Minutes:
Printed community updates were available at the Assembly and can be read below:
Community updates for Sydenham Assembly 5 October 2019
1 Planning issues
1.1 Our Lady and St Philip Neri School Construction
Update from Planning officers as of October
2019:
An application submitted under
Section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 was made valid
on 17 May 2019 to allow for the variation of Conditions (2) and (8)
in connection with planning permission dated 7 October 2016
DC/16/096041 as amended for the demolition of the existing
buildings at Our Lady and St Philip Neri Primary School, 208
Sydenham Road SE26 and the construction of a three storey school
building including a nursery, a multi-function sports court and a
running track, together with the creation of a formal pedestrian
access from Home Park, the provision of cycle and scooter spaces,
refuse storage and associated landscaping works to provide the
amalgamation of the Infant and Junior Schools, in order to allow
the following changes:
· Alterations to the materials
· Alterations to the fenestration pattern
· Increase in the height of the building
· Alterations to the roof profile
· Alterations to the siting of the building
· Installation of UKPN cabinets and planting on the corner of Sydenham Road and Fairlawn Park
· Reduction in the number of fins on the Hall building
· Installation of an internal ball fence to the playground on the flat roof of the Hall building
· Installation ventilation grilles
· Alterations to external lighting
· Alterations to extraction flue
· Alteration to playground canopies
· Alterations to nursery entrance
· Installation of an air-conditioning unit near the nursery entrance
· Alterations to the brick plinth
· Alterations to external plant store
The application is a section 73 ‘minor material amendment’ application, which allows for the merits of the scheme and an assessment of the scheme as built, plus any proposed alterations to be fully considered.
During the consultation period, 40 responses were received, comprising 10 objections, 29 support and 1 comment. Subsequently, a local meeting chaired by the Council was held on 8 July 2019, and in the event, 48 attendees were present.
The Planning Committee meeting on the 3rd October 2019 received a presentation on the details of the proposed scheme to vary the 2016 planning permission and details of the enforcement issues at the school.
The Archdioceses of Southwark was represented at the meeting by a planning agent. The agent addressed members, speaking against the officer recommendations to refuse planning permission and proceed with formal enforcement action. Two parents with children at OLSPN School (who were also local residents) addressed members, speaking against the recommendations. OLSPN’s Head Teacher also spoke against the recommendations.
Annabel McLaren, Chair of the Sydenham Society, spoke in favour of the recommendations, but stated that in her view the flexibility set out in the draft enforcement notice was too lenient. She contended the school should be demolished and re-built in accordance with the 2016 planning permission. Ms McLaren also spoke against the officer decision to support the retention of the as-built heights of the school building.
The Planning Team Leader noted that the two options set out in the draft enforcement notice were prepared the basis of legal advice received. Members voted to receive additional legal advice about the enforcement notice in an in-camera session. When the proceedings resumed in public, Members voted unanimously to support all three recommendations, as set out in the agenda package.
Officers will be issuing the planning refusal notice and the enforcement notice following a final legal review in the coming weeks.
1.2 Bell Green Gasholders
Following approval of the Prior Notification of Demolition
application in July 2018, the developer has satisfied conditions
attached to the approval and can therefore proceed with
demolition.
The developer (SGN) commenced demolition works in February 2019.
An application by the same developer to allow the vacant Toys R Us unit at Bell Green to become an Aldi food store was approved in November 2018.
The bowling green, associated with the Grade II Listed Livesey Hall, has been added to the listing description by Historic England (formerly English Heritage) at the suggestion of local residents. This was confirmed on 13th November 2018.
Update from
Planning officers October 2019:
At
the time of going to print, the gasholder structures remained in
place, however extensive underground works relating to the
demolition have been undertaken.
Officers are aware that some local residents and organisations, including the Sydenham Society, are advocating that SGN make use of voids resulting from the removal of the gas stores to bring forward an alternative energy proposal at the site, which may allow for the provision of geothermal energy and the subsequent provision of a district heat network in the Bell Green Area. Officers are awaiting the results of a study into geothermal energy generation at the site.
1.3
Bell Green and Lower
Sydenham Masterplan
The potential
transformation of Bell Green and Lower Sydenham has been identified
through the revised Character Study (due for consultation Jan 2019)
as part of the evidence base for the emerging Local Plan. Whilst
there has been no formal decision on preparing a masterplan for the
area, officers (with authority from the regeneration board) have
prepared a high level scoping report and are exploring potential
funding options such as the GLAs Homebuilding Capacity Fund.
