Threatened Treeline of Central Hill
Written by Save Truslove House
Central Hill Estate is situated in one of the highest points in London. Its tree line can be seen all the way from Alexandra Palace in the North to the Kent Downs in the South. The importance of this treeline led the five neighbouring Boroughs of Lambeth, Croydon, Bromley, Lewisham and Southwark to protect it by ensuring that no building should ever be higher than these vital trees. The very design of Central Hill Estate by Rosemary Stjernstedt, the pioneering architect of Alton East in Roehampton, ensured that this high-density, low-rise development would adhere to this policy and was therefore stepped into the topography, designed around the mature trees and encouraged new planting, making the whole scheme almost disappear into the hillside.
Central Hill used to be part of the Great North Wood that stretched from Dulwich, Sydenham Hill, Penge Place and Clayland Coppice that ends at Salters Hill. In fact some of the trees from Clayland Coppice are still present in Central Hill Estate, one of a few being marked for removal by Lambeth Council in its latest attempt to demolish the whole estate and build high-rise apartment complexes along this highly valuable and sought after ridge. As important as celebrating urban trees are in this festival, it is also crucial to realise that these valuable trees are also highly contested objects in the regeneration of London which often use their image to sell their developments but hide the fact that mature trees are cut down to allow this construction to happen and then 'offset' these trees elsewhere.
When residents discovered the latest Lambeth Council scheme, they fought back objecting to the 'salami-slicing' approach to avoid producing a masterplan, environmental assessments, embodied carbon calculations, heritage reports and adequate consultation, especially with regards to the trees around Truslove House. By calling this development a stand-alone scheme, Lambeth's advisors Savills were able to avoid the usual planning framework that is required to pass the planning requirements needed. Furthermore as the developer in this scheme is in fact Homes for Lambeth - its own Special Purpose Vehicle/Housing Development company - the already lax scrutiny of the scheme was passed through for highly confidential economic and political reasons. Even the consultation with local residents was conducted online due to COVID19, and though there were over 280 objections to the proposal, the 200 online 'impressions' measured by the mediation company were deemed sufficient enough for Lambeth Council to pass it - much to the dismay of the residents! If all this was not enough to bypass the system, Savills changed the permission criteria to exclude the demolition work from the documents needed to start the project meaning that demolition and the removal of trees could happen at any time without recourse.
In response to this highly dubious fast-tracked scheme, residents and campaigners occupied the site with tents outside during the coldest months of 2020 and 2021, with the full support of their neighbours and local community. Central Hill residents passing were shocked to hear about what was happening and for some it was the first time that they had heard about these plans. Temporary and vulnerable residents, who were housed in Truslove House, were then being pressured to accept housing elsewhere so that the Council officers could use the mantra that the block had been empty for a while. The last residents of Truslove House were not happy with the alternative accommodation being offered to them but were told under no uncertain terms that if they did not take up their offer they would not be able to promise them that they would not be homeless for New Year.
When word got out that workmen had arrived to put up hoardings and cut down trees, residents and campaigners came down to the site to hold a COVID-safe protest along the boundary. It was at this point, Lambeth issued a 'Golden Order' to Lambeth Metropolitan Police Service to arrest anyone outside Truslove House for breaching COVID regulations. Over 20 police officers arrived in vans to remove residents taking part in the protest, one of the first actions instructed to stop peaceful protest in London under the new regulations. Threatening on-the-spot fines, imprisonment and even the confiscation of a dog for apparent animal abuse for attending a protest in cold weather, this completely unnecessary police intervention, with proxy Lambeth officials in the background, meant that the tents, banners and barriers around the trees were all removed, and after a final show of defiance the protest was reluctantly disbanded. The Chair of the Central Hill Residents Association was arrested and taken to Brixton Police Station as all other avenues for protest at that time had been exhausted. Luckily she was released form prison without charge.
The impact of regeneration, the destruction of green open spaces, removal of trees, increased pollution, and the assault on basic human rights, are having a direct and immediate impact on everyone's mental health and living environments – but in particular the residents of Central Hill. When Rosemary Stjernstedt designed the estate, she ensured that these trees would be very much part of the very identity and community of Central Hill. Kate Macintosh, the architect of Dawson's Heights Housing complex in Southwark, champions this vision, leading the charge to get Historic England to uphold its promises to adapt heritage buildings to combat Climate Change and look at how Central Hill's green credentials can be an inspiration to others facing a similar situation.
To take action against the felling of mature trees at Central Hill, please sign this petition. If you want to see the Historic England Listing Application contact us through twitter @truslovehouse @savecentralhill or email centralhillcampaigns@gmail.com
Write directly or email Mr. Philip Seely, Historic England Case Officer on Philip.seely@historicengland.org.uk, the Central Hill reference number is: 1475908 addressed to:
Historic England
Listing Team South
Historic England (London Office)
4th Floor, Cannon Bridge House
25 Dowgate Hill
London
EC4R 2YA
This campaign is fighting to save Truslove House and Central Hill Estate from demolition that would break up the community, destroy their homes and cut down mature trees. Please sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/lambeth-council-do-not-demolish-truslove-house.