Hampstead has, as with much of Camden, experienced in a rush of development in recent years. Some of it has been beneficial, but where development would harm our community, I have been strongly opposed.
I have spoken at Camden’s Planning Committee several times since being elected – possibly more than any other councillor in Camden in that time – to oppose applications that would hurt Hampstead residents.
If there are any developments of concern to you, please get in touch and let me know.
1. Opposing inappropriate developments
From the Nurses Home at 29 New End to Arthur West House on Fitzjohns Avenue, there have been a number of mega-developments in recent months and years that undermine the character and liveability of Hampstead, as well as reduce the affordability of housing.
On top of this, a plethora of basement excavations that endanger neighbouring properties have been waved through by Camden Council. Basements by their nature do not expand the housing supply or improve affordability – but they do harm to neighbouring buildings if done on inappropriate sites, and I have campaigned for them to be approved only in rare circumstances.
2. Preserving Hampstead’s character
Hampstead has one of the oldest Conservation Areas in the country: dating back to 1968. Developments in the Conservation Area must preserve and enhance the Conservation Area’s character, and I speak out strongly when planning applications do not.
I am fully supportive of the Hampstead Forum and its role of developing a Neighbourhood Plan – a statutory mechanism introduced by Eric Pickles in 2011 to give communities greater control of local planning.
3. Helping residents to scrutinise and object to proposals
I have been a leading voice for Camden to continue sending letters to residents informing them when an application has been submitted for neighbouring properties, and will push for this service to be restored so residents can scrutinise and object to inappropriate development.
I back both the Hampstead Conservation Area Advisory Committee and Heath & Hampstead Society in scrutinising applications, and am pushing to improve their access to plans received by Camden Council.
News about this campaign
- 1 October 2019: Oliver writes to endorse renewal of Hampstead and RedFrog fora
- 20 September 2019: Op-ed: Don’t sideline or ignore residents’ work
- 11 September 2019: Oliver forces first defeat of administration policy in Camden in a generation over CIP
- 23 July 2019: Op-ed: Any development on the Heath is a red line
- 23 February 2019: Hampstead’s zebra crossing saved
- 29 January 2019: Objecting to the loss of Hampstead’s zebra crossing
- 7 October 2018: AIR Studios gets new investment
- 23 June 2018: Neighbourhood Plan overwhelmingly approved in referendum
- 21 June 2018: Vote for the plan
- 10 June 2018: The stakes are high in the Hampstead Plan referendum
- 14 October 2017: AIR Studios lives on as next-door application is withdrawn
- 14 August 2017: Restoring Hampstead’s historic heritage street signs
- 25 March 2017: Hampstead Conservation Area statement to be updated this summer
- 8 March 2017: Hampstead Forum presents its Neighbourhood Plan to preserve Hampstead
- 21 April 2016: Conservative councillors hold up end of planning notification letters for further scrutiny
- 28 November 2015: Labour’s sham consultation draws ire from unlikely source…
- 16 November 2015: Oliver asks Camden to save AIR Studios
- 8 November 2015: Save postal notifications of planning applications
- 28 October 2015: Labour’s plan to abolish planning application letters put to consultation
- 9 October 2015: Council-owned Liddell Road industrial estate occupied by squatters
- 27 July 2015: Secretary of State for Culture backs AIR Studios
- 12 July 2015: West Hampstead overwhelmingly backs Neighbourhood Plan
- 26 June 2015: Arthur West House approved despite Oliver’s objections
- 11 June 2015: Save Hampstead’s AIR Studios
- 30 May 2015: Arthur West House proposals not up to scratch
- 17 April 2015: 6 Streatley Place hotel plan blocked by Councillors
- 9 April 2015: Oliver celebrates defeat of Grove Lodge plans
- 2 April 2015: Oliver welcomes Camden mega-basement ban
- 27 March 2015: Oliver lodges formal objection to Grove Lodge
- 21 March 2015: Oliver marches with parents and residents against 29 New End
- 19 March 2015: The fight to protect New End is not over