Member News

Kingston architect warns MP Ed Davey that proposed Lever House twin towers threaten protected heritage views, weaken public trust through limited consultation, and demand firm political opposition. Read more »

The Inspector has now announced two days of further Hearings connected with the Local Plan following the publication by Enfield Council of its latest set of replies to the Inspector (dated 4th February on the Council Local Plan page) and the Enfield New Town Announcement. More details on our Local... Continue reading Read more »

New Lever House plans push height and heritage limits: "Their latest proposals, however, should be firmly rejected as a blatant attempt to inflict even greater harm on the Historic Centre than was ever allowed under their now‑lapsed outline permission" Stephen Coates Read more »

That is a difficult question to ask of oneself but perhaps a starting point is to compare how Ealing Civic Society (ECS) is doing compared to others. There are said to be roughly 750 civic societies in the UK, ranging in membership size from as few as 10 to over 1,300 members (data based on a 2011 survey by Historic England). ECS membership is not large compared to the size of the borough, but our… Read more »

QE Boys, established by Queen Elizabeth in 1573 as a free grammar for the “boys and youth” of Barnet, is about to begin a new chapter in its history with the opening in August of the first two of three new international schools bearing the brand name “Queen Elizabeth’s School”. The post Queen Elizabeth’s School – a Barnet brand name that will soon be appearing on new international schools in India and Dubai appeared first… Read more »

Back in 2023 the Society part-funded ten Blue Plaques in Lancaster Road Enfield recording some of the noteable histories of 10 shops. In 2024 the Scheme was extended to Chase Side, Church Street and Silver Street with nearly 40 businesses included. Working with the Southgate District Civic Trust the Scheme... Continue reading Read more »

Traffic in Barnet High Street was at a standstill after a dramatic late morning crash when a car being followed by police cars struck the side of a No 34 bus waiting in the lay-by next to the Red Lion public house. The post Hot pursuit of suspect car ends with a spectacular crash bringing traffic to a halt in Barnet High Street appeared first on The Barnet Society. Read more »

This summer there is a proposal for a football event to show FIFA world cup games on Clapham Common. It will be the largest event of its kind in London and certainly the largest event that’s been held on the common for many years. It is currently still at the planning stage. Tentatively called Football Fest it’s being run by Fan Parks International, who have created similar events in Oslo and Copenhagen. Their application for the… Read more »

Correction to the Planning Report in the latest Tidings. There is a planning application from 2022 to build on the site of the old Elleray Hall. 10 Feb 2026 Read more »

The Lee Manor Society has had an exclusive peek behind the boardings at the demolition of Leegate. As this video and these pictures show most of the buildings have now been pulled down by two giant diggers. High powered water hoses are playing constantly on the rubbles to suppress the dust. Once complete, the rubble will be crushed to be used as part of the foundations of the new development. London Square has also fulfilled… Read more »

Last Updated on 8 February 2026 Planning Application Statistics During 2025, the Wimbledon Society Planning & Environment Committee reviewed 120 planning applications and objected to 45 of those. Planning & Other Policy Issues The AELTC planning application to develop the former Wimbledon Park Golf Course continues to occupy our time. The latest development has been the case brought by AELTC against SWP to establish whether or not a Statutory Trust exists over the land and… Read more »

The February meeting of the Lee Manor Society is on Wednesday February 18th, at The Church of the Good Shepherd, Handen Road, Lee SE12 8NR (whose new wall is very nearly complete). It starts at 7.30pm. Among the subjects on the agenda is an update on the Leegate development and London Square’s plans for naming it. Full details can be found here. Please also note that the AGM of Lee Green Lives is scheduled for… Read more »

Tuesday 3rd March 2026 Read more »

Natalie O’Rourke was presented with the award for The Sunday Times Grassroots Sportswoman of the Year at an award ceremony on 4th February. Natalie at a talk she gave for The Teddington Society Natalie is the coach and founder at Park Lane Stables RDA (Riding for the Disabled Association) in Teddington, which has come through some difficult times over the past few years, to emerge triumphant!The Stables offers a wide programme of inclusive activities including… Read more »

