Statement of Community Involvement - Southwark Council Planning ...

2.4 Consultation policy contextSouthwark Council adopted the Statement ofCommunity Involvement (SCI), which formspart of the Local Development Framework. Thisdocument provides advice on pre-applicationconsultation to ensure there is effectivecommunity involvement in the planning process.This guidance has helped inform the consultationand engagement plan.Please refer to the table in chapter 3,Consultation Plan, that responds to the Council’sapplicable recommended consultation methodsin Appendix C of the adopted SCI.Statement of community involvementJanuary 2008www.southwark.gov.uk2.5 Physical contextThe Heygate Estate, the site for this OutlinePlanning Application, comprises 9.1 hectares(23 acres) in central London. The estate wasdeveloped during the 1970’s and providedapproximately 1,100 socially rented homes,community rooms and a small number of shopunits. The Right To Buy initiative of the 1980’sled to a number of homes entering into privateownership.The design of the Heygate Estate created fivelarge slab blocks, nine terraces of maisonettes,a block of community and commercial units, acomplex arrangement of elevated walkways anda large number of now mature trees.The Heygate Estate was initially a success withmany local residents speaking fondly of thesense of community and the high-quality homes.However, over time the estate became run-downand suffered from a large number of designissues including a lack of permeability, inactivityat ground level, design / construction faults, highlevels of fear of crime, and a bad reputation.In 2002, Southwark Council made the decision,informed by consultation, that wholesaledemolition and regeneration was the only optionavailable to improve the Heygate Estate. Thereare a few remaining maisonettes still occupied onthe estate, while the five slab blocks have beensecured with metal shuttering.Approximately 140 residents of the HeygateEstate expressed their Right to Return and havebeen regularly written to with invitations toattend the interactive exhibitions.Front cover of the Southwark Council adoptedStatement of Community InvolvementThe Heygate Masterplan Elephant and Castle Outline Planning Application March 20129