The latest application for a major redevelopment of the Streatham Megabowl and Caesars site has been submitted to Lambeth Council, but the community remains divided over the plans.
Some believe it to be a major development to kickstart the regeneration of Streatham, while others say the buildings - which will be up to nine storeys high - will be “out of scale” for the area.
The application, set to go in front of a Lambeth Council planning committee in October, is understood to be the last attempt by developers Glentoran to see its plans for a major residential and shopping complex go ahead.
It first made plans to transform Megabowl, Caesars and the buildings in between into a residential and shopping complex in 2007, but residents’ objections have led the company to withdraw applications on several occasions.
The latest changes to the application include a reduction in the number of residential units from 286 to 262, though the amount of retail provision has increased slightly to 3,155m2. The provision of a leisure space has marginally increased to 840m2.
Underground parking is provided for 91 cars.
Alterations have also been made to the front of the buildings in Streatham Hill, with the removal of proposed lantern structures and the squaring-off of gable ends in top floor levels.
The height of the Ardwell Road buildings has also been reduced by two storeys.
Nazim Ali, owner of Streatham Pharmacy in Streatham Hill, who has got together a 700-strong petition in favour of the development to present to the planning department, said the area “could not afford to turn down such major investment in the current economic climate”.
He said: “There is so much evidence to suggest a development like this can be the catalyst for major regeneration, bringing more economically mobile people to live and shop in the area.
"I think the area would be mad to push it away.”
But many say although they are in favour of redevelopment of the site, the proposed developments were too large and “more akin to Croydon town centre”.
Andrew Tottenham, a member of campaign group Friends of Streatham Hill (Fosh) and Telford Park residents’ association, said: “The infrastructure is not there in the community, from parking to space on public transport, to school places in the local area to support a development of this size.”
He said redevelopment was about making an area the place where people wanted to come for leisure and to live and warned that in the current climate, not all the proposed retail spaces would be filled.
A lack of community space, and insufficient leisure facilities, would mean the development would not improve the area, he said.
Fosh spokeswoman Bella Ferreira added the reduction in the scale of the buildings was “disappointing” and “insufficient”
For a detailed look at the plans go to lambeth.gov.uk/planning, application number 08/04307/FUL.
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