WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBOURS OF ST MARY'S UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY WEBSITE.
This is a community website setup by, and for the use of, the local neighbouring residents to St Mary's University in Strawberry Hill and Teddington. It aims to provide a central site to provide news and information on the activities of St Mary's university to local residents, as well as providing access to a discussion forum (please read this before registering).
In particular, the main current focus is the proposed development plans that St Mary's has to increase student accommodation using protected Metropolitan Open Land. St Mary's started out as a small theological college that quietly integrated with the local community. Originally, it had a relatively small building footprint and caused minimal concern to its neighbours. Over the years, often against the opposition of residents, the college has grown in both physical size and in student population. Increasingly, this is causing problems in a residential area, especially with the direct campus-perimeter neighbours and also with Strawberry Hill and Teddington residents in adjacent streets.
In particular, the main current focus is the proposed development plans that St Mary's has to increase student accommodation using protected Metropolitan Open Land. St Mary's started out as a small theological college that quietly integrated with the local community. Originally, it had a relatively small building footprint and caused minimal concern to its neighbours. Over the years, often against the opposition of residents, the college has grown in both physical size and in student population. Increasingly, this is causing problems in a residential area, especially with the direct campus-perimeter neighbours and also with Strawberry Hill and Teddington residents in adjacent streets.
CURRENT NEWS (click here for the News Archive)
Feb-2018 - Strawberry Hill Village Plan SPD is Published by LBRuT
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The Strawberry Hill SPD (Village Planning Guidance) has recently been adopted and issued on the LBRuT website:
cabnet.richmond.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=3582 The actual document can be accessed in "Appendix 1", or by clicking the image next to this text. It's also worth reading "Appendix 3" if you previously completed the Village Plan questionnaire, as this contains the formal responses from LBRuT. |
15th October - Letter to SMU from our solicitor.
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We have recently instructed our solicitor to send a letter to St Mary’s University with regards to their proposed SPD (based on the Master Plan) and to further reinforce our concerns. The letter is available to review (by clicking the image), and it was sent to the key SMU "Master Plan” staff and the clerk of the Board of Governors (as well as cc’ing copies to LBRUT council).
We have received a notification of receipt to the letter from SMU, but nothing more at this stage. We will keep you informed, as appropriate, if the situation changes. |
Click each of the three images below to obtain the full leaflet details and our list of objection reasons.
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Also, please see the recent Historic England Report that St Mary's recieved for the Master Plan. It's worth having a full read as there are many key statements in the report - here are some examples:
- Historic England considers the current proposals for this site to be exceedingly ambitious in terms of amount of new on-site student housing proposed.
- We would strongly encourage you to explore how lesser quality existing buildings and spaces can be redeveloped, before considering building on open spaces.
- We would therefore encourage you to explore alternative locations for the student housing that is proposed to enclose the registered park and garden, including looking at other sites owned by the University that are less sensitive.
- … we would question plans that show this <accommodation> exceeding average sizes at other London institutions where this might result in harm to the historic environment, and strongly encourage you to pursue different options.
St Mary's University has recently revealed a 10-year development plan at both Strawberry Hill and Teddington Lock campuses (see picture below and full details in the Documents area). The plan includes building several high-rise (at least 4 storey) accommodation blocks (shown in blue below) and teaching (red) blocks on Metropolitan Open Land, as well as the loss of the running track and the Tennis centre on the Strawberry Hill campus.
Increasingly, this is causing problems in a residential area, especially with the direct campus-perimeter neighbours and also with Strawberry Hill and Teddington residents in adjacent streets.
The Strawberry Hill development can only be facilitated by moving sports facilities and teaching blocks to St Mary's Teddington Lock Campus. Neighbours of this Campus will see a sharp rise in activity including sports fixtures, varsity events, floodlit events. Traffic will increase around the site and parking appears to have been left off the plan. It is worth noting that 98% of the Teddington Campus is also protected Metropolitan Open Land
Increasingly, this is causing problems in a residential area, especially with the direct campus-perimeter neighbours and also with Strawberry Hill and Teddington residents in adjacent streets.
The Strawberry Hill development can only be facilitated by moving sports facilities and teaching blocks to St Mary's Teddington Lock Campus. Neighbours of this Campus will see a sharp rise in activity including sports fixtures, varsity events, floodlit events. Traffic will increase around the site and parking appears to have been left off the plan. It is worth noting that 98% of the Teddington Campus is also protected Metropolitan Open Land
The proposed plan (as shown below) is for Option D of the April version of the Masterplan. This option along with E and F are still "under-consideration" by SMU, whereas options A, B and C have been dismissed. None of the options are appropriate in our opinion for either the Strawberry Hill campus or the Teddington Lock campus. Note: click the image to open the full MasterPlan (April version).
CONSULTATION TIMELINE (FROM SMU)
(Held) 25th February 2017: Event 1: St Mary's SPD and Strawberry Hill Village Planning Guidance SPD, Emmanuel Centre
(Held) 24th April 2017: Event 2: St Mary's SPD Community Drop-in Session, St Mary's University (date confirmed)
(Held) 6th May 2017: Event 3: St Mary's SPD Community Drop-in Session, St Mary's University
Autumn 2017: Second (statutory) Public Consultation (six weeks)
Late 2017: Anticipated adoption of SPD
The specific dates/times will be updated when announced.
