J.M.H. CAMPAIGN NEWSLETTER NO. 1

CAMPAIGN NEWSLETTER  No1

PEABODY REJECTS COMPROMISE PROPOSAL FOR RETENTION AND CONVERSION OF PART OF FORMER JEWISH MATERNITY HOSPITAL

In March 2011, Tower Hamlets Council sold the former hospital buildings at 22-28 Underwood Road to Peabody to redevelop for residential use. The Council’s February 2008 planning statement for the site refers to the “attractive frontage to Underwood Road“. And that any redevelopment “must consider… the potential to convert the existing building to residential uses” (note 1).

Local Historian Tom Ridge contacted Peabody in August 2011 but was told that the front parts of the buildings on Underwood Road could not be retained and converted. On 4 October 2011, Dr. Sharman Kadish (Director of Jewish Heritage UK) wrote to Stephen Howlett (Chief Executive, Peabody) suggesting that architects Brady Mallalieu revise their proposals with a view to just keeping “the well-built cottages at nos. 22-24 Underwood Road” (attachment 1) (note 2).

Mr. Howlett’s disappointing reply states that a number of retention options have been reviewed but they would prevent Peabody from delivering the scheme (attachment 2). In contrast to this, Tom Ridge was told by Robin Mallalieu that others thought differently about the buildings (note 3). And that any retention was “not going to happen” as the buildings lacked merit. Furthermore, there was “no reason” to keep 22 and 24 as theirs was a “better building” designed to deliver much needed housing. Tom Ridge put it to Mr. Mallalieu that Brady Mallalieux were destroying a unique part of the built heritage of the Jewish East End (note 4).

Peabody and Brady Mallalieu are so determined on total demolition and redevelopment (despite the Council’s 2008 planning statement and efforts to secure limited retention and conversion) that their agents applied to Tower Hamlets “for prior notice of demolition” on 20 September 2011.

In reply to Tom Ridge’s open letter of 30 September 2011, Owen Whalley (Tower Hamlets Head of Planning) states that this “process alllows the Council to consider whether it wishes to control the method by which (the)building is demolished and any proposed restoration of the site” (attachment 3). However, such matters are normally dealt with by the serving of a demolition notice to the Council’s building control officers.

The fact that Peabody and Brady Mallalieu are likely to have their proposed total demolition approved by planning officers “before 19 October 2011” (attachment 3) indicates that in this case the “process” is clearly intended to stop the retention debate: before Peabody’s proposed “second public consultation event in early November” (attachment 2); during the public consultation on their forthcoming application; and in any subsequent development committee meeting (note 5).

Even if their November planning application is for demolition and replacement, the demolition of the buildings will in effect have been pre-determined by planning officers. It would seem that there is nothing we can do to influence the totally non-democratic decision to be made by planning officers before 19 October 2011.

However, Mr. Howlett states that the “second public consultation event in early November” will be “prior to the submission of our planning application and the demolition of the existing buildings” (attachment 2). In other words, we have until early November to:

– publicise this appalling act of cultural vandalism

– get more signatures to our online petition

– write to Stephen Howlett in support of Dr. Sharman Kadish’s proposal (please send us a copy)

– attend and demand the retention and conversion of 22 and 24 Underwood Road at Peabody’s early November public consultation at the Osmani Centre, Underwood Road.

The Borough’s bid for city status is partly based on our rich social history. This includes the built heritage of the Jewish East End: a few listed synagogues, the former Jewish Soup Kitchen in Spitalfields and the former old people’s home in Mile End. Surely we must also keep a few small buildings to represent the only surviving former Jewish maternity hospital in England and the pioneering achievements of Alice Model MBE (note 6)

TOM RIDGE (0208 981 7361)

ATTACHMENTS

1. Letter from Dr. Sharman Kadish to Stephen Howlett 4 October 2011
2. Letter from Stephen Howlett to Dr. Sharman Kadish 6 October 2011
3. Letter from Owen Whalley to Tom Ridge 6 October 2011

NOTES

1. The redevelopment must also consider “the amenity of surrounding residential development” and “the relationship … with Osmani (Primary)School“.
2. The Arts and Crafts ‘cottage’ at no. 24 Underwood Road and the more extensive back part was opened in 1911 as The Sick Room Helps’ Maternity Home: the first of three stages in the development of what became the Jewish Maternity Hospital in 1932. The matching 1927 ‘cottage’ at no. 22 Underwood Road was part of the third and final stage in the development of the maternity hospital. For more information, please request a copy of Tom Ridge’s January 2010 report.
3. Mr. Mallalieu was referring to Tom Ridge’s failed 2010 listing application. Whilst the buildings may not be of sufficient architectural interest to merit listing, their architectural interest is recognised by Tower Hamlets Council (2008 planning statement) and Pevsner (London 5 Eastp. 423). They also constitute a unique and distinctive group ofbuildings. And are of considerable historic interest as the only surviving former Jewish maternity hospital in East London. For more information about the listing application, please request a copy of Tom Ridge’s January 2010 report, English Heritage’s letter of 23 April 2010 and Tom Ridge’s notes on pages 6 and 7.
4. Angela Brady of Brady Mallalieu is the current RIBA president. Interviewed in The Guardian 5 October 2011, she says “Let’s ask what people want” and is “enthralled by the ‘rich mix’ of the capital’s culture“.
5. The “process” may also be intended to legitimise Peabody’s failure to comply with the 2008 planning statement’s requirement to “consider … the potential to convert the existing building tor residential uses“.
6. All the buildings at 22-28 Underwood Road are associated with Alice Model who started and ran the maternity home from 1911 until her death in 1943. Under the auspices of the Jewish Board of Guardians, she founded the Sick Room Helps’ Society in 1895 to help the sick poor and confined women in their own homes in the Jewish East End. Based on a German plan, the SRHS was the first organisation in this country to provide home helps and visiting maternity nurses. The district maternity nurse scheme was started in 1899 and by 1906 the SRHS had a maternity nurses’ home at 61 Philpot Street. In 1911, a generous bequest and a donation from Sir Marcus Samuel allowed the society to open its purpose-built maternity home and nurses’ home at what is now 24 Underwood Road. Alice Model was the president and honorary secretary of the SRHS until 1909. After Lady Samuel became president in 1910, Alice Model continued as honorary secretary – raising funds, recruiting volunteers, organising, campaigning and serving on committees.