The Strategic Planning Committee of Lewisham Council met on Thursday 24 September 2026, resolving to grant planning permission for a mixed-use development at 56-60 New Cross Road, London, SE14 5BD, subject to a legal agreement and conditions. The committee also resolved to refuse planning permission for the proposed redevelopment of the Former Lewisham College site at 1 Deptford Bridge, SE8, citing concerns over heritage, urban design, and the lack of a completed legal agreement.

56-60 New Cross Road, London, SE14 5BD (DC/25/141062)

The committee unanimously agreed to grant planning permission for the demolition of existing buildings and the construction of a part 8, part 11-storey development comprising a replacement church and 24 residential units. The decision included agreeing to refer the application to the Mayor of London for approval, authorising officers to negotiate a Section 106 legal agreement, and granting permission subject to conditions. Authority was also delegated to the Chief Planning Officer to refuse the application if a satisfactory legal agreement was not entered into by 24 September 2027.

The proposed development includes a new church with community facilities, including a café, crèche, and meeting rooms, alongside 24 residential units, of which 35% would be affordable housing. The design was considered to be of high quality and appropriate for the context, taking into account surrounding taller buildings and a previously consented development on the adjoining site. Arguments for the proposal highlighted its efficient use of a brownfield site, the delivery of much-needed housing, including family-sized homes, and the significant improvement to church and community facilities.

Former Lewisham College Site, 1 Deptford Bridge, SE8 (DC/25/139390)

The committee resolved to refuse planning permission for the proposed redevelopment of the Former Lewisham College site. The refusal was based on four primary reasons:

1. Heritage Harm: The proposed development's height, scale, massing, and siting were deemed to cause moderate harm to the significance of the Deptford High Street and St Paul's Church Conservation Area, and Grade II listed buildings at Tanners Hill, as well as low harm to the Deptford Creekside Conservation Area and Grade II listed buildings at Deptford Broadway and Carrington House. This harm was considered insufficient to be outweighed by the public benefits.
2. Urban Design and Townscape: The height, scale, massing, siting, layout, and design of Buildings A and B, along with the cumulative impact of taller structures, were considered to fail to respond appropriately to the character, townscape, and heritage context. Building B was noted as appearing dominant, creating an abrupt transition in scale, while Building A was seen as a visually prominent and incongruous feature. This was deemed contrary to local and national planning policies on character and appearance.
3. Section 106 Agreement: In the absence of a completed planning obligation under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, the proposal failed to secure necessary mitigation and planning obligations, making it unacceptable in planning terms.
4. Residential Amenity: The height, scale, and siting of Buildings C and D were considered to result in substantial reductions in daylight and sunlight to residential moorings on the Theatre Arm of Deptford Creek, causing unacceptable harm to living conditions and residential amenity.

Objectors raised concerns about the heritage impacts, the scale and massing of the buildings, the low provision of affordable housing, and the loss of daylight and sunlight to the houseboat community. The applicant's representatives argued that the development offered significant public benefits, including new homes and public realm improvements, and that the identified harms were outweighed by these benefits. However, the committee ultimately sided with the officer's recommendation for refusal.