NEWSLETTER SPRING 2019 GLA TELLS LEWISHAM TO REJECT PLANS FOR TESCO SITE The Greater London Authority neighbours immediately affected. has told Lewisham Council Now, after a statutory review, to reject Meyer Homes’ the GLA last month instructed application to build 365 Lewisham to reject this because homes on the former Tesco of insufficient affordable housing, car park at Conington Road, despite Meyer’s offer to increase it to 25% from 20%. Both Lewisham overruling a narrow Council and the GLA have targets of 50%. committee decision to The Blackheath Society has approve the scheme. continually objected to this The project to build three blocks, development, partly because of the including a 34-storey tower low level of genuinely affordable (seen right) was approved in a housing, and we support the GLA 4-3 vote by Lewisham’s Strategic decision, which Meyer can appeal. Planning Committee at the second thought most unlikely it will give up In April 2018 the Lewisham time of asking last December, trying to develop this site. committee unanimously rejected despite offering little benefit for a very similar scheme on a range Meyer increased its affordable Lewisham residents. of grounds and Meyer lodged housing offer to 25% on a time- Its obvious drawbacks included an appeal due to be heard this limited basis in the hope of having a very low affordable housing summer. the application approved before a content, no solid justification for doubling of the London Mayor’s It remains to be seen whether the extreme height, inadequate Community Infrastructure Levy the developer will pursue appeals addressing of Lewisham station from the start of April, which would on one or both refusals but it is access and poor consultation with significantly increase its costs. HIGHLIGHTS Society events abound Major planning issues Painted Hall reopens Page 2 Page 3 Page 7 Page 2 | SOCIETY EVENTS PLANNING DEVELOPMENTS | Page 3 FULL PROGRAMME OF EIGHT EVENTS PLANNED FOR SOCIETY PLANNING GROUP again TACKLES MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS The Society is again organising TUESDAY 21MAY AT 12:30PM WEDNESDAY 3 JULY - Walk and The previous Newsletter highlighted some 2014 Plan, and both these plans are due for review. Meet and Eat at The Hare and Talk - an evening walk along a full programme of events major developments in and around Blackheath. It could be that we will see the onward march of very Billet. Join members for a drink or the Thames. Enjoy a summer tall buildings right into the centre of Lewisham over over the next few months: As it turned out, the Planning Group was faced a meal and a chat. All are welcome. evening with members. We meet the next few years, perhaps bringing better and more at Greenwich Pier to take the 1800 with a “perfect storm” of major developments THURSDAY 25 APRIL - Walk and WEDNESDAY 12 JUNE AT 11:30AM modern facilities, but also greater pressure on the local Greenwich Clipper downstream to Talk: Spring in Oxleas Wood and Walk and Talk to Wimbledon Lawn requiring significant attention over the infrastructure, services and environment. Woolwich, or at Woolwich (Royal views from Severndroog Castle Tennis Club and museum. Christmas period. We can be proud of the Arsenal) Pier at 1830. We will then KIDBROOKE STATION SQUARE (below). Mary Bright, a Society Join us to go behind the scenes at Group’s ability to rise fully to this challenge and walk, construction work permitting, member and trustee of Severndroog Wimbledon All England Tennis Club. In Greenwich we have been examining two major along the river path to Greenwich give these issues proper scrutiny. Castle, will lead a stimulating walk The 90 minute tour will cover part schemes of great complexity - the detailed plans for Peninsula finishing with a drink through the woods among the of the grounds and include Centre its Kidbrooke Station Square and for a new Greenwich at The Pilot. Freedom Passes and TESCO CAR PARK bluebells. We have special access to Court, the broadcasting booths and International School in Eltham Road. We have submitted Oyster cards can be used for the One of them, the battle over the Tesco Car Park site, is the Castle where walkers will hear hospitality suite as they prepare for extensive comments on both and await the next stage boat trip to obtain discounts and covered on the front page. Planning sources have told about its history, view a display and the summer tournament. Tickets of the process. the price is about £4.40. the Newsletter that the current aging Lewisham Tesco climb the tower for the amazing cost £20. Please contact the office, store itself may close to allow development of its site The Station Square involves six towers, with heights views. The café will also be open. and you