3. BOROUGH WIDE ANALYSIS 3 BOROUGH WIDE ANALYSIS 3.1 TOPOGRAPHY 3.1.1 The topography of Lewisham has played a vital role in influencing the way in which the borough has developed. 3.1.2 The natural topography is principally defined by the valley of the Ravensbourne and Quaggy rivers which run north to south through the centre and join at Lewisham before flowing northwards to meet the Thames at Deptford. The north is characterised by the flat floodplain of the River Thames. 3.1.3 The topography rises on the eastern and western sides, the higher ground forming an essential Gently rising topography part of the borough's character. The highest point to the southwest of the borough is at Forest Hill (105m). The highest point to the southeast is Grove Park Cemetery (55m). Blackheath (45m) and Telegraph Hill (45m) are the highest points to the north. 3.1.4 The dramatic topography allows for elevated views from within the borough to both the city centre and its more rural hinterland. High points offer panoramas towards the city 42 Fig 18 Topography 2m 85m LEWISHAM CHARACTERISATION STUDY December 2018 43 3.2 GEOLOGY 3.2.1 The majority of the borough is underlain by the Thames Group rock type which consists mostly of the London Clay Formation. 3.2.2 To the north, the solid geology is Upper Chalk overlain by Thanet Sand. The overlying drift geology is gravel and alluvium. The alluvium has been deposited by the tidal flooding of the Thames and the River Ravensbourne. River deposits are also characteristic along the Ravensbourne. 3.2.3 Beckenham Place Park is recommended for designation as a Regionally Important Geological Site (RIGS). Loats Pit and Old Gravel Pit south of Blackheath are recommended as Locally Important Geological Sites. (See 'London's foundations: protecting the geodiversity of the capital' report, 2009: http:// nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/20075/1/geodiversity. pdf) 44 Fig 19 Geology - bedrock LAMBETH GROUP THAMES GROUP THANET SAND FORMATION WHITE CHALK SUBGROUP LEWISHAM CHARACTERISATION STUDY December 2018 45 3.3 WATERWAYS AND FLOODZONES 3.3.1 The Ravensbourne river runs south to north through the centre of the borough. Its tributaries include the Pool and Quaggy, the Quaggy running east to west from Eltham and sweeping back into the borough at Grove Park. 3.3.2 Over the centuries, urban development has infringed on the river valleys and as a result, stretches of all the rivers are now concealed, canalised or culverted by modern settlement. The river corridors retain their natural course further south with substantial open areas surviving, for example at Beckenham Place Park and Ladywell Fields. Further north at Brookmill River Ravensbourne at Bellingham Park, a large section of the Ravensbourne was renaturalised with the construction of the Docklands Light Railway. 3.3.3 While the borough's adjacency to the Thames provided economic opportunity during its early development, areas close to the river and along the Ravensbourne river valley are potentially at risk from flooding. 3.3.4 The street patterns respond to the area's topography, with neighbourhoods becoming increasing grid-like in the flatter bowl-like land around the Ravensbourne River, and residential development giving way to parks and industrial River at Catford land in the flood zones. River at Deptford 46 Fig 20 waterways and indicative floodzones Waterways Flood zone 3 Flood zone 2 LEWISHAM CHARACTERISATION STUDY December 2018 47 3.4 LANDSCAPE, GREEN SPACE AND TREES 3.4.1 Green spaces are plentiful and diverse and contribute greatly to Lewisham's character, both through their form and recreational function, as well as by opening up views. Neighbourhoods often have a strong relationship with a local park. 3.4.2 Green space is distributed relatively evenly across the borough, including a number of large spaces at or just across the boundary which have a regional impact. These are Blackheath, Beckenham Place Park and Dulwich Park. 3.4.3 Corridors of green space are located along the railway lines and Ravensbourne valley and offer important habitats for wildlife. 3.4.4 Street trees play an important role in shaping local character. An analysis of existing trees with the Borough could be prepared to inform where further planting could contribute positively to the local character and identify which species would be appropriate and look at how different species impact on the street environment and review this against character area boundaries. 