With the surprise closure of the historic Ye Olde Swiss Cottage pub, Belsize Society is involved in the campaign to save the pub site for the community. The pub, which gave its name to the area, ceased trading after nearly 200 years, at two weeks’ notice, on February 1.

Builders have already removed the wrought iron pub name on the roof and all the wooden signs. The interior is now being stripped out. Immediately before the closure, staff said the historic photos of the area that adorned the walls and anything else of value would be put into storage by Sam Smith’s Brewery, which has run the pub since the early 1980s. The Brewery has refused to tell the local and national press, and BBC London News, what will happen to the pub after the sale. 

With the closure, BelSoc is attempting to save the pub as an ACV, short for “an asset of community value.” The Belsize Society is among those applying to Camden Council for the pub to be listed as an ACV.  

As the Ham & High explains in its lead story on February 6, an ACV “is defined as a building or other land whose main use has recently been or is presently used to further the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community and could do so in the future.”

The paper reports that Camden Labour Councillors have also put in an application for ACV status. But Primrose Hill Ward Councillor, Matt Cooper, told the Ham & High that he was not sure whether the Labour group is eligible to apply, and the decision would rest with Camden planning officials. He added: “We wanted to get the application in because the fact that it’s in means nothing should happen and officers know that we’re looking at it.” 

ACV status would give the community the right for 5 years to be informed if the pub is put up for sale and the right to bid to buy the premises – if the money can be raised, within six months. But an ACV doesn’t stop an owner selling the asset or applying for planning permission to change the building.

The Society has noted that the Tavern is not on Camden’s “Local List”’ of notable buildings. It is asking Camden’s Planners to consider this urgently. The pub is not in the Belsize Conservation Area. Unlike the Washington in England’s Lane, it is not Listed by English Heritage and internal changes do not need planning permission. The pub has always been in the “Swiss chalet” style.  But the current Alpine style woodwork dates from the 1960s.

The sudden closure of the Swiss Cottage pub raises wider questions about the protection of other valued local buildings.  Camden’s map of Assets of Community Value shows there are no active protections in Belsize Park. The only ACV, the Steele’s pub on Haverstock Hill, ran out in May 2020.

Belsize Society is currently considering whether there are buildings locally, not just pubs, that have “social interests,” which can include cultural, recreational and sporting interests, where other applications for ACV status could be made.

If you have suggestions, please contact info@belsize.org.uk.

We included a note about EPCs in our August 2023 Newsletter.  An EPC is needed whenever a home is built, sold or rented.  It contains information about a property’s energy use, typical energy costs, and recommendations about how to reduce energy use and save money. It gives a property an energy efficiency rating from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) and is valid for 10 years.  It’s a legal requirement that your property has an EPC rating of E or above before you can rent it out.  Listed buildings don’t need an EPC.  

For some time, there has been criticism of the existing EPC regime on the grounds that for some homeowners its assessment metrics can appear badly aligned with climate change targets.  There are now plans to reform it, with new metrics anticipated to be introduced in the second half of 2026. In December the Government launched a consultation “Reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings regime” that includes an analysis of the shortcomings of the existing regime and the current proposals for reform.  

For homeowners who have been looking into heat pumps and other climate friendly heating options, this is your chance to your views. As the consultation document points out: “… installing a heat pump could reduce the Energy Efficiency Rating due to the higher relative cost of electricity compared to gas, despite heat pumps being an efficient low-carbon heating solution”.  Replacing an old inefficient gas boiler with a new highly efficient electric alternative, fuelled by electricity from 100% renewable sources, can also worsen a property’s EPC rating under the existing regime. 

The Government has confirmed that all rented properties will have to achieve a minimum EPC grade C by 2030.  Currently, unless there is a valid exemption, it’s illegal for landlords to rent out a home with an EPC rating below E.  The new C rating requirement will be challenging for some properties to meet, including flats on higher floors in converted Victorian houses, where retrofitting energy-saving measures can be difficult, while also facing planning restrictions if in a Conservation Area.

While owner-occupiers of existing properties will not be forced to meet the C rating, the market attractiveness and value of a property could in future be affected if it does not.  Details of the reform proposals and the consultation are available at www.gov.uk/government/consultations/reforms-to-the-energy-performance-of-buildings-regime/reforms-to-the-energy-performance-of-buildings-regime.