will be advised about our which lies between the refused Conington Road car up to 24 storeys and great density, 650 units and over Numbers are limited, so please let travel plans. There is a café on site. 1,000 residents in a small rather isolated plot. Unlike the office know if you plan to come. park scheme and Lewisham Road. the plans for Lewisham, these do offer significant Donations of £5 to the Society on In Lewisham town centre, discussion continued on affordable housing, which means the development will joining the walk please. approving details of the huge Gateway scheme (below carry significant political weight. in an architect’s plan), with its further five blocks including two very tall ones and two massive conjoined However, we believe the plans need further blocks on the site of the old traffic roundabout. This examination and improvement. Apart from the overall WEDNESDAY 10 JULY AT 12:30PM has general approval after discussions over many years. concern about heights, massing and density, we do Meet and Eat: at The Hare and not believe they deal adequately with: concerns about Billet. Join members for a drink or pollution on the site, the need for firm plans for TUESDAY 25 JUNE AT 7 FOR 7.30PM a meal and a chat. All are welcome. infrastructure, especially transport connections, and The Society AGM. See page 11. crucially the issue of proper access. This is essential CALLING ALL MEMBERS if it is to become a truly integral part of the overall TUESDAY 25 JUNE - Walk and Talk to If you would like to get more Kidbrooke scheme, as envisaged. WEDNESDAY 15 MAY - Walk and St John’s Park and tour of the Trinity involved with the Society, please Greenwich International School plans over 800 pupils Talk: The writers of Hampstead. Laban Dance Centre in Deptford. feel free to step forward. on the Bowring Sports Club site off Eltham Road, which Robert Maurice Williams will lead This is a morning in two parts and Volunteers are always welcome is Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) and a flood plain. members past the beautiful homes you are welcome to do whatever for as much or as little time as of literary residents of Hampstead. suits you. We meet at 1000 on possible to take part in the Society’s We are not competent to judge the need for schooling We will see the house (below), the footbridge at Elverson Road wide range of activities. You can of this type. Our input was to query the adequacy of where Samuel Taylor Coleridge DLR station and will walk through talk about possibilities at any of our the case for significant additional development on retreated to recover from his opium St John’s Park to Deptford Bridge events, as Committee members will MOL, to highlight continuing concerns about dealing addiction, which was later lived in and the Laban Centre. At 1100 we be present, or you may contact the with issues around the flood plain and to challenge the by J.B. Priestley and now home to gather at the reception to the Laban office directly. analysis of the severe traffic issues which could result Centre for a guided tour. from this scheme, with its poor transport rating and Kate Moss. Meet at Hampstead Tube We are considering holding a Bike We continue to object to some of these details. In our access, less than 200 yards from a major junction. Station at 1030, the walk will be The building was designed and Kite Festival in September view the community element of the development is in 1997 by leading architects inadequate and a missed opportunity, as it could have 2020 which will need many helpers 29-35 TRANQUIL VALE Herzog & De Meuron, who were before, during and after the event. included a library, while the proposals for the detailed responsible for the redevelopment look of the scheme seem to be very garish and will not A smaller scale but significant application is the of Tate Modern. It was specifically The Village Christmas Lights and stand the test of time. It was gratifying that, although it plan to put three town houses behind this site in the designed for educating and training Christmas Tree Day on Saturday 7 was approved, this was subject to further discussion of Village. We do not object in principle to the idea of contemporary dance students. The December needs supporters and these details, to which we hope to contribute. development or to its modern character, but the scale tour includes areas not generally organisers. You do not need to be There are now strong rumours about redevelopment of what is planned raises a number of issues, and the open to the public. an electrician, climb up ladders or of the Lewisham Centre to take advantage of the new practicality of major construction work in a site with severely restricted access needs much more discussion.