Last Updated on 8 February 2026 The Metropolitan Police has confirmed it will close the public front counters at both Wimbledon and Mitcham police stations on Saturday 28th February. This means that Merton will have no police station where residents can walk in and speak to an officer face-to-face. Instead, those needing in‑person police assistance will now have to travel to the counters at Sutton, Kingston, or Lavender Hill (Clapham Junction), all of which operate… Read more »

The Chelsea Society has been fighting for many years, with other local people and our successive MPs and Councillors, to protect the houseboat community and the essential character of Chelsea Reach.  This is because the operator of the moorings has been evicting traditional houseboats and replacing them with much larger box-like floating structures. The Planning Applications Committee of RBKC decided on no less than three separate occasions that this activity constitutes a breach of planning… Read more »

Environment Report Read more »

To Lewisham Planning Department, I am writing on behalf of the Forest Hill Society regarding the proposed development at 33 DARTMOUTH ROAD, LONDON, SE23 3HN, application DC/25/142180:  Change of use of part of the existing lower ground, ground and first floor and the construction of a mansard extension to provide 3 self-contained flats, together with the installation of windows and a terrace door to the elevations, and all associated works at 33 Dartmouth Road, SE23. The Forest… Read more »

The Westcombe Society Environment Committee try to look at all planning applications in Westcombe Park.  We also look at applications that might be relevant to our residents (e.g. those that affect local transport, those that affect Greenwich Park and the World Heritage Site and those that affect views from Westcombe Park).  We comment when we have concerns. We hope in future to keep a list of local applications here.  Clicking on the links within the… Read more »

Main points from the latest Board of Trustees of the Alexandra Palace and Park Charitable Trust meeting: Read more »

Sunday March 8th 2026 2 to 4 pm Free but booking essential. A guided walk with Michael Hammerson For details and booking click More Read more »

On 28 January Sam Cullen, author of the book London’s Lost Pubs published last year, gave a talk focussing on Wandsworth. Read more »

Wednesday 18th February 2026 7.00 for 7.30 pm 10A South Grove N6 6BS and on Zoom Entry £7.50 including a glass of wine (£3.00 on Zoom) For details and booking click More Read more »

World War 2 at the Royal Victoria Patriotic Building – a talk by Paul McCue. Read more »

As a result of the outstanding work carried out by the Northwood and Northwood Hills SNTs dealing with shoplifters and increasing the detection rate for shoplifting across the two wards to 42.52% (Met police average is 5%), Sgt Blackburn has submitted a Recognition report for his officers. You can read a summary of his report:  click/tap here Read more »

Update on The Capitol planning application Read more »

Come and join the Friends of St George’s Gardens for The Big Garden Birdwatch 2026 Come and join the Friends of St George’s Gardens for an hour, to count our feathered visitors.Part of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds annual bird watch:www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/big-garden-birdwatch We’ll have recording sheets for you, but please bring a pen. Saturday January 25th, from 9:00am – 10:00am. The post Big Garden Birdwatch 2026 appeared first on FOSGG. Read more »

This is the formal objection of Ealing Fields Residents’ Association (EFRA) to the proposed event, “Blondin Park Live,” in early September 2026.     The full text can be viewed here. Read more »

We have created a new section of this website for items on Gunnersbury Park  There is an item on the planning application for events in the park. Please click here to see.  Read more »

The profile of the society was raised at the recent Chiswick Calendar party when our chair was one of the the people presented with a CRAP (Chiswick Residents Active Participation) award by our MP Andy Slaughter. Bridget Osborne, editor of the Chiswick Calendar said that “We make the awards to people who have done something that makes Chiswick a better or more interesting place to live, and over the years we’ve been doing it, awards… Read more »

The post Minutes 12 November 2025 appeared first on Strawberry Hill Residents' Association. Read more »

Attached is this year’s Annual Report, reviewing the key activities of the Society, and at least three local megaprojects, this year also providing a reflection on the outgoing chairman’s three year term. Subjects include: The changing face of Hammersmith Projects in development  Local Plan Hammersmith Bridge Committee members Reflections on Chairmanship 2022-2025 The agenda, accounts and other AGM information are or will be on the dedicated 2025 AGM page. Read more »

Our member Edward Rose has thoroughly researched the Black Bull, which we wrote about in 2022, and has now written the 180-page self-published book pictured, which he’s offering to members. Since we wrote the original article, we’ve been working with Heritage of London Trust to try to find a suitable new home, and arrange for it to be restored, in a similar way to the Greek Runner and Leaning Woman.  We’ve been jointly investigating the… Read more »