3.4.5 Consideration is needed as to the role parkland plays in Lewisham's character and how this can be maintained, as well as the role of green space for climate change, air quality and flood prevention. Fig 21 Tree coverage in the borough 48 Fig 22 Green spaces Allotments or community growing spaces Public Park or Garden Bowling Green Religious grounds Cemetery Tennis Court Golf Course Green Corridor Other sports facility Urban Green Space Play space Playing field LEWISHAM CHARACTERISATION STUDY December 2018 49 3.5 TRANSPORT 3.5.1 The principle vehicular routes reflect the historic pattern of routes through the borough. The A21 is an important spine road with major east to west routes including the South Circular. 3.5.2 The railway lines are a defining characteristic of the borough and fan from termini in central London. The lines are shaped by topography and act as physical markers in the landscape which can act as barriers locally. They heavily influenced how the borough developed. 3.5.3 A number of stations are very close to each other which was the product of rivalry between private railway entrepreneurs in the mid 19th century. The density of stations reduces in the south of the borough and there are significant areas with low public transport accessibility between Grove Park and Catford. 3.5.4 There is good accessibility to rail lines to the north of the borough although this is far less true around Deptford Park. The newer overground connections have improved accessibility into and out of London, and the future Bakerloo line extension will relieve congestion on existing public transport routes and offer new opportunities for growth. Fig 23 Existing borough PTAL rating - a low number indicating very poor transport accessibility and a high number indicating excellent transport accessibility 50 Fig 24 Transport network Overground Thames footpath DLR Waterlink pedestrian path Rail lines A Road Rail station B Road Cycleway Path LEWISHAM CHARACTERISATION STUDY December 2018 51 3.6 URBAN MORPHOLOGY AND BUILDING HEIGHTS 3.6.1 The density and grain of development reflects the history and evolution of the borough. The plan opposite shows how the grain of development varies across the borough. 3.6.2 The ratio of building to space is an indicator of character. Densely packed buildings are located at local centres and along primary routes. These contrast with the clearly defined Victorian and Edwardian Streets and less formal layouts of newer estates and industrial areas. 3.6.3 There is a more uniform and less compact urban grain to the south, compared with the northern tip around Deptford Wharf and New Cross where there is a great variety of block sizes and general grain. 3.6.4 There is a relatively low prevailing scale across Lewisham, with clusters of taller buildings focused along primary corridors and A roads. The densification of older town centres has resulted in taller buildings like at Forest Hill and Lewisham. 3.6.5 To the south, newer areas of the borough around Downham and Bellingham have very few buildings over four storeys. Fig 25 Figure ground 52 Fig 26 building heights (metres) 0.0-4.6 4.6-7.4 7.4-10.3 10.3-17.0 17.0-29.3 29.3-65.2 LEWISHAM CHARACTERISATION STUDY December 2018 53 3.7 VIEWS AND LANDMARKS 3.7.1 The borough topography rises gently southwards 3.7.6 Lewisham's current local plan (policy CS17) from the Thames, and up the slopes of the identifies seven views, generally from public Ravensbourne valley. There are numerous spaces within the borough. These are to be mounds and hillocks, represented in such maintained by resisting large scale, bulky names as Forest Hill, Sydenham Hill, Vicars developments close to the edges of the parks or Hill, Hillyfields, Belmont Hill, Westwood Hill at the foreshore in Deptford. The views are: and Telegraph Hill. These places afford views across the borough and sometimes beyond, to • LV 1 Horniman Gardens City cluster Greenwich, Crystal Palace, Canary Wharf and • LV2 Blythe Hill to Canary Wharf the City of London. The new towers springing • LV 3 Hilly Fields up at Battersea and Vauxhall can also be seen. • LV4 Telegraph Hill – to Vauxhall and Canary Wharf 3.7.2 Lewisham has only a short frontage on the • LV5 Mountsfield Park – towards Catford and Thames but its concave shape provides a Sydenham Ridge substantial river prospect, taking in the Isle of • LV 6 Forster Memorial Park - to Crystal Palace Dogs and the Greenwich waterfront. radio mast and the ridge • LV 7 Thames Foreshore, Deptford A 180 3.7.3 The value of views is threefold: degree river prospect taking in the Isle of Dogs, Deptford Creek and Greenwich • To enable people to enjoy the qualities of cherished landmarks; • To aid wayfinding, by being able to relate to familiar features on the skyline; and • To strengthen the distinctiveness of places, helping to show their relationship to one another. 3.7.4 There are a variety of views experienced within or across the borough. Some are panoramas, such as the wide sweep across the townscape from a hilltop. Other views may be channelled between buildings or trees.