‘Landlord moving us out of decent flats into shoebox so homes can be built for rich’

ASOCIAL tenant living in a riverside flat has claimed he and his neighbours are being shifted to “a shoebox with the poor doors” as their flats face being demolished to make way for new homes.

- By BEN LYNCH

Residents on Carnwath Road, by Wandsworth Bridge Road in South Fulham, are in the middle of a building site as work progresses on a major development on the former Hurlingham Retail Park.

Led by developer Rockwell, the scheme will deliver 269 homes alongside a range of amenities from food and drink spaces to new public realm.

Under the plans, 1-3 Carnwath Road are to be demolished with tenants living in the blocks offered flats within the new development. 5 Carnwath Road residents are also to be relocated.

Co-op Homes, the landlord of the existing tenants, has previously said the majority of residents are supportive of the scheme and have agreed to move.

Not all however have proven so willing. MyLondon reported in 2014, when plans were initially approved, that several residents said they did not wish to move and claimed the development would cause great disruption to the community.

More than 10 years on, the shells of the high-rise blocks surrounding the social homes are up, and the site is active with builders and the clanging of their work.

David McGinty, 67, has lived at One Carnwath Road for around 26 years. He feels part of the tight-knit community and is a voluntary carer for two other elderly residents.

Mr McGinty, who has ADHD and previous experience with anxiety and depression, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) he has faced issues with Co-op aside from the development including over the use of a roof garden.

He has also spoken publicly about the disruption caused by construction on the Thames Tideway ‘super sewer’ which runs beside his property and he has labelled the “turd runway”.