The Planning Board of Greenwich Council met on Tuesday 21 July 2026 to discuss several planning applications. The board resolved to refuse planning permission for the redevelopment of the STC Ivor Grove Sports Club, granted permission for the temporary use of land on Greenwich Peninsula for an event space, and approved the redevelopment of garage sites on Sewell Road for residential dwellings.

STC Ivor Grove Sports Club, Ivor Grove, Eltham, London, SE9 2AJ

The Planning Board refused full planning permission for the demolition of existing sports club buildings and the redevelopment of associated sports fields to facilitate the erection of 205 new homes. The proposal also included the retention of the existing bowls lawn and the erection of a new bowls clubhouse, along with associated open space, community pavilion, landscaping, parking, and access.

The refusal was based on five key reasons:

• Inappropriate development on Metropolitan Open Land (MOL): The substantial residential redevelopment of designated MOL, including extensive built form and associated urbanising development, was deemed inappropriate and harmful to the openness and character of the land. The applicant failed to demonstrate very special circumstances to outweigh this harm. This conflicted with Royal Greenwich Local Plan Policies OS1, OS2, and OS(a), London Plan Policy G3, and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
• Loss of playing field land and sports provision: The development would result in the loss of valued sports and recreational facilities without demonstrating they were surplus to requirements or that equivalent or better provision would be secured. This contravened Royal Greenwich Local Plan Policies OS1, OS2, OS3, and OS(a), London Plan Policies S5 and G4, and the NPPF.
• Loss of community facilities: The demolition of existing community facilities, including the pavilion and sports pitches, was deemed unacceptable without demonstrating they were no longer required, that equivalent or better replacement provision would be made, or that the existing facilities were unsuitable for continued use. This conflicted with Royal Greenwich Local Plan Policy CH(a), London Plan Policy S1, and the NPPF.
• Inadequate daylight assessment: The applicant's failure to provide a robust daylight assessment appropriate to the site's open context meant it could not be demonstrated that future occupiers would receive adequate daylight, contrary to Royal Greenwich Local Plan Policy H5, London Plan Policy D6, and the NPPF.
• Failure to secure off-site mitigation: The applicant's failure to agree necessary terms for the full funding, timing, phasing, and delivery of off-site sporting facility mitigation, including addressing upfront VAT costs and pre-commencement triggers, meant there was insufficient certainty that the mitigation would be secured before the loss of on-site facilities and MOL function. This conflicted with several Royal Greenwich Local Plan and London Plan policies, as well as the NPPF.

The decision to refuse was unanimous among the Planning Board members.

Land to the east of East Parkside, south of Edmund Halley Way and west of Olympian Way ('Plot 20.02'), Greenwich Peninsula SE10

Full planning permission was granted for the temporary use of land for up to 10 years for the installation of an event space/structure and associated works to create a venue for shows and events, including immersive interactive entertainments (Sui Generis use class). This decision was subject to the satisfactory completion of a Section 106 legal agreement and conditions set out in Appendix 2. The proposal was considered acceptable in principle due to its temporary nature, the associated benefits including regeneration of an underutilised site, employment opportunities, and the attraction of visitors to the borough. The use class was deemed to align with the wider Greenwich Peninsula area, which already hosts similar uses.

Garage Sites Opposite to 48 - 53 Sewell Road SE2 9XW & 23 Ampleforth Road SE2 9BD - 17 Sewell Road SE2 9XN

Full planning permission was granted for the redevelopment of two sites comprising residential dwellings (Use Class C3), associated landscaping, parking, and storage. The development, brought forward by Meridian Home Start, will provide 100% affordable homes, all as Discount Market Rent intermediate units. The scheme includes 21 three-bedroom, five-person dwellings across two blocks. This decision was subject to the satisfactory completion of a Section 111 legal agreement and conditions set out in Appendix 2. The proposal was considered acceptable due to its regeneration of underutilised brownfield sites, the delivery of much-needed affordable housing, and its generally acceptable impact on neighbouring amenity and the local highway system.

The meeting also confirmed the minutes of previous Planning Board meetings held on 24 February 2026 and 14 April 2026.