The Planning Committee (Smaller Applications) of Southwark Council met on Tuesday 30 June 2026 to discuss two planning applications. The meeting's agenda included proposals for the demolition and replacement of a dining hall at Alleyn's School and the construction of ancillary accommodation at 67A Upland Road.

Alleyn's School, Townley Road, London SE22 8SU

The committee was scheduled to consider a full planning application for the demolition of the existing dining hall at Alleyn's School and its replacement with a new, part one, two, and three-storey education building. This new facility was planned to provide two dining halls, flexible classrooms, meeting rooms, breakout spaces, a main assembly hall for 220 pupils, an energy centre, and a roof terrace. The proposal was not intended to increase the number of pupils at the school.

The report pack indicated that the demolition of the current 1960s dining hall was justified on grounds of sustainability, site constraints, and heritage and design considerations. The existing building was described as unable to be retrofitted to meet modern energy or space standards, whereas the replacement would be fully electric, remove gas use, cut operational carbon emissions, and form part of the school's wider decarbonisation strategy. The site's limitations due to Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) designation meant little scope for retaining the existing building while providing the required facilities elsewhere. The existing building was noted as unlisted, outside the Dulwich Village Conservation Area, and of limited architectural quality, meaning there was no heritage objection to its loss. The replacement building was presented as being of significantly higher design quality and sustainability performance.

Concerns raised by objectors included overdevelopment of the site, with the building considered too large and tall, and potential impacts on the residential character of the area. Issues of loss of amenity for neighbours, including overlooking, loss of privacy, overshadowing, and loss of daylight/sunlight, were also noted. Existing school-related traffic and parking pressures were a concern, with fears that the proposal would worsen these issues. Operational noise from users, plant, servicing, and refuse, as well as construction impacts, were also raised. Concerns were also expressed regarding a new entrance on Hillsboro Road and related security/safeguarding issues, loss of trees, failure to achieve biodiversity objectives, impact on local heritage assets, and increased refuse and servicing.

Support comments highlighted the need for the development due to outdated and unattractive current facilities. The proposed building was architecturally supported and considered a positive addition to the street and townscape, with improved energy efficiency and facilities for pupils and the wider community.

The principle of the development was considered acceptable as no change of use was proposed and there was no intensification of use by increasing pupil numbers. A Community Use Agreement was to be secured via a Section 106 agreement to ensure the new facilities could be hired by the wider community.

The report recommended granting planning permission, subject to conditions and the completion of a Section 106 agreement. Conditions were proposed covering approved plans, time limits, submission of a Demolition and Construction Environmental Management Plan (DCEMP), details of tree planting, Secured by Design measures, bat boxes, façade and window openings, roof maintenance access, parapet treatment, external facing materials, cycle storage, hard and soft landscaping, roof terrace usage hours, refuse storage, plant noise limits, and kitchen extraction and ventilation systems. The Section 106 agreement was to cover a Community Use Agreement, an updated School Travel Plan, Section 278 works, a financial contribution for carbon emissions, and contributions for tree planting and monitoring.

67A Upland Road, Southwark SE22 0DA

The committee was also scheduled to consider a full planning application for the demolition of the existing garage at 67A Upland Road and the construction of a two-storey building to provide ancillary accommodation to the host dwellinghouse at No. 67C Upland Road, known as 'Niwa House'.

The principle of development in land use terms was considered acceptable. Neighbour concerns were raised regarding whether the garage/outbuilding could be considered ancillary to the main dwelling, given its physical separation by a shared access road. However, the assessment concluded that despite this separation, the use of the garage as an outbuilding was ancillary to the primary use of the land as a C3 dwellinghouse. To ensure the proposed development remained ancillary, a unilateral undertaking was to be required to link the two sites and prevent its use as a separate dwelling.

The existing garage structure, dating from the 1980s, was noted as having little heritage or design value, and the site was not listed or within a conservation area. The streetscape was described as predominantly Victorian terraces and semi-detached houses, but with substantial alterations and infill developments of varying styles, meaning no single defining style existed in the locality. The proposed structure would increase the footprint of the existing garage and add a storey with a setback. The design included a pitched roof towards the gardens on Friern Road and a stepped roof to the rear. The ground floor would remain a garage, with the first floor containing two rooms. A planning condition to secure samples of high-quality external facing materials was recommended. The design and massing were considered compatible with the varied streetscape, with mitigation proposed through the condition for external materials.

Regarding neighbouring amenity, privacy impacts were considered likely to be acceptable, subject to a condition that the rearward-facing first-floor window be fixed shut and obscure glazed. Daylight and sunlight assessments indicated compliance with BRE guidance, with limited impacts on garden sunlight considered acceptable in an urban context. Reductions in openness and outlook for neighbouring properties were also considered acceptable, with design features such as a stepped roof and existing built form relationships taken into account.

The proposal was exempt from Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements. The application site contained no trees, but a condition was recommended to ensure foundation design accommodated the growth of a tree at No. 26 Friern Road. A green roof was proposed, offering visual relief and aiding in reducing surface water runoff.

Transport and highways impacts were deemed acceptable, with no material change to highway or pedestrian safety anticipated. Air quality was considered acceptable, with the development deemed air quality neutral. Noise and vibration impacts were expected to be limited to typical enjoyment of a home. Fire safety was addressed by a submitted planning fire safety strategy, and energy and sustainability were considered acceptable, with the development to be constructed to the latest building regulations. Ground conditions and contamination were also considered acceptable, with a condition for unexpected contamination.

The recommendation was to grant planning permission, subject to conditions and the applicant completing a unilateral undertaking. Conditions were proposed for approved plans, time limits, foundation design, external facing materials, obscure glazing for the rearward window, the green roof, and land contamination. The unilateral undertaking was to ensure the outbuilding/garage remained ancillary to the dwellinghouse to the rear.

An addendum report provided clarifications and amendments to the main reports for both items. For Alleyn's School, a condition regarding roof terrace usage was amended to restrict it to weekdays only. For 67A Upland Road, clarifications were made regarding the site's planning history and the applicant's intentions for the ancillary accommodation, and a condition for the green roof was amended to remove the specific requirement for it to be wildflower-focused.