The latest in a string of plans for the development of the arcade site on the corner of Hoe Street and the High Street has fallen through. Residents have once more been left with little more than uncertainty as this central Walthamstow space looks set to remain empty for many years to come.
As Walthamstow Now previously reported (click here to view the article), this summer developers St Modwen approached the council with a proposal to build a small development that was to include retail units, housing and leisure facilities on the arcade site. However, it was announced earlier this month that by mutual agreement the council was terminating its deal with the company.
It was further revealed that the scheme proposed by St Modwen has been deemed unviable after it failed to attract large retailers – such as Vue Cinemas – to the area. Council leader Chris Robbins has attributed this failure to the current economic climate, but insists that resolving the site’s future remains a priority in Waltham Forest.
The deal is just the latest in a number of projects proposed over the last 10 years that have failed to come to fruition. Past plans have included building a new library, a cinema and in 2007, St Modwen’s original scheme to build an 18-storey multi-purpose tower block. Local objection to the tower block spawned the Fight the Height campaign group which has continued to champion residents’ opinions being heard regarding the space.
Caramel Quin of Fight the Height told Walthamstow Now: “Based on the flood of happy emails Fight The Height has received, Walthamstow residents are delighted to see the back of St Modwen. Residents aren’t generally anti-development, but St Modwen clearly had no wish to work with residents. Instead it was hell-bent on imposing an unpopular plan for low-quality, high-rise flats in a prominent place on our High Street.”
The council’s next move has been to approach housing developers such as L&Q and Ascham Homes to see whether they are interested in coming up with a new proposal for the spot. Local campaign groups hope that being forced to return to the drawing board will mean the future of the arcade site will be viewed in light of a wider regeneration of Walthamstow.
Ms Quin added: ” Fight the Height have met with the council since the announcement and have suggested that it takes this opportunity to genuinely consult with residents before embarking on new plans. We’re hoping this will be through a ‘Planning For Real’ exercise which would see the whole community get involved in shaping the future of this important site at the heart of Walthamstow. After a series of failed attempts to develop the Arcade site, the council must finally realise that the best way forward is to work together with residents!”
