Paul White: 'A plan for Tooting should support the community, for a sustainable future'

The following article is by Paul White, Tooting ward Labour councillor.

Paul has lived in Tooting for almost thirty years and was elected in August 2016.

A lack of adherence in many developments, undermines the Wandsworth Plan and it can be "more honoured in the breech".

Tooting is a very popular destination shopping area, with its diverse and affordable high street retailers and markets seeing big crowds attracted by its variety, the Wandsworth Plan must look to protect this success.

"Locally sensitive action" should mean encouraging culturally sensitive development and upholding the "niche" nature of Tooting's diversity, with proportionate respect to independent shops, the two markets and affordable rents and rates.

This would also apply to "Respect the proportion, scale and material, quality of the remaining period buildings", where currently, development of "out of character" buildings, heights and domineering aspects are too easily allowed, to the detriment of a "character feel" to Upper Tooting Road and the other high roads.

As such, a preference for re-fit and re-use of current buildings would be preferable, rather than "chain-friendly" clinical new builds, that undermine, replace or overshadow the local community and period buildings.

Regenerating with developments that have a preponderance of private builds, will have a tendency to alter the economic demographic and the need to regenerate should be examined against the standard of the current fabric of the buildings, the opportunity to maintain and adapt/retro-fit and the ability to bring forward much needed social homes and genuinely affordable homes (London living rents and much reduced market rents) to ensure a properly balanced community.

Reference to tall buildings (5 storey or more) in a locality, should not be seen as an opportunity to make that the norm in new developments, rather than referencing the general height level of an area and respect to the period, architecture and character of an area, so paying more respect to well-being and health.

Large high street developments should see dedicated arts and entertainment spaces, as many upstairs units and "pop ups" have been lost with recent developments.

Given the current pandemic (historical "disruptions" have seen a decrease in London populations and this has been apparent currently) and BREXIT, target numbers of housing and developments per se, may need adjusting and should be monitored rather than seeing a rush to build, where projects may prove unnecessary.

This would include expensive supporting infrastructure, where investment and improvement of already existing infrastructure may make more sense, be more affordable and be less destructive and vexing to the current population who may derive little benefit.

However, the need for social, affordable and key worker homes is likely to rise, given the under-provision to date and recessionary effects of the pandemic.

Local health and educational establishments (for instance) in Tooting will always require a good supply of low cost, good quality rental accommodation and developments must stick closely to the London (and this) Plan, regarding social and affordable numbers, with this being prioritised.

Roadside and pollution absorbing "greening" can positively affect anti-social behaviour and well-being. Tooting is very "grey" and the addition of trees, hedges, shrubs is likely to have a positive effect on behaviours, pollution and greenhouse gases on main roads and this needs to be increased.

Affordable and sustainable car club parking spaces should be increased to assist a modal switch away from car ownership and less local car miles, thus reducing pollution and climate change gases. Pro-active campaigns around health, affordability, well-being, sociability, climate change, air quality, behaviour and street scenes should be used in pursuit of this goal.

Adhoc green spaces should be encouraged and increased in the not so green areas, especially around Tooting Broadway. Parks, parklets, trees, shrubs, green walls, planters and other green architecture should be introduced where space allows, working with community groups where possible to increase a sense of ownership.

Tooting's tube stations and St Georges and Springfield Hospitals should be examined for district heating possibilities, where the huge heat demand for all of these facilities might be recycled for internal or external use.

You can find more from Paul White on his blog.

Find all the latest news from Tooting on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.