Residents urged to ‘have your say’ over plans for more than 27,000 new Lewisham homes
By Grainne Cuffe, local democracy reporter
Lewisham Council is hoping that 27,267 new homes will be built across the borough by 2040, with more than 12,000 in the north of the borough.
The council is consulting on its draft local plan, which sets out its long-term development strategy until 2040.
The final version is expected to be adopted by the council between summer and autumn of 2022.
It includes locations earmarked as having potential for new homes.
The draft London Plan set a housing target for Lewisham of 1,667 units a year – that means 16,670 homes completed between 2020 and 2030.
The plan, which will feed into planning decisions, is divided into central, north, east, south, and west.
The north includes North Deptford, Deptford and New Cross – the council’s housing target for the area is 12,497.
Key objectives for the area include securing the Bakerloo Line extension, ensuring the future of the Millwall Stadium, and protecting parks and open spaces, which is an area of concern for residents.
The central area includes Lewisham, Catford and Hither Green and has a target of 7,901 new homes.
Key objectives for this area include re-routing the South Circular to enable the redevelopment of Catford town centre and turning the A21 corridor into a ‘healthy street’ by improving safety around cycling and walking.
The east includes Blackheath, Lee and Grove Park and has a target of 1,298.
The Grove Park Neighbourhood Forum aims to turn the land from the South Circular to past Elmstead Woods Railway Station into the ‘Railway Children Urban National Park’, a new district park for Lewisham, though it is not mentioned in the plan.
However, key objectives include protecting and enhance the “linear network of open and green spaces, along with improving public access to them”.
The housing target in the south area, which includes Bellingham, Downham and Bell Green, is between 2,228 and 4,521.
The council says it plans to invest in the Bell Green and Lower Sydenham area to “enable it to become a London Plan Opportunity Area”, meaning it wants to increase capacity for development in these areas.
It also plans to redevelop the former gasholders and Bell Green Retail Park.
The west includes Telegraph Hill, Brockley, Ladywell, Crofton Park, Honor Oak, Blythe Hill, Forest Hill, Sydenham Hill and Sydenham. The housing target for the area is 1,049.
One of the key objectives for west Lewisham is securing the delivery of the Brockley station interchange, a proposed interchange between the East London line and the Lewisham-Victoria line.
To check out and comment on the plans go here: https://lewishamlocalplan.commonplace.is/
Councilor Paul Bell, cabinet member for housing and planning, said it is “crucial” that residents’ views are reflected in the plans.
He said: “The more people who get involved now, the better the council will be able to respond to the aspirations of our diverse communities.
“Make sure you take this opportunity to read up on the plans for your local area and have your say.”
Residents can comment on the plans on Commonplace, while the council will be holding a series of online events to consult with residents.
These events will be held on:
- Tuesday 23 Feb, 5.30pm – 7pm, Infrastructure (Community and Transport)
- Monday 1 March, 5.30pm -7pm, Central Area (1st session)
- Tuesday 2 March, 5.30pm -7pm, North Area (1st session)
- Thursday 4 March, 5.30pm -7pm, East Area (1st session)
- Monday 8 March, 5.30pm -7pm, South Area (1st session)
- Tuesday 9 March, 5.30pm -7pm, West Area (1st session)
- Thursday 11 March, 5.30pm -7pm, Central Area (2nd session)
- Monday 15 March, 5.30pm -7pm, North Area (2nd session)
- Tuesday 16 March, 5.30pm -7pm, East Area (2nd session)
- Wednesday 17 March, 5.30pm -7pm, South Area (2nd session)
- Thursday 18 March, 5.30pm -7pm, West Area (2nd session
Sign up here: https://consultation.lewisham.gov.uk/planning/lpo/
This phase of community consultation will end on April 11.