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Yellow Book Charity Open Garden weekend best yet - report here

Four very different gardens in Forest Hill, SE23 were open to the public for the National Garden Scheme (NGS) on 24th and 25th May. 270 visitors raised £2000 for charity. The NGS raises over £2 million each year, mostly for cancer and home nursing charities.

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Planning decision leaves residents stunned

packed meeting

At a packed Lewisham Planning Committee meeting on 22nd  May, Councillors made the extraordinary decision to permit the demolition of a house that is one of a semi-detached pair in Tewkesbury Avenue and to replace it with one almost three times the size of the original.  It’s an extraordinary proposal which has been submitted to Channel 4’s Grand Designs programme.

numerous applications

The owner has submitted a number of planning applications to redevelop the house.  One made in 2007 was rejected on grounds that included its excessive size, its failure to relate to the host building or the street scene, and the fact that a proposed first floor roof terrace to the rear would result in unacceptable overlooking and loss of privacy to neighbouring occupiers.

So when a new application was made late last year for a redevelopment that would include many of the features of the previous application but with a second floor roof terrace in place of the one on the first floor, neighbours were understandably concerned and submitted their objections to the Council.  The Association objected on grounds of over-development, overlooking, and the fact that the proposed house was out of character with its neighbours.  However, following discussions with the Council, the owner then realised that the proposed development would, effectively, replace all the original house, and so submitted a further proposal to demolish and rebuild it.  Unbelievably, the planning officer responsible for the application decided to recommend acceptance of the proposal to demolish the house.

few council planning committee members present

Only four of the ten Lewisham Planning Committee members were present at the meeting to consider the two applications for the property: the Chair of the Committee, Dean Walton (Green, Brockley), Mark Bennett (Lib Dem, Blackheath), David Edgerton (Lib Dem, Lewisham Central), and Mark Morris (Lib Dem, Downham).  All five Labour members, and one Conservative member of the Committee were absent.  Around 20 local residents were there to support representatives submitting objections and to watch local democracy in action.

Following a presentation on behalf of the applicant, objections were put forward by three residents, including one on behalf of the Association.  They gave many valid reasons to refuse both applications, and had identified numerous flaws in the paper recommending acceptance prepared by planning officers.  During the course of debate on the proposals, which lasted for more than an hour, further objections were identified in presentations by our Ward Councillors, John Russell and Philip Peake.  The arguments in favour of rejecting the applications appeared overwhelming.

residents stunned

Eventually Cllr. Mark Morris formally put a motion to reject both applications.  This was supported by David Edgerton, but opposed by Mark Bennett.  With two to one supporting rejection it appeared that they would be refused until the Chair, Dean Walton cast his vote in favour of the applications.  It was now two in favour of rejection and two against.  What would happen next?  Answer – the Chair would now use his casting vote against the motion for refusal thus throwing out the motion by a majority of three to two!  Now a proposal to accept the applications was made by Mark Bennett and supported by the Chair.  The two other councillors voted for refusal but again the Chair used his casting vote to support the applications resulting in them being passed.  The applicants were clearly surprised – and unsurprisingly jubilant.  The residents were left stunned, feeling that they had watched as a decision was reached which appeared to go against most of the evidence presented at the Committee, and as a result of the voting strength of one Councillor.

Residents are considering what steps, if any, can be taken.  Lewisham’s Building Control Department, who had not been formally approached about the application, now have to approve the plans in detail and the methods that will be used to build the new house without endangering other properties, including the other semi which, after underpinning in the past, stands on a common concrete raft with the property that is to be demolished.

future implications

This sort of over-development clearly has implications for everyone living on the Estate.  We will keep you updated on the situation.