Say no to the 90-seat roof terrace on top of the gym - object by 8th March
/A planning application PA/22/00143/NC has been submitted to create an additional floor on top of Virgin Active (the ‘Club’ building) for an open-air 90-seat terraced restaurant. The Sixthfifth-floor terrace would be in addition to the existing two restaurant floors (that have been vacant since 2013, following the demise of ‘The Battery Club). We urge residents to comment on and object to the application, either by way of the on-line portal [click here] or by sending an email [click here]. If appropriate please attach photos to your email that show the impact of the proposals to you. Objections must be made by 8th March.
The proposals would have a significant impact on residents, particularly those whose flats face towards the Club building. Concerns include:
loss of privacy: the terrace will have a glass balustrade and provide diners with uninterrupted views directly into residents’ flats. This will be particularly intrusive at night when your lights are on: why should you have to draw your blinds for privacy? Unlike the existing restaurant floors there will be no blinds or curtains to draw on the roof terrace.
noise disturbance: the terrace is open air and its location in the centre of our estate will result in significant disturbance, day and night. Eg, from customers when dining or leaving, staff clearing plates and bottles, possibly even music. Just 12 people enjoying themselves on a warm summer’s evening can be noisy enough: imagine up to 90 diners, or a stand-up reception/roof-top party. Our buildings act to amplify the noise, with sound waves bouncing off hard surfaces. You may have your own memory of past disturbances when the Battery Club’s noisy patrons left through our gardens, or the clatter of dishes from the Ubon kitchens late into the night.
light pollution: at night the open terrace will generate extra light that may illuminate your apartment and possibly affect your sleep. In daylight hours the extra floor might result in a loss of light (If it casts a shadow on your apartment).
smells: if smoking is permitted this is likely to waft in through open apartment doors and windows.
nuisance/security: an additional 90 covers is a significant increase in the existing size of the restaurant. There is a right of access from the restaurant through our gardens and we have past experience of rowdy and unruly customers arguing within our gardens.
density of development: our estate is primarily residential and home to young families through to pensioners, all of whom enjoy the tranquil space provided by the courtyard gardens. The application claims the restaurant is ‘town centre’. !! It is not, it is in the centre of a residential estate.
littering and risks from windy days: it’s not just when storms blow in and wreak havoc - Canary Riverside is in an excessively windy location and a west-facing open air terrace will inevitably lead to things being blown about. From napkins through to larger objects such as parasols. The Brera street level terrace is an indicator of that. Winds are stronger at higher floors.
Please use examples to illustrate your objections - eg, from past experience, or how the proposals directly impact you/your flat.
You might also be concerned about issues such as loss of view, or the impact on the value of your apartment: these are not things that the council are allowed to take into consideration. For examples of what is/is not a relevant planning consideration please click here.
Worryingly the council has not notified all residents at Canary Riverside of the application, with only a small number of Eaton House residents having reported receiving a letter. This may be because the council believes Canary Riverside is primarily commercial: a council officer, in an April 2021 report recommending that another application be approved last year* described the location of the Club as; “The site forms part of a wider site containing hotel accommodation and leisure facilities”. No mention whatsoever was made of the residential apartments, which make up 75% of Canary Riverside.
*the granted application permits the installation of glass bi-fold doors to replace the existing walls on both floors and create ‘an amenity space’ on the third floor. This has been approved without residents knowledge, since we appear not to have been notified of the application.