Good news at Pitfold Close. The application to build houses and flats on land to the rear of the close has been REFUSED by the Council.
The application didn’t even get to the stage where it’d be considered by a council planning committee – council officers refused it under their delegated powers.
Just back from chairing the public meeting on the Pitfold Close planning application. A packed meeting, full of residents who are very concerned about the plans. It’s always tricky to chair these meetings when feelings are running high, so I hope everyone felt they got a fair chance to have their say.
A few points I’d make to those who are concerned about the application:
From now, the planning officer will be writing her report, weighing up the cases made by residents and the developer and deciding whether to recommend that the Council planning committee approve or reject the plans. The committee of councillors will make a decision taking into account the officer’s recommendation.
I’ve said I’m happy to speak on residents’ behalf at the planning committee, and they also get to nominate one person to speak on their behalf. Residents who’ve submitted an objection will be written to about a week before the meeting so they can attend – and I’d encourage as many residents as possible to do so – this shows the strength of feeling.
In the meantime, I’ve submitted my objection and am happy to offer any help or advice I can to residents.
A developer has applied for planning permission to build 26 flats to the rear of Pitfold Close. This would be acheived by demolishing two existing houses on the Close to create an access road through to some land to the rear of the close that’s actually in London Borough of Greenwich. I’ve set up a short-link to the plans at www.tinyurl.com/pitfoldclose
I’ve been talking to residents since we first became aware that an application was likely back in July. The application’s now gone in and I met again with residents on the Close last weekend. There’s a lot of concern about the affect the development will have on the Close – particularly difficulties it’ll cause with parking and access, and a feeling that the proposed development isn’t in character. Looking at the plans, I’m also concerned about the quality of life for those who might end up living in the proposed development – which will be 2 and 3 bed flats – they aren’t going to have much in the way of open space, and it’s quite out of the way for those without their own public transport.
I’ve now written to the Council to oppose the application. I understand that as of Friday, some 24 objections had been received and that the Council is likely to hold a public meeting to discuss these before the application goes to a planning committee. The application’s complicated by the fact that some of the land is in Greenwich – so that Council’s also consulting on the application – but as the majority of the land is in Lewisham, our Council is the lead authority.
Please do feel free to copy me into any comments you have on the application. Comments need to reach planning {at} lewisham.gov(.)uk by Thursday 10th September, and please mention ref DC/09/72208.
My Lib Dem colleagues at the GLA have brought to my attention a new report from the London Development Agency that looks at Lee Green and six other town centres in South London, examining whether new housing could be the answer to revitalising them.
The study – which you can download here – looks at Lee Green in some detail and suggests three potential schemes for regenerating the whole crossroad area. It also makes the case more generally for housing in town centres.
I think the report’s interesting, and certainly in all the discussions I’ve had with the Leegate Centre’s owners, St Modwen, over the last 3 and a bit years, they’ve always stated that one of their aims in any redevelopment would be to introduce more housing. It makes sense to them financially (or did!) and it’s also in-line with London and local planning policy which calls for more housing around transport hubs. Not sure Lee Green’s quite a transport hub, but there are a fair number of buses..!
The disappointing thing about this report is that it doesn’t seem to have involved any consultation with local people or their elected representatives. The nearest thing that I can see is a meeting they’ve had with a planning policy manager at the Council. The report acknoledges that “Local residents groups aspire to a better shopping, restaurant and cafe offer as well as public realm improvements,” which I presume is a reference to the Lee Manor Society’s design brief.
All in all, a bit of a missed opportunity. The report’s starting point is to make the case for extra housing, but without asking the community if that’s what we want, the rest of its findings are a bit academic. It’s a shame, because the money that the LDA have spent looking at Lee Green could have been used to help us develop a real community vision.
If you get the chance to have a read, I’d be interested in your views.
The council has now received an application for use of the old warehouse on Old Road as a ‘martial arts centre and training facility’. As readers might be aware, issues around this building have been rumbling on for some time.At present, the building only has planning permission for use as a storage facility (what’s known in planning terms as class B8). The applicants are seeking to change this so that it can officially operate as a facility for their companies Unified Training Consultants and Firefight Combat Simulations.
You can view the application and supporting documents on the Council’s website. I’ve set up a short-cut to the right page via http://tinyurl.com/87oldroad
According to the application, the operating hours would be 9am-10pm Monday-Friday; 10am-8pm Saturday, Sundays and bank holidays. They envisage 12 full time and 10 part time staff. I couldn’t see any reference in the application to the number of customers that would be on site at once.
I know people have a lot of concerns about the noise and parking problems caused by having such a facility in a residential area. We now have our opportunity to lodge objections or make any other comments on the application. I am very happy to support residents through this process, and to use my rights to speak at the planning committee on behalf of residents.
The deadline for comments is 14th September 2009, and these should be sent to planning {at} lewisham.gov(.)uk quoting ref DC/09/71653. Please feel free to copy your comments to me (details here).
You’re probably aware that the old Ennersdale Primary School building on Leahurst Road is currently being used by Northbrook School as a temporary building while their site on Taunton Road is re-built. Ennersdale, was of course closed by the Labour Council back in 2002.
The Council has now been approached by English Heritage, who have told them that they are processing an application to make the school a listed building.
Once Northbrook move back to Taunton Road, the Council’s plan is to move the Brent Knoll School to the Leahurst Road site, though as Brent Knoll is a special school, the building will require internal adaptations. If the building were to be listed, this wouldn’t be impossible, but it might impose some constraints.
The Council has until May 30th to let English Heritage have their views – in the meantime, I’d be interested in yours!
You may notice there’s been a rash of listings locally – in addition to the listing of pre-fab bungalows in Whitefoot Ward, Lewisham Bridge School has been listed too. I understand the school listings are because English Heritage have been doing aLondon-widestudy of London School Board buildings. They’re also considering listing Holbeach Primary school in Catford.
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