Description
The story behind this painting starts with a boring planning application approved by Waltham Forest Council in March 2022. Said planning application is for a 18-storey “built-to-rent” high-riser set to go up next to Walthamstow Central soon. When I first learned about this, it was winter and the sun was just setting with vibrant shades of lilacs, pinks and oranges covering the sky. Not knowing how to feel, I took a picture from my balcony and tried to capture a view that I won’t be able to see once this high riser has gone up. It dawned on me how I will never be able to see this piece of sky in just a few months time and how the lovely skyline of Victorian semi-detached houses will vanish and be replaced by a tall block of flats. At the same time, it made me reflect about the untenable housing crisis that Britain is finding itself in at the moment and how dire change for Walthamstowians is needed. With only a quarter of flats earmarked to be “affordable” though, the question remains – whom is this high riser actually built for? In the meantime, I’ll have one last look.