EFRA objects to the planning application to create a restaurant on the ground floor of this residential building plus HMO units on the first and second floors.  The full text can be viewed here. Read more »

On 6 January 2026 a full house at The National Archives auditorium were treated to a wonderful talk by Jack Andrews MBE – a much-loved member of the Kew community and one of Kew Gardens’ most distinguished former volunteer guides. Jack Andrews (Courtesy of Richmond Society) Jack spoke about the life and work of Marianne North, the extraordinary Victorian painter who travelled the globe to capture exotic plants and landscapes.  Close to 100 guests gained… Read more »

Look at this building and you can see the charming villa it once was. One of the string of villas built along the High Street when the railway came in 1858. This building is proposed to become a high rise block with complete demolition. Read more »

… Northwood Cards & Gifts!  Congratulations to Steve and Savita on coming first in our Christmas Window/Interior Display competition. Steve, Savita and Brian Geninder (NRA Business Liaison) Thank you to all of the NRA members who voted for their favourite displays over the Christmas period.  Northwood Cards & Gifts had the most popular display by far, with Robsons Estate Agents coming second and Olimera a close third.   The other businesses who recieved votes were: Canterbury… Read more »

Development of the old Civic Centre – now to be called Bishop’s Place. Details of the proposals can be seen on the planning application: 25/05307/FPA The consultation deadline has officially passed but not to worry – there’s still plenty of time to make comments before it is considered by Bromley Council. There is much to be WELCOMED about the proposals: the height of new buildings are limited to 5 storeys; views of the Palace from the Park… Read more »

Every month a small group of people made up of local councillors, community organisations and local residents meet with the Lambeth Park’s team to discuss how to improve the way that Clapham Common is managed. On Thursday the 5th of February this meeting will be held at Omnibus Theatre in Clapham Old Town and will be open for anyone to attend. It’s your opportunity to hear about what’s been going on in the last 12… Read more »

Islington Council is asking for views on proposals in principle to have a gypsy and traveller site at Pleasant Place Garden. It would have the capacity for one pitch, accommodating one gypsy and traveller household. Information sessions on the proposal are being held at the Town Hall. 12 January  6-8pm 13 January 12.30 – 2.30 20 January 6-8pm To sign up for a 30 minute slot, register on the eventbrite page. For more details click… Read more »

Residents should have received a letter from the Council asking for feedback on the decision to make the East and West Greenwich Traffic Management Scheme permanent. The period of statutory consultation will run until 23.59 on Wednesday 7 January 2026. Objections or representations can be made by email to traffic.management@royalgreenwich.gov.uk letter to Technical Support Team, FAO Programme Delivery Team, Transport, 3rd floor, The Woolwich Centre SE18 6HQ Following the statutory consultation a formal reaport will be produced… Read more »

A happy 2026 to all our members! On 13 November 2025 we enjoyed a talk on the 19th floor of Westminster City Hall, presented by Linda Hantrais, Alan Kraven and Nigel Israel, about the Westminster Tobacco Box (“the world’s largest”) and other items of silver which are looked after by the Past Overseers’ Society, and about how Monck Street in SW1 came to be named after Henry Monck. The event was hosted by the Lord… Read more »

But locally we're still below pre-pandemic levels Read more »

What's stopping housing development? Read more »

Please join the Friends of St George’s Gardens for Singalong Christmas Carols 12 – 1pm, Saturday 20 December, 2025 Sing along with us, in the gardens at the Handel Street entrance, and donate to the Trussell Trust foodbank charity – our fourth year collecting for Trussell. We’ll Songhaven leading the singing, and the TAP Ukulele band accompanying us. Mince pies and mulled wine will be available too! We hope you will be able to join… Read more »

by Jordan Henderson and Michael Laver IN THE BEGINNING … …. was the much smaller Bayswater Chapel, built to serve local residents when Bayswater was first developed by Edward Orme. The population grew at an explosive rate and a much larger church was needed. The ambitious new building was funded by John Allcroft, an ancestor of the current Patron of St Matthew’s. The church still has the ceremonial trowel with which the foundation stone was… Read more »

