Note: this page was originally published on 26 September 2023. The FAQs have been updated at 22 July 2024. The Royal Borough of Greenwich has taken the decision, as the local planning authority, to progress with enforcement action against the Comer Homes Group’s Mast Quay Phase II development.STATEMENT
You are comparing apples to oranges. You simply cannot equate single family dwelling and shared living. It’s a disingenuous argument.
A single family dwelling, regardless of wealth, does not require disabled access. It’s a private residence and not a business. If a disabled individual wanted to purchase a residence, they would have the onus of making it accessible to their specific needs. As it is theirs. There is no implied public access. People are not allowed in my home unless invites.
An apartment building is a business, no matter how you want to try and frame it. If people are paying rent, there is a business transaction.
Business are required to meet accessibility requirements. Public spaces like gymnasiums (even if restricted to tenants) require accessibility.
At this point, I’m not sure why I’m arguing on this point. Any comparison to a single family dwelling is fallacious and continuing to argue the point would be pointless.
For “old and wealthy and fashionably gentrified” building you’ve entirely misinterpreted the situation. Wealth and gentrification don’t play in at all. Age certainly does. Many accessibility requirements were not on the books when they were built. There are many low income building that have poor access grandfathered in.
I don’t like that someone loses housing. I don’t like that there is a housing shortage. But to allow the building to stand while in violation of all the planning is a bad situation.
Forcing the company to pay for relocation, any difference in rent, and any increased transportation costs from the move to compensate the inconveniences residents seems like a good compromise.
You are comparing apples to oranges. You simply cannot equate single family dwelling and shared living. It’s a disingenuous argument.
A single family dwelling, regardless of wealth, does not require disabled access. It’s a private residence and not a business. If a disabled individual wanted to purchase a residence, they would have the onus of making it accessible to their specific needs. As it is theirs. There is no implied public access. People are not allowed in my home unless invites.
An apartment building is a business, no matter how you want to try and frame it. If people are paying rent, there is a business transaction.
Business are required to meet accessibility requirements. Public spaces like gymnasiums (even if restricted to tenants) require accessibility.
At this point, I’m not sure why I’m arguing on this point. Any comparison to a single family dwelling is fallacious and continuing to argue the point would be pointless.
For “old and wealthy and fashionably gentrified” building you’ve entirely misinterpreted the situation. Wealth and gentrification don’t play in at all. Age certainly does. Many accessibility requirements were not on the books when they were built. There are many low income building that have poor access grandfathered in.
I don’t like that someone loses housing. I don’t like that there is a housing shortage. But to allow the building to stand while in violation of all the planning is a bad situation.
Forcing the company to pay for relocation, any difference in rent, and any increased transportation costs from the move to compensate the inconveniences residents seems like a good compromise.
Then the land can be used for not shit housing.