Green light for new flats

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter

Plans for a new terrace of houses in Eltham have been approved.

The project, approved by Greenwich council, will see the nine three-storey houses being built in the car park of a Co-op supermarket in Footscray Road, Eltham.

The homes, designed by Belmont Property, would each include three double bedrooms and flat roofs with aluminium features.

The topic was discussed at a planning meeting for Greenwich council on Tuesday. Council officers said in their report that the developer had been refused permission by the Co-op to use the existing car park for construction vehicles.

The applicant has reportedly sent a construction management plan to the council to ensure no neighbouring properties will be affected by the works.

A representative of Belmont Property said at the meeting: “There will be noise and air quality and dust management monitoring devices that will have to be located on site, and if any of the levels are triggered, then effectively we would have to stop works and identify what the problem was.”

The plans received 45 objections from neighbours between the original submission and the revised construction management plan. One resident claimed the new houses looked like a ‘prison’.

Another objection from the council’s documents said: “The development would reduce safety, result in an increase in crime and antisocial behaviour.

“The bin store would result in an environmental nuisance and would attract vermin. How would it be ensured that residents would dispose of their waste properly?”

Planning documents for the scheme said the project had been revised following public feedback to improve security for the bin store and to increase the size of green areas outside.

Council officers added that the planned bin stores were suitable for the houses and the homes would likely reduce antisocial behaviour in the area.

They added: “The development has been designed sympathetically, providing good-quality design. The use of light-coloured brickwork for the walls, with render and stonework for architectural details, is considered to be acceptable.

“The design of the openings is also considered to be appropriate. Overall, it is considered that the design approach would be acceptable for the siting of the development and the character of the area would not be harmed by the proposed development.”

Pictured top: A CGI of the new homes (Picture: Tony Fretton Architects/Belmont Property)