices Plan, Core Planning Strategy and London Plan policies. The proposal is therefore recommended for approval subject to conditions and S106 agreements.”
May 14, 2015