How on earth did our 'planning' decision-makers allow the development of the new hotel at Station Parade/Hoe St, Walthamstow?

This has to be one of the ugliest new buildings ever erected anywhere. Looking at it from Hoe Street, it looks as if a pile of blue shipping containers have been stacked upon each other. In addition, this part of the development is about six storeys too high for the area.

I mean, what so-called 'architect' designed it in the first place and thought it would look great in Walthamstow and who, in the planning committee, agreed with it?

It's almost as if someone said, 'hey - I've just designed the ugliest building ever, lets stick it up in Walthamstow and make the place look even uglier'!

I have no problem with the rest of the development which doesn't look too bad at all, but the hotel complex section is a blot on the landscape.

What is clear to me is that the planning decision-makers have no idea when it comes to good design, impact on the environment, etc. I'm led to believe that there is a special bespoke course for councillors on the planning committee but there is no compulsion for them to attend as its entirely voluntary. I'd like to know how many councillors on the planning committee have attended this course, to begin with.

We have to stop this kind of inappropriate development taking place in Walthamstow. Its an already tired old streetscape with dirty uncared for buildings, dirty uncared for shop window shutters, ugly signage, dirty and littered pavements - why make it worse?

Millions of pounds are currently being spent using TfL money to regenerate Hoe Street, but adding this kind of blot on the landscape undoes all the good works.

James Phillips, Litter Action, Waltham Forest