Landsec has now (11/02/25) submitted an additional planning application to Camden Council seeking approval for a number of alterations and additions to its existing consented scheme. The majority of the changes - including the additional height of some tower blocks - were widely known following consultation events held at the O2 Centre. However, it still comes as something of a shock to realise that the heightened tower blocks in the scheme will be visible from as far away as Greenwich Park!

There can be few people in South Hampstead without a plant in their garden or a tool in their shed that didn't come from Homebase. No more. Its demolition is now complete. A sad loss.

Iconic must be one of the most over-used words in the English language, but its use here must be allowed. The Swiss Cottage pub has closed its doors, with many people assuming that, like Homebase, it will be demolished for yet another block of flats. Let's hope that the closure is temporary and that new owners can be found. Swiss Cottage without the pub will be like Crystal Palace without the glass palace - just a place on the map and the name of a TFL station.

As many of you will know, Regal - a local property developer - has signed a conditional agreement to purchase the 100 Avenue Road site from Essential Living. Regal has begun consulting with the community on its revised plans for the site and will hold a second consultation later in the year. With the exception of the additional staircases - now required by post-Grenfell regulations - CRASH can see no improvement on Essential Living's reviled scheme. In fact, they are worse.

CRASH opposed Essential Living's original scheme for 100 Avenue Road and will continue to oppose the current plans.

It appears that West Hampstead's intensive lobbying during the O2 debate has borne fruit.

Alex Williams, TFL's Chief Customer & Strategy Officer has announced: "I'm really pleased that we're now able to confirm that work will resume at Northolt and that we are starting design work at North Acton and West Hampstead as the next stations to be upgraded, building on feasibility work that started last year."​

Good news for West Hampstead station, but sadly no news of step-free access at the more important Finchley Road station.

In a letter dated 11 December 2023 the Deputy Mayor for Planning, Jules Pipe, informs Camden Council that he, under delegated powers from the Mayor of London, does not intend to refuse the application (from Landsec) or intend to take over the application for his determination. 

This means that Landsec has cleared all three hurdles - Camden Council, the Secretary of State, the Mayor of London - and is now free to proceed with the first stage of its O2 Centre redevelopment. 
​
A sad end to 2023. 

Camden has launched a consultation on proposed new trees, planting and other changes in Goldhurst Terrace. These changes are partly to make the area more resilient to future flooding. The consultation is open at:
​Goldhurst Terrace Consultation open until the 22nd September.

​It has been announced that the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP) has declined to use the power granted to him by parliament to 'call in' the O2 redevelopment. He is prepared to allow the decision made by Camden Council to stand without review by his department.

A decision from the Mayor of London is still awaited.

On Monday 3rd July the CRASH AGM was held at the Crossfield Centre on Fairhazel Gardens. The well-attended meeting agreed to the re-election of all the existing officers and members of the committee. Draft minutes of the meeting will be available shortly on the website.

Our former Member of Parliament, Glenda Jackson, has died at the age of 87. She represented Hampstead as an MP for twenty-three years, sandwiching her time as a politician between two periods as one of the greatest actors of her generation, For her  work on the stage, film and television she was  showered with awards, including the rare 'triple crown' of 2 Oscars, 3 Emmys and a Tony. A truly great actor, but never, ever, a 'luvvie'.

This year's AGM will be held on at 7:00 pm on Monday 3rd July at Likewise (formerly The Hub, formerly The Crossfield Centre), 8 Fairhazel Gardens, NW6 3SG.

Full details of the meeting will be confirmed nearer the date but will include the following items:
1. Welcome
2. Guest Speaker: Dr. Victoria Harding of the Heath and Hampstead Society talks on why every tree counts
3. Guest Speaker: Nina de Ayala Parker, South Hampstead Councillor, on her leading work for the Council on green issues/biodiversity
4. Update on South Hampstead flood issues: Joan Munro and Kumiko Matsuoka
5. CRASH AGM -- Apologies for absence
6. Approval of minutes of 2022 AGM
7. Chairman’s report
8. Treasurer’s report
9. Election of Officers and Committee Members
10. Any Other Business

Draft Minutes of the 2022 AGM are available at the bottom of the 'About Us' section of the CRASH website.

We hope that you are able to make it and look forward to seeing you.