The Government is proposing that domestic EPCs in future use four headline metrics: fabric performance, heating system, smart readiness, and energy costs, with other metrics provided as secondary information.  The online response survey is at https://consult.communities.gov.uk/energy-performance-of-buildings/consultation-on-reforms-to-epb/.It’s necessary to have read the consultation document in order to complete the survey. Hopefully among the Society’s membership there will be individuals with the necessary professional expertise to ensure that the new EPC regime will be appropriate for the sort of older housing we enjoy in the Belsize Park area.  The deadline for responding to the consultation is 26 February. Stay in touch on retrofit@belsize.org.uk. 

This Borough-wide consultation follows on from a series of local “Strategy Rooms” the Council held last year. One was held in association with the Belsize Society. BelSoc Member Chris Langdon was one of those who took part. Here are his personal impressions:

Should supermarkets be rated for their green policies, or would it be a good idea for private landlords to be obliged to charge “warm rent” (rent plus heating bills) to incentivise landlords to make energy efficiency measures?  These are among the question that we participants were asked at a 90-minute “Strategy Room” convened by Camden at Swiss Cottage Community Centre on November 23. 

The “Strategy Room” is a fancy title for a public consultation. It was facilitated by Nesta, a charity which describes itself as “UK’s innovation agency for social good.”  Eight people from all over Camden, three of whom are from Belsize Park, braved the wet and windy weather. Similar events were also held during the month in Kentish Town and Kilburn. One in Somers Town was dedicated to the views of young people.

At the Swiss Cottage Strategy Room, residents raised the problems of doing retrofit. There was a spontaneous and lively discussion about heat pumps, whether they are noisy, and the vexed problems getting planning permission in a Conservation Area like Belsize Park.   This wasn’t part of the consultation process, which was tightly scripted and briskly moderated. We all were given mini iPads to watch four “films from the future” with actors, and to answer scripted questions.

Participants expressed some concern that the conversation was so tightly proscribed that the issues that really concern residents on climate change weren’t being fully heard. We were assured that all comments were noted on two laptops and will be fed into the consultation process leading into the cross-Camden consultation in April.

On balance, my wife and I thought it was worth taking part. We enjoyed meeting a lively and articulate group of residents and we could have gone on longer. We were all pleasantly surprised that the more we talked together the more we reached agreement.

Alan Selwyn, BelSoc Planning, writes:

This online meeting was organised by Camden with the 100 Avenue Road developers to present revisions to the permitted scheme and answer questions on the proposals. 

After 10 years, only the foundations and basement have been built, with the site now sold to Regal who wish to redesign elements of the scheme. This requires new consent, and they are consulting between now and the end of the year, hoping to start work in early 2025 with a 3 year build time.

They will not change the existing permitted envelope but have managed to squeeze in an additional 52 units by minimising the service ducts and other modifications. There will be 166 units in the tower – now 26 storeys – and 70 in the adjoining lower building – now 8 storeys. The lower building, in addition to affordable housing units, will contain shops and a community space, which will be refined in consultation with The Winch.

The existing two buildings were to be faced in concrete with large amounts of glass. This is no longer considered acceptable in terms of energy requirements so the outside will now be clad in brick with smaller windows and curved corner balconies. This may help reduce the visual intrusion this tower presents though it will not reduce the huge scale.

There were other environmental discussions around the effects on wind, shadowing, glare from the windows, micro-climate and improvements to the landscaping.

Affordable housing will increase from 30% to 35%, now said to be “true affordable”. There are two main types included in this scheme: ‘social affordable rent’ for those on Housing Benefit and ‘intermediate rent’ designed to be achievable for those in salaried work.  A Housing Association will manage these. Camden prefers this to shared ownership schemes for various reasons explained. The way the 35% is calculated has also improved to give better-quality homes by calculating floor space and habitable room area rather than simply number of units (which tends to favour small flats such as studios). 35% also meets the GLA London Plan requirement and Mayor of London Plan. 

It does seem as though the new provision is an improvement on the original scheme in this respect.

Of the remaining 65%, the original scheme focussed more on private rentals, whereas this scheme now targets private sales. The developers said this would favour a more stable population, with more family sized units (though they cannot control buy to lets or overseas sales). 

Access was discussed, during the building work and after, for deliveries, bin collection and so on. We have concerns about vehicle access, which is primarily from Eton Road (and presumably the rather narrow Winchester Road from Swiss Cottage). Small deliveries and disabled parking are planned to be in the basement via the ramp under Hampstead Theatre. Larger deliveries (to the shops), waste collection and any other utilities will be from ground level between the theatre and the tower. Both will create a hazard for pedestrians. More work is needed.

Other than blue badge spaces in the basement there will be no residents’ parking on site and the council will not issue residents’ parking permits, as this will be a ’car-free’ development. 

I was impressed by the level of detail discussed in the 2 hour meeting and attention to answering residents’ questions, also by the commitment by the Council to achieve the best results from the proposed revisions.