The 2025-2026 issue of the Kensington Society winter newsletter is on its way to all members, but it can also be read and/or downloaded from this website. It is on 16 pages, focussing on our GPs and NHS, mansion blocks and the recently approved Kensal Canalside application. The post The 2025-2026 winter newsletter is in the mail appeared first on The Kensington Society. Read more »

Jubilee Gardens new visitor data insights Our latest report provided by Cross River Partnership on behalf of South Bank BID offers a detailed picture of how people moved through Jubilee Gardens between July and September 2025. Sensors at the Gardens’ two main entrances – the north entrance closest to Hungerford Bridge and the south entrance next to the London Eye – recorded average daily pedestrian counts of around 9,400 each, showing consistently high levels of… Read more »

On 5 November, Jubilee Gardens welcomed a team of eight volunteers from Park Plaza for a dedicated day of planting as part of their ongoing corporate sponsorship of the Gardens. The team worked tirelessly throughout the day, planting over 1,000 bulbs. These included daffodils and tulips, chosen not only for the burst of springtime colour they will bring, but also for their value as an early nectar source for bees and other pollinators emerging after… Read more »

O Ashmead Tree, O Ashmead Tree,What happened to theeO Ashmead Tree? ‘Tis the season to be jolly.  That is until we got the sad news last week that another tree within St John’s has been lost.  Again, needlessly to carelessness and reckless driving.  Above is the scene from Ashmead Road yesterday where this mature Prunus cerasifera (cherry plum) tree was lost when it was struck by an HGV, the driver clearly unaware of their surroundings… Read more »

The Chairman of the Society’s Planning Committee, Sir Paul Lever, has written to the Chairman and members of the RBKC Planning Committee as follows: I am writing to you on behalf of the Chelsea Society about the planning application for the redevelopment of Lots Road South (PP/25/04416) which you are due to consider at your meeting on 16 December. The Chelsea Society exists to protect the interests of all those who live and work in… Read more »

In one of our most significant projects aimed at helping the local community, The Bedford Park Society has funded and produced a 12-page guide Energy Conservation in Bedford Park Houses, arranging delivery of free copies to 2,500 households in Bedford Park. The guide (cover left) will help homeowners consider the most effective options available while respecting the architectural history and traditional construction of Bedford Park houses and following heritage sector best practice. It is relevant for owners… Read more »

St John’s Society and Friendly Gardens MoM – Q4 2025 Please see the minutes from November’s meeting and thank you to all committee members for all your hard work and commitment throughout 2025. Your energy, ideas, and willingness to get involved have made a real difference to St Johns. As we look ahead to 2026, our priorities shall be to strengthen community engagement, expanding opportunities for fund raising and delivering the projects that we have… Read more »

Our Christmas drinks gathering will be on Wednesday 17 December at the Duchess pub, on the corner of Stamford Brook Road and the Goldhawk Road from 6.30. It will be a good chance to meet your Committee and other neighbours and discuss local issues - and others. We look forward to seeing you there. Read more »

187 Bulletin Winter 2025 Final The post 187 Winter 2025 appeared first on Strawberry Hill Residents' Association. Read more »

AGENDA for the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING THURSDAY 11 DECEMBER 2025 at 7:30 pm at Richmond & Hillcroft Adult Community College, Parkshot, Richmond TW9 2RE  Introduction and review of the Society’s […] Read more »

In August we were delighted to receive an email from Judith Cradock. She was the Society’s membership secretary nearly 60 years ago when Father Bernard Orchard from Ealing Abbey was chairman. Apparently the Society ran out of funds at one stage so she suggested to the committee that they all paid to become life members, and the Society then had sufficient funds to enable it to continue. Fortunately we were left a bequest in 2004… Read more »

Kew Railway Bridge Update Regular users of the Thames Towpath running under Kew Railway Bridge close to the National Archives may have noticed some changes to the worksite at the bridge.  Kew Society’s Environment Trustee Dr Sarah Clarke has been in touch with Network Rail who informed her that, following a meeting with the Structural Engineers: “[They are] making good progress with the project to repair the bridge.  The monitoring equipment, which was in place… Read more »

