It now appears that the previously approved scheme for 13 houses in on this site is not going to happen as it is no longer financially viable. This is now a great opportunity to solve two endemic Dulwich problems, how to provide decent sized apartments in the centre of the Village for downsizers and how to provide up-to-date accommodation for the Dulwich Estate Almshouse Charity.
The situation was confirmed at a meeting on 22 October between the local residents’ monitoring group and the CEO from McCulloch’s (chaired by local MP Helen Hayes). The developer is now having pre-application discussions with Council planners over an apartment scheme which will include a larger element of social or affordable accommodation (up to 35% to be in line with Council policies) and has agreed that it will carry out a further public consultation. Common sense says that the smaller units would be ideal for almshouse accommodation and, hopefully, the Almshouse Charity will seize the opportunity.