(Held) 25th February 2017: Event 1: St Mary's SPD and Strawberry Hill Village Planning Guidance SPD, Emmanuel Centre
(Held) 24th April 2017: Event 2: St Mary's SPD Community Drop-in Session, St Mary's University (date confirmed)
(Held) 6th May 2017: Event 3: St Mary's SPD Community Drop-in Session, St Mary's University
Autumn 2017: Second (statutory) Public Consultation (six weeks)
Late 2017: Anticipated adoption of SPD
The specific dates/times will be updated when announced.
METROPOLITAN OPEN LAND
Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) protects green and open spaces in order to create “lungs” within congested residential areas. The London Assembly website states:
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“The Mayor strongly supports the current extent of MOL, its extension in appropriate circumstances and its protection from development having an adverse impact on the openness of MOL”.
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St Mary’s University’s Plan relies upon building on Metropolitan Open Land.
Previous applications to build on MOL have been made to the Greater London Authority by St Mary’s University. In 2010 the Sports Centre was built on MOL and now forms an integral part of the local community infrastructure offering sporting facilities to a large number of local children and adults alike. At the time that the Sports Centre was built, St Mary’s signed a Deed Agreement with Richmond council (see Documents) agreeing that there would be no further development on MOL.
According to the Greater London Authority, there must be ‘exceptional’ reasons to build upon MOL. St Mary's University’s plan will need to show why it is "exceptional" enough to tear up this precious green space and deprive the community of the sports facilities used by many schools, colleges and local residents.
Previous applications to build on MOL have been made to the Greater London Authority by St Mary’s University. In 2010 the Sports Centre was built on MOL and now forms an integral part of the local community infrastructure offering sporting facilities to a large number of local children and adults alike. At the time that the Sports Centre was built, St Mary’s signed a Deed Agreement with Richmond council (see Documents) agreeing that there would be no further development on MOL.
According to the Greater London Authority, there must be ‘exceptional’ reasons to build upon MOL. St Mary's University’s plan will need to show why it is "exceptional" enough to tear up this precious green space and deprive the community of the sports facilities used by many schools, colleges and local residents.
HOW ST MARY'S PLAN IS EXPECTED TO IMPACT LOCAL RESIDENTS AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
Increased Student Numbers: Over the next ten years an additional 3700 students are being planned to join the Strawberry Hill Campus. The student population rising from 5,300 to approximately 9000.
We are supportive of academia and students, but this is generally accepted as the wrong setting for such a large student body.
Extensive Development: Many new accommodation and teaching blocks are proposed to be built on the highly protected Metropolitan Open Land to support the increase in planned student numbers.
We are supportive of academia and students, but this is generally accepted as the wrong setting for such a large student body.
- Noise & Anti-Social Behaviour: St Mary’s started as a small college and has expanded hugely within a highly residential area. Historically there have been several problems with noise and anti-social behaviour. In addition event noise has increased at St Mary’s and is planned to continue to do so.
- Traffic, Parking & Pollution: This development will mean a huge increase in traffic. Currently between 30-38% of students and staff drive to the university (as stated in St Mary's own Development Plan literature - see Documents section). This would equate to between over 1000 additional cars on our already congested streets. Even a tenth of this would be devastating on current parking which is at a premium. There is no apparent plan for where all these cars will go or what the impact of this increased pollution will be on local residents.
Extensive Development: Many new accommodation and teaching blocks are proposed to be built on the highly protected Metropolitan Open Land to support the increase in planned student numbers.
- Sports Facilities for the Community: Metropolitan Open Land promotes open sports and recreational space. St Mary’s hosts numerous schools and colleges. This capacity will be lost forever. Offering alternative land is not considered acceptable under the MOL protocols as described on the London Assembly website. “Developments that involve the loss of MOL in return for the creation of new open spaces elsewhere will not be considered appropriate”.
- Light Pollution: Over the years St Mary’s has installed more and more high-powered lighting. This is both unattractive and invasive to perimeter residents. With at many new blocks going up this will become worse for perimeter residents.
- Village feel of Strawberry Hill: The development is out of keeping with the Council’s own plan to maintain the” villagey” feel of Strawberry Hill not to mention the impact on bird-life and wildlife in this lovely area.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
If any of the issues concern you please contact us asap.
The time-line for these proposals is potentially very short, so if we are to organise an effective opposition we need to rapidly seek legal and planning advice. Anyone who has these skills will be warmly welcome to join us, as will anyone with a detailed understanding of MOL and the workings of the Greater London Assembly (who have oversight of such matters).
Actions you can take:
The time-line for these proposals is potentially very short, so if we are to organise an effective opposition we need to rapidly seek legal and planning advice. Anyone who has these skills will be warmly welcome to join us, as will anyone with a detailed understanding of MOL and the workings of the Greater London Assembly (who have oversight of such matters).
Actions you can take:
- Send us your concerns and contact details, so we can update you on future progress - or better still become a member of our Forum and join the discussion.
- Offer whatever service or assistance you are able to in order to support this action.
- Email your concerns and objections to local councillors (all contact details here), MP (Vince Cable) and to London Assembly (as they need to review any MOL development against the London Plan) - note: letter/email objection templates can be access on the forum (via this link).
- Check which ward your street/road is in using the map: Ward Checker
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