Angel Association Accounts Full Year 2024 Balance at 31.12.23 Represented by: Cash at Bank:                                     £11,452.94   TOTAL:                                              £11,452.94 Receipts for the year   Subscriptions & Donations:                £3,347.00 Bank Interest:                                      £261.00 Gift Aid:                                               £116.75   TOTAL:                                              £3,724.75   Payments for the year   Donations:                                           £2169.00 Website maintenance:                        £204.00 Other:                                                  £144.00   TOTAL:                                              £2,517.00   Balance at 31.12.24   Represented by: Cash at Bank:                                     £2,660.69 £10,000.00  … Read more »

All members are welcome to Ham and Petersham Association and Amenities Group’s Christmas Party at the Hand and Flower Pub, Ham Common. Celebrate Christmas and celebrate the work done to help preserve Ham and Petersham as a great place to live. Enjoy wine and finger food along with great company. Members only. The post Christmas Party 2025 – Hand and Flower pub appeared first on Ham and Petersham Association and Amenities Group. Read more »

Disappointingly, on 3 November 2025 the Mayor of London published his decision report on the planning application for a tall building at 1 Burlington Lane, Hogarth Roundabout, choosing not to intervene but allow it to proceed. This despite over 1000 objections to Hounslow Council and the Greater London Authority, and being supported by Andy Slaughter MP, Gareth Roberts of the London Assembly and Andrew Boff, deputy Chair of the London Assembly.GLA Full Report Read more »

Margaret Walsh, who died on 15 October, was a good friend of the Society and had been a volunteer for several years, often helping at the membership desk during events. […] Read more »

This is the last opportunity to comment by 4 November on a controversial 10 storey tall building scheme (known as 1 Burlington Lane) on the Hogarth roundabout in Chiswick (west London). Against strong advice given by Historic England, local boroughs and our MP, with hundreds of local objections, this was approved by Hounslow’s planning committee but is now subject to a final decision by the Mayor on 5 November. The existing building's relatively small scale was… Read more »

Love Ham Pond? Come to the Big  Pond Prune 10:00am Saturday, 1st November. Meet at Ham Pond Tools provided but bring your own if you can. Everyone welcome. Please come along to help. The post Ham Pond Big Autumn Prune appeared first on Ham and Petersham Association and Amenities Group. Read more »

This is one of the many interesting articles in our latest Newsletter, Autumn Issue : October 2025 : No.259 Our newsletter is free to members in either a printed in black and white copy delivered, or as a full colour pdf version sent by email. Just one of the benefits of joining the society: www.brixtonsociety.org.uk/join-us   Read more »

Planning application submitted (25/08325/FULL) There is a major proposal to renovate the old dairy at 31 St Petersburgh Place, recently a marketing suite for the Whiteley, home to a Guillam Coffee house and a private office tenant. The building’s new owner proposes to make it a high quality permanent home for their worldwide operations. Guillam and the office tenant will remain in place for the medium term. BIG architects, a globally prominent practice involved, for… Read more »

Click here for a PDF of the Trustee Report and Accounts The post Trustee Report And Accounts 2025 appeared first on Friends of Battersea Park. Read more »

Click Here for a PDF of the 2024 MinutesClick here for a PDF of the 2025 AgendaAnnual General Meeting 2025 The Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Battersea Park will be held on Tuesday 14th October 6.30pm for 7pm – 8.30pmAll Saints Church, 100 Prince of Wales Drive SW11 4BD Welcome: Chairman’s opening remarks Apologies for absence Approval of the minutes of the AGM held on Tuesday 8th October2024Report for 2024/25 published in the… Read more »

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This year marks a half-century since the founding of the society. To celebrate it, we held an exhibition in the Tate Library Brixton giving a flavour of all the things we have been involved in over those years. To create a permanent record, we have produced a souvenir brochure which shows all the images and accompanying texts displayed in the exhibition. This is now on sale for just £2 (plus postage) in our eBay shop… Read more »

Land to the east of Shakespeare Road, Shakespeare Road London SE24 0PT: “The Coalyard” development Open the attached PDF document to read our objection to this planning application (Lambeth 25/01393/VOC) Coalyard Proposal – Herne Hill Society Objection [PDF] Impression: view from Shakespeare Road   Read more »

