Controversial Udney Park Playing Fields consultation nearly over

Quantum Group, a “retirement living specialist”, intends to build 107 apartments adapted for elderly people in Udney Park Road, as well as a GP surgery and underground carpark.

Quantum paid Imperial College London £6 million for the site in 2015, which is currently used by various sports teams.

Included in the plans are two pitches, one of which will be 3G with artificial grass, favoured because they can be used more frequently without being worn down. 

As well as this an enclosed space for horse riding is proposed, to be used by Park Lane Stables.

The plans would result in loss of playing fields

There were 706 objections on the planning application at the time of writing and a long-running campaign was launched to protest the plans.

Loss of green space- a reduction of at least 50 per cent- is a major concern for people.

Member of Friends of Udney Park Playing Fields, the group behind the campaign, Gareth Bullock said “the issue at its heart is a moral one”.

He said: “Quantum’s plans are a metaphor for a broken society and the misplaced values we have today.

“A publicly-funded university sells playing-fields, gifted to them for sports use, to a property developer funded by a small group of rich individuals who benefit from generous tax breaks and build 107 expensive flats which the borough does not need.

Mr Bullock said “obesity is one of the biggest pressures on the NHS” and decreasing access to green space does not help the situation.

CGI of Quantum's plans 

However, Quantum argues there is “no suitable care-led housing for people approaching or who are in their retirement” in Teddington and that people were “concerned about the over-subscribed and cramped GP surgeries” in the area- though the surgery is not a new one, it will be bigger.

Although the London Plan states there is a significant need for homes for the elderly- 135 per year in Richmond- Mr Bullock said the development would be a “ghetto for rich people”.

It is not yet known how much the homes will cost to rent or buy but Quantum Group’s care homes in south England are twice the average weekly price of a care home in the UK.

There are also planning issues with the development and a council officer has submitted a detailed objection which states the plans fail to comply with the National Planning Policy Framework on local green spaces and pitches and regional policy in the London Plan.

The site also has Local Green Space and other open land of townscape importance protection, and is an Asset of Community Value (ACV).

The London Plan states “proposals that result in a net loss of sports and recreational facilities, including playing fields should be resisted”.

There were 368 comments of support at the time of writing, most of which are in favour of Park Lane Stables having a permanent space for their “hugely beneficial” sessions for disabled people.

One supporter said: “I look after a severely disabled child, and saw the huge enjoyment she gained from horse riding with the RDA.

“However this is something she has been unable to take part in for the last 6 months due to limited facilities.”

RDA would benefit from a permanent, enclosed space

Natalie O’Rourke, of Park Lane Stables, said the situation was “tricky”.

She said: “We pride ourselves in being part of the community and the last thing we want is for people to be upset with us but sometimes people must see things from the other side of the fence.

“It seems like change is going to happen so if we have the opportunity to be a part of it we must take it.

“London is losing green space and horses are not generally welcome in the city so to have the opportunity to have a space in a London park is incredible.

“At the moment we have to move around for the RDA.

“Some of the people we help are severely disabled and can’t get the therapy in an open space like Bushy Park where there are people and dogs running around- we need an enclosed space.

“There are hundreds of disabled people on waiting lists for this therapy.”

Quantum refutes claims the community will lose out.

A spokeswoman said: “There will be no loss to local residents – but instead a gain of 9.5 acres of private land to the community to own and manage in perpetuity.

“We will gift the land to the TCSG Community Interest Company, formed by a group of local residents who will own and manage it on behalf of the community, and we will fund the delivery of the facilities.”

Teddington Community Sports Ground CIC, which is on board with Quantum, includes representatives from Teddington Athletic FC and Teddington Scout Group and is working together with Teddington Rugby.

However, the community view is tipped in favour of rejecting the proposals- the objections are double the comments of support.

Mr Bullock said he doubts the application will be approved as “the council is cross-party against it”, but added: “You would think in a logical world it would never get through but we all fear we’ll get stiffed by the system.”

The consultation will end on Monday, April 2.

To view the application go here.