The committee granted planning permission for the construction of eight new homes at 27 Longton Avenue in Sydenham, and for a mixed-use development comprising of eight flats at 52 Deptford Broadway. The committee also noted the minutes of their previous meeting, which took place on 15 October 2024.

27 Longton Avenue

Planning permission was granted for the demolition of existing buildings at the site, and the construction of a four-storey building containing eight maisonettes.

The application site is on the southern side of Longton Avenue, which is a road characterised by a mixture of large detached and semi-detached houses.

The application had been called in to the committee because it was the subject of 15 objections from local residents. These objections were mostly focused on the scale and design of the building, which some residents felt was not in keeping with the character of the road. They also expressed concerns about the loss of the former family home on the site, which had been demolished in October 2023 after a 2020 prior approval for its demolition was granted. However, this concern is not a material planning consideration¹.

Despite these objections, the committee agreed with the officers' recommendation to approve the scheme, subject to a number of conditions and the completion of a Section 106 Legal Agreement².

The planning officer’s report noted that the principle of residential development at the site was acceptable, as it is in a sustainable location and contributes to meeting the need for housing in the borough. The report also noted that the proposal would provide eight family-sized dwellings, which are in short supply in Lewisham. The report concluded that the design of the scheme was of a high quality and would not harm the character or appearance of the area, and that the impact on the amenity of neighbouring residents would be acceptable.

The committee discussed the concerns raised by local residents, but ultimately concluded that the benefits of the scheme outweighed the harms. The committee was particularly persuaded by the fact that the scheme would provide much-needed family housing in a sustainable location.

52 Deptford Broadway

Planning permission was granted for the partial demolition of the existing building, and the construction of a mixed-use development that will include a shop and eight flats.

The application site is on the north side of Deptford Broadway, and includes a building that was formerly occupied by First Step Daycare & Nursery Ltd. The nursery closed in April 2023, and the building has been vacant since that time.

This application had been called in to the committee due to objections from local residents and the Deptford Society, an amenity society that campaigns for the conservation of the Deptford High Street & St Pauls Conservation Area. Residents raised a number of concerns about the scheme, particularly about its scale and design. They felt that the scheme was too big for the site, and that it would harm the character of the conservation area and the setting of a number of listed buildings nearby. The Deptford Society raised similar concerns, and also argued that the design of the scheme was inappropriate. The society argued that the proposal's roofline and the addition of balconies to the building were particularly incongruous.

Despite these concerns, the committee agreed with the officer's recommendation to approve the scheme, subject to the prior completion of a Section 106 legal agreement and a number of conditions. The committee agreed that the principle of development at the site was acceptable, as it would bring a vacant building back into use and provide much-needed housing in a sustainable location. The committee also agreed that the design of the scheme was of a high quality and would not cause unacceptable harm to the character or appearance of the area.

The committee discussed the concerns raised by the objectors, and in particular the impact on the setting of the nearby listed buildings. The committee heard from the officers that the impact on the setting of the listed buildings had been carefully assessed, and that it had been concluded that any harm caused would be less than substantial³.

In reaching its decision, the committee placed weight on the fact that the development would provide nine units of housing in a sustainable location that is close to public transport. The committee also considered the benefits of bringing a vacant building back into use, and the contribution that the development would make to the local economy.