Any decision to progress with a masterplan for the area will be
subject to M&C approval.
Officers have submitted a bid to the GLA through the Homebuilding Capacity Fund to prepare a masterplan for the area, and a decision is being awaited.
The Sydenham Society held a meeting on 12th September, attended by councillors and residents from all three wards affected (Bellingham, Sydenham and Perry Vale). The following observations were collated from the meeting:
· in order to avoid a piecemeal approach to the future development of the Bell Green area the Sydenham Society are working with Discourse Architecture to provide a framework for future development of the Bell Green area for the benefit of local residents and businesses.
· the area has many positives - the linear park, Home Park & Southend Park, the Livesey Memorial Hall and gasworks legacy, Sydenham Library. All these should be celebrated and enhanced.
· there are also many negatives: traffic dominates the area, there are inconvenient pedestrian crossings, poor public transport connections and inefficient land use.
· short term improvements could be: improved traffic flow, simplified pedestrian crossings, and wider pavements.
· in the medium term (2025-2035), and with changing shopping habits, the Bell Green retail park could change considerably - retail could be scaled back with the potential for residential development.
· there is the possibility of the Bakerloo Line coming to Lower Sydenham. This would give the opportunity of relocating Lower Sydenham Station and providing a new bus station.
· in the longer term (2035-50) there is an opportunity to completely re-design the retail park to provide homes and retail at street level.
1.4 154 Sydenham
Road
Peabody have been granted
planning permission. No pre-commencement conditions have been
formally submitted to the Council, whilst a start date for works
has not been confirmed to officers. The S106 has now been
completed. To date, no works have commenced on site.
1.5 138 Sydenham Road
– corner of Knighton Park Road
The ground floor commercial space has been granted a change of
use to a yoga studio and at present is vacant and full of
builder’s rubble as homes above now occupied.
1.6 Site on the corner of
Mayow Road and Berrymans Lane
This
is being reviewed by the development team at Lewisham Homes as one
of nearly 20 sites that will form the first wave of
Council/Lewisham Homes development in the 1,000 home programme.
Work is at an early stage.
1.7 Regents House, Cobbs
Corner (291-307 Kirkdale)
Officers
are largely supportive of the principle of development, subject to
matters including design, highways, affordable housing provision,
standard of accommodation, impact on Cobbs Corner Conservation Area
etc.
1.8 7A Kent House
Road
This is a commercial premises
with unauthorised residential use. Following a trial at Woolwich
Crown Court on 14 May, Mr Errol Lueshing, the owner of 7 Kent House
Road, was found guilty on all 6 counts under S179(2) of the Town
and Country Planning Act 1990. Sentencing has now been adjourned
until October, where a confiscation order under the Proceeds of
Crime Act will be made in addition to a fine and a costs award to
the Council. Counsel was Gary Pons of 5 St Andrews’
Hill.
With regards to the excavation of the basement of the premises, the owner of the premises submitted a planning application for a revised scheme in December 2018. However, officers refused to consider the application under powers set out in Section 70C of the Town and Country Planning Act (as the property is subject to the Enforcement Notice and it was not considered appropriate to determine the application whilst the Notice has not been complied with) and it was returned to the Applicant. The Planning Enforcement team are now considering further action in respect of the basement excavation.
1.9 30 Sydenham
Road
Objections have been raised to
the application for the redevelopment of 30 Sydenham Road, corner
of Newlands Park - revised plans submitted at the end of May. The
demolition of the existing building at 30 & 30 A Sydenham Road,
SE26, and the construction of a two-storey building comprising a
retail unit (Use Class A1) at ground floor level, and 3x one
bedroom, two person dwellings, together with provision of bicycle,
and refuse storage and associated works (Please note amended
commercial floor space, reduction in height, and reduction in size
of dwellings).
DC/19/111418: The demolition of the existing building at 30 & 30 A Sydenham Road, SE26, and the construction of a two-storey building comprising a retail unit (Use Class A1) at ground floor level, 2x one bedroom dwellings, and 1x two bedroom dwellings, together with provision of bicycle, and refuse storage and associated works.