More details will be published in the next couple of months with further consultation. Members are encouraged to take part.

Camden’s sustainability team asks Belsize residents to apply to participate and writes:

Step into the Swiss Cottage Strategy Room, to help inform Camden’s next Climate Action Plan. Taking place at Swiss Cottage Community Centre on 23 November, please apply for one of the twelve spaces.

In the space of 90 minutes, you will discuss what makes a better future on food and energy. You’ll discuss different options with your fellow participants and vote.

Camden Council’s Sustainability Team is looking for 12 participants aged 18 and over to participate. Each participant will receive a £20 voucher for their time.

You don’t need any special skills or knowledge to take part, all you need to bring is yourself!

APPLY TO TAKE PART:

• Date: Saturday 23^rd November
• Time: 12pm – 1.30pm
• Venue: Room 4, Swiss Cottage Community Centre
• How to participate: Please register for the strategy room through this link.

Please note: there are only 12 spots available – the Council will be in touch ahead of the session to confirm places

About the strategy room

The Strategy Room is Nesta’s award-winning experience that combines facilitated deliberation, interactive polling and collective intelligence to bring people on our journey to reducing emissions. In the Strategy Room, a facilitator will be there to guide you through the session.

The main purpose of this is for the Council to test how different climate policies would work for residents in the Belsize Park area, and help identify what policies and actions we will want to include as part of the Councils next Climate Action Plan from 2026 onwards (the link to the current climate strategy is here.

Welcome to the August Newsletter of the Belsize Society.

This Newsletter also advertises the next Society local history walk, led by Averil Nottage. 

Averil has also written an article about the Victorians that shaped Belsize, the topic for her walk, and exploring how much of Belsize looks as it does today because of decisions made in Victorian times.  On the walk and in her articles, we’re introduced to three builders, each favouring different styles. You’ll also find out about the Vicar who contributed substantially to the cost of St Peter’s Church and preached powerful and passionate sermons there until he was 92. Do book your place now on eventbrite.

Last Newsletter, we described how the Society honoured David Percy, local historian, for his considerable work featuring the area. In this Newsletter, we interview him and he describes both his career and the background to his latest book.

The architectural heritage of the area was celebrated at the Isokon’s 90 birthday event. This iconic building is one of only two Grade 1 listed apartment blocks in the country and we have an article about the celebrations as it ends its ninth decade.

The Newsletter includes some updates about Society business. We are also updating the website and plans for this are described. At the last AGM, we decided to raise membership fees and the next steps on this are outlined. We would really appreciate members taking a few minutes to update their standing orders with the Society for next year. There is also an update from Camden Council about their residential air quality monitoring initiatives.

Enjoy this Newsletter.

BOOK YOUR PLACE!

To book your place for Averil’ Nottage’s walk “Victorians who shaped Belsize as we know it today” register on Eventbrite or through contacting us (back page).

For 11am, 29 Sept: https://belsize-society-local-walk2024-1.eventbrite.co.uk

For 2.30pm, on the same day, the link is: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/belsize-society-local-history-walk-tickets-951863408077

Welcome to the May Newsletter of the Belsize Society.

The Newsletter includes updates from the Retrofitting Group, who recently visited a Council-managed refurb project in Belsize and who report on the improvements being made at 5-7 Belsize Grove. These homes will have solar, insulation, double glazing and enhanced thermal performance.

We are also supporting the Council in a bid for a retrofit accelerator. Securing funding will mean a series of workshops that would bring together residents with planners, retrofitting experts and other organisations to understand how to reduce the hurdles for those seeking to make old buildings more sustainable. This all occurs as the local Pears Building of the Royal Free wins an award citing its contribution to sustainability.

It was a pleasure to present David Percy with an award on behalf of the Society for his contribution to local history. Over the last decades we have seen Belsize through his lens, and his writing. The Newsletter also covers his most recent, remarkable, contribution: a book covering 100 houses in Belsize and neighbouring areas.

We held our AGM in March, and a new committee was put in place. This issue covers the discussion at the meeting. We have begun to follow up a request from members that we allow them to choose not to receive a paper Newsletter. There was also a desire to change the name of our popular Traders You Can Trust. This is the new name of TYCT,  replacing Tradesmen, and you’ll have received the 2024 edition with this Newsletter.

There is a piece about what’s on at the Hampstead Theatre and the exhibition at the Isokon. We also provide an update on the Council’s removal of paper visitor permits for general use by residents.

Details of the venue of the summer party are in the Newsletter. We will confirm the date electronically. 

Enjoy this Newsletter.