The Hampstead Neighbourhood Plan The new Hampstead Neighbourhood Plan 2025-2040 has been formally adopted by Camden Council, bringing to a successful end the Forum’s efforts to revise the previous Plan that was adopted in 2018. The Council’s decision, taken at its regular meeting on 21 July 2025, means that the new Plan now enters into force, superseding the earlier document. The Plan takes its place alongside the Camden Local Plan and other statutory documents. People… Read more »

At the cabinet meeting on Tuesday 8 July, Hounslow Council passed a Dogs Control Order, including an order banning commercial dogwalkers... Read more »

You don’t have to live in a listed house or in the Conservation Areas to become a member. We welcome anyone interested in maintaining our precious architectural heritage and supporting our work on behalf of the entire local community. Join now to be a member until the end of 2026. Membership is just £10 per year or £15 for a household. In addition to the Society’s core role of protecting and enhancing the amenities and… Read more »

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Exhibiting your artworks including ‘En Plein Air’ Painting & Drawing Inspired by Hampstead Heath and the surrounding area. Win up to £500 plus other prizes.  Let the Heath, Hampstead Village and surrounding area inspire you and inspire others. Picture the Heath is an annual drawing and painting exhibition which celebrates the Heath and its surrounding area, organised by Hampstead School of Art, an Art Fair Day event exhibition – part of Hampstead Summer Festival.   All… Read more »

Flooding in York (photo by Chris Gallagher on Unsplash) The Covid-19 pandemic saw people everywhere in Britain co-operating to support each other. Hampstead was no exception. Neighbours here gave help where it was needed and shopped and ran errands for those who could not. Refugee camp, photo by Salah Darwish on Unsplash Community resilience is our collective capacity to handle shock and disruption. In these increasingly difficult times, we need to cultivate it. The Neighbourhood… Read more »

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ThrowbackThursday and On this Day, VE Day celebrations on 8 May 1945 in Streatham.Alfred Chapman lived at 29 Angles Road for 60 years shares his photos. His mother organised the party which was outside 38/40 Angles RoadCan anyone fill in the gaps of the missing names?​Alfred was born in December 1939, and has no memories of his Father until after the the war:World War Two started in September 1939, I was born in the upstairs… Read more »

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  The Jubilee Hall gym on Covent Garden Piazza is under threat of closure.  Plans have been halted to sell the 85 remaining years of its lease to a commercial body.  We are working to get it back into community hands and secure its future. The sports hall was established in 1984 after a campaign […] Read more »

Local residents never were, and are not now, against making better use of the O2 Sainsbury’s car park space and the former much-loved Homebase store, repurposing it for much-needed housing (especially genuinely affordable social housing). The scheme was unpopular amongst local residents, on the grounds of its excessive numbers of dwellings, population density and building heights and the inadequate green space provision for approximately 4500 new residents that it would bring to the only 5.7… Read more »

The former Saville Theatre, most recently the Odeon, on Shaftesbury Avenue is under attack again.  Built in 1931, it is an unspoilt Deco gem that only just managed to escape the Blitz. In 2019 a developer tried to gut the building and add 2-3 glass floors on top so that it could be turned into […] Read more »

This advice is for dog lovers who also love the Heath! Did you know that the Heath has millions of dog visits per year? At a dog swimming pond in summer, we have counted over 100 dogs swimming in a single hour. These visits to the Heath are highly beneficial to dog health, and to our own. For many of us they mean healthy exercise and time in nature. Through no fault of their own,… Read more »

The Fulham Society objects to 2024/01942/COMB and has worked with the other associations to produce the attached response which we fully endorse.  Despite the extensive and time consuming pre-application consultation process, the proposed development remains far too dense, with buildings excessively high and with a park that is too small. Inadequate provision has been made for road access and for necessary improvements to public transport. The development is totally unsympathetic to the local neighbourhood in many respects… Read more »

October 2024: The Riverside pathway is now open, Development continues on the hospitality side with new restaurants and bars due to open in summer 2025. Read more »

New application August 2024, reference 24/3269/FUL Despite refusal of the previous application by both Barnet Council and the Planning Inspector on appeal, the owners of the site have made another application for a nursery school on this site.The new plans have reduced the number of nursery places from 100 to 80 and have produced a revised design for a proposed extension to the existing building. The number of parking spaces included in the plan is… Read more »