Refused by officers on 12 July 2019 for the following reasons:
1) The proposed building, by reason of its excessive height, massing, multi-stepped front elevation and overall form and appearance, appears bulky and over-dominant,
resulting in an incongruous form of development that would be harmful to the existing
streetscape, the character of the Sydenham Thorpes Conservation Area and the
setting of the adjacent listed building, contrary to contrary to Policy 3.5 Quality and
design of housing developments, 7.4 Local character, 7.6 Architecture and 7.8
'Heritage Assets and archaeology of the London Plan (March 2016) (as amended),
Policy 15 High Quality Design for Lewisham and 16 Conservation areas, heritage
assets and the historic environment of the adopted Core Strategy (June 2011) and
Policy 30 Urban design and local character and 36 New development, changes of use
and alterations affecting designated heritage assets and their setting of the
Development Management Local Plan (November 2014).
2) The proposed building, by reason of its height and massing in relation to the front of the adjacent building, No. 32 Sydenham Road, would appear overbearing and result in an unacceptable harmful impact on outlook from the ground and first floor windows of that property, contrary to Policy 15 High Quality Design for Lewisham of the adopted
Core Strategy (June 2011), Policy 30 Urban Design and Local Character and Policy 32 Housing design, layout and space standards and Policy 36 New development,
changes of use and alterations affecting designated heritage assets and their setting:
conservation areas, listed buildings, schedule of ancient monuments and registered
parks and gardens of the Development Management Local Plan (November 2014).
Subsequently, a written representations appeal was received in September, and an Inspector’s decision is likely in the New Year.
2 Highways
2.1 Parking on Sydenham
Hill outside Bluebell Close.
The
consultation by LB Southwark on Bluebell Close/Sydenham Hill bus
lane has closed. We are in communication with Southwark, but are in
the process of responding to objections and other communications
received during the consultation period. It is expected that we
will be able to update residents regarding this consultation by the
end of this month at the latest.
2.2 Traffic calming on
Sydenham Hill
The outline design
for Sydenham Hill is currently under internal review.
Consultation is currently scheduled for May 2019, timed to commence
after the bus lane issues near Bluebell Close are
resolved.
2.3 Footbridge between
Sydenham Park Road and Dacres Road
Works to upgrade the Sydenham Park footbridge are scheduled to
start in summer 2020
2.4 Issues of
speeding
Although our roads have been made 20mph limit, speed surveys have
shown that a lot of drivers are ignoring it and driving too fast.
It is therefore planned to carry out further measures on the worst
“offending” roads to try and bring the speeds down to
those acceptable in a 20mph limit. The detailed designs for the
proposed measures are currently being developed and will include
physical traffic calming and extra signing etc. The designs will
vary from road to road.
Lewisham has now defined the top 30 roads to be treated under the 20mph programme. Further batches of roads will follow though, dependent on funding. Roads in Sydenham to be treated in this first batch are:
· Lawrie Park Ave north of Sheenewood
· Sydenham Road East of Highclere Street
· Trewsbury Road north of Allendale Close
· Kent House Road north of Hillmore Grove
· Newlands Park north of Tredown Road.
We continue to work with Transport for London and the Police on the Community Road Watch initiative.
We are in the process of agreeing the priority to be given to areas in the “Healthy Neighbourhood” programme. This programme will promote works to alleviate problems associated with through traffic diverting off the main and classified roads onto residential streets creating a fear of danger, reduced air quality, noise and discouraging people from walking or cycling. The first two or three neighbourhoods to be included in the first year of the programme will be included in the final version of the Local Implementation Plan, which will be published shortly. Areas not included in the first tranche will be reassessed for future work programmes.
2.5 Cobbs
Corner
The Cobbs Corner roundabout
is due to be replanted this autumn. The
plan for replanting the roundabout is scheduled for completion
during early November and will consist of plants identified as
being resistant to salt spray from the road surface.
3 Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL)
Fund
We have some money to spend for
Sydenham Ward. This funding, called the NCIL (Neighbourhood
Community Infrastructure Levy) Fund, is available to fund small
scale projects to improve the local area such as:
We want to know how you would like to see this money spent. You can tell us by going online and having your say here: https://sydenhamncilmap.commonplace.is/about . You can also see the comments and suggestions made by other people in your locality and show your support by liking or agreeing with these. Have your say now, by going to:
https://sydenhamncilmap.commonplace.is/about
Click View Sections and Comment
Click on Have your Say
Click on Map with Identify your Spending Priorities for NCIL in your Ward
Click on Have your Say
The online consultation will be used by Sydenham Assembly on 7 December to set our NCIL priorities. More details on the Assembly soon. Please share the consultation site link widely with all your contacts in Sydenham ward and remember that residents of other Lewisham wards can also have their say on how monies are spent in their wards. If you have trouble using the online consultation website, email laura.luckhurst@lewisham.gov.uk or call 07392 860155.
4 East
Sydenham Healthy Neighbourhood
The
proposed East Sydenham Healthy Neighbourhood covers the area
between Forest Hill, Sydenham and Lower Sydenham stations, and
includes the Bell Green retail park
(Sainsbury’s). See the map
below.
What is the Healthy Neighbourhood programme?
This programme will help make Lewisham’s diverse communities greener, healthier and more attractive places to live, work, play and do business. By restricting the through traffic that uses residential streets to avoid main roads, we will reduce congestion in your neighbourhood, improve air quality and make the local area more pleasant to walk and cycle through.
During the first stage of the programme, local residents will be able to access local traffic data, share their views on traffic issues and help identify schemes to address them, via the StreetBuilder website www.streetbuilder.io/eastsydenham and at a series of public events and workshops.
5 Community Energy Fund
Apply for
funding to help cut carbon emissions.
If you are part of a local community group and would like to cut
your energy bills, or help others to, you can apply for funding
through the Lewisham Community Energy Fund.
We are aiming to make Lewisham a carbon neutral borough by 2030. We are offering grants to groups looking to:
· generate renewable energy
· cut fuel consumption by adapting equipment already in use
· increase awareness and improve energy efficiency within your community.
For details and an application form go to: https://lewisham.gov.uk/mayorandcouncil/funding/apply-for-funding-to-help-cut-carbon-emissions or just go to the Lewisham home page and search Community Energy Fund.
6 Vibrant High Street
6.1 Sydenham Centre
Spontaneous Productions
Running till 20 October, Pinocchio.
Show(s) at 2pm & 4pm every Sat & Sun (no performances
Sat 5 or Sun 6 Oct)
Show lasts approximately 1 hour, suitable for families with
children of all ages.
Tickets £10 adults, £6 children aged 3+ (under
3’s free but must sit on laps), book online at
spontaneousproductions.co.uk, In person at Kirkdale Bookshop
– 272 Kirkdale, Sydenham SE26 4RS or tel: 020 8778
4701.
Starts
Friday 8 November, Frighteners
Seven
original short plays by playwrights including siblings Jonathan
Kaufman, Julian Kaufman and Lucy Kaufman, and members of
Jonathan’s advanced scriptwriting class, will be staged over
four nights Upstairs at the Sydenham Centre from Fri 8
November.
Including adaptations of classic tales by Dickens and Poe, expect shocks galore, creepy atmospheres and a growing sense of menace…you have been warned! Visit spontaneousproductions.co.uk or contact Jonathan Kaufman, at jonathan@sptheatre.co.uk .
Writing
workshops start again in September
ScriptHub Beginners – fortnightly Tue 10 Sept 2019 –
Tue 10 Dec 2019.
New members are very welcome, and no prior experience is
necessary.
ScriptHub Intermediate – fortnightly Tue 3 Sept – Tue 3 Dec.
Junior WriteClub – Sat 7 Sept 2019 for two terms of six sessions
For information on all workshops and to book, email: workshops@spontaneousproductions.co.uk or contact Jonathan Kaufman, at jonathan@sptheatre.co.uk .
Montage
Theatre Arts.
Mini Montage (Monday) and Mini Melodies (Friday)
Classes for ages 2 – 4. 10.45am – 11.30am £5.50
(£3 Concessions)
Sydenham
Arts
The Sydenham Arts Autumn
programme is available at www.sydenhamarts.co.uk/whats-on. Most events are based at the
Sydenham Centre, 44A Sydenham Road SE26 5QX unless otherwise
stated.
Join us for a Chamber concert on 12 October at St Barts school, with en-
SEmble26. Be spooked at a screening of Zombieland for Halloween and a screening
of Groundhog Day on 28 November. Nominated mercury prize winner, Michele
Stodart, will be performing at St Barts on 16 November. Finally, we will hold a
Christmas family screening of Home Alone on 12 December.
We really need your help!
Thank you to all of you who have already donated to us, we are very grateful.
We have nearly reached a third of our target of £15,000 for the year. This is to
plug the gap left by losing our core funding by Lewisham main grants. As a
registered charity (no. 1161590) we can claim Gift Aid on donations. This means
a monthly donation of £6 would actually provide us with £7.50 a month towards
our running costs. If you are thinking of supporting us, please do so now at www.sydenhamarts.co.uk/donate/ . Small donations of between £5 and £20 a month
will help to keep your community arts organisation alive and running.
Ignition
Brewery and Taproom
Lots of one-off
events coming up at Ignition Taproom in the Sydenham Centre, as
well as their regular opening nights. Check them out at https://ignition.beer/
6.2 Thriving arts scene in Sydenham
Events at the Golden Lion,
Sydenham
Lots always going on at the Golden Lion, 116 Sydenham Road
SE26.
Regular activities all week including:
Felix’s School of
Ukulele
Every Tuesday at 6.30 pm
Coffee and Tea rooms open every
weekday mornings and afternoons, with half-price tea and
coffee.
For details of all events and activities, and booking,
visit: https://goldenlionsydenham.co.uk/
Pub Quiz every Thursday 8 pm. Free entry.
Poodle
Club
167 Sydenham Road, SE26
5HB
Fresh comedy every Friday and Saturday night at 7.30 pm through October and November.
Sydenham Film
Club
Great films at the Sydenham
Centre, every last Thursday of the month. Visit website: http://www.sydenhamfilmclub.org/ for details.
6.3 Christmas
Lights
Sydenham community are
working with the Assembly to improve our High Street Xmas lights
for 2019. Sydenham Community Project
(SCP), a Community Interest Company, has been formed to raise the
funds to pay for better lights.
Residents were given the opportunity to express their preference at
Sydenham Assembly on 8 June. A
successful fundraising campaign has raised over £1,800,
including £1040 on the Go Fund Me online platform, and
£570 from a fundraising event generously hosted and organised
by the Poodle Club with an additional £200 from a raffle at
the event. This is enough to purchase
new attractive lights for eight lampposts, which are hoped to be up
in time for this Xmas. In future years, SCP hope to extend the
lights up as far as Cobbs Corner and add more new lights, as funds
become available. Join Facebook
@SydenhamChristmasLights for updates, or email
SydenhamCommunityProject@gmail.com with comments and
suggestions.
6.4 Sydenham
Station Improvements
Local residents
have been working hard together with Arriva to improve the look of
Sydenham Station. Work parties cleaned
up litter around the station and painted the wall to provide a
clean sheet for new noticeboards and attractive displays which will
be coming soon. If you would like to be involved, contact
chair@sydenhamsociety.com for further details.
7 Vacant Premises update
Full details of reasons for refusal available on request from Planning or from laura.luckhurst@lewisham.gov.uk
8
Community Safety
Sgt Dave Moss has
left the Sydenham Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) to be replaced by
Sgt Geoff Warren. The rest of the team
remains the same.
Upcoming opportunities to meet your local police:
12.00 – 4.00 pm Saturday 5 October, TNG Youth Centre, 111 Wells Park Road, SNT will be running a Crime Scene Investigation activity as part of the Fun Palace
3.00 – 4.00 pm Thursday 10 October: Street Briefing, Sydenham High School,
7.00 pm Wednesday 16 October: Sydenham Ward Panel, Ray Champion Community Room, Allwood Close
12.00 noon – 1.00 pm, Monday 22 October: Cuppa with a Copper, Sydenham Library
Contact
details: 020 8649 3598
email sydenham.snt@met.police.uk
9 Live
Consultations
Sydenham Hill Ridge Neighbourhood Forum – Deadline 31
October
Lewisham Council is consulting with Southwark Council on an
application to designate the Sydenham Hill Ridge as a neighbourhood
area and forum. A statutory 6 week public consultation will run
from the 5 September – 31 October 2019 and you are invited to
share your views on the application. The applications can be viewed
at
lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/planning/policy/ldf/neighbourhood-plans.
Hard copies are available from the following libraries: Catford
Library, at the Planning Resource Centre, Laurence House, 1 Catford
Road, SE6 4RU or at Forest Hill Library, Dartmouth Road, Forest
Hill, SE23 3HZ. Submit your comments via the questionnaire on the
consultation portal at
www.consultation.lewisham.gov.uk/planning/sydenham-hill-ridge, via
mail to Strategic Planning, 2nd Floor Civic Suite, Catford SE6 4RX
or via e-mail to planning.policy@lewisham.gov.uk If the
organisations are successful in their forum and area application no
other organisation or body may be designated in that area until the
designation expires or is withdrawn.