Agenda item

Feedback from the last Sydenham Assembly on 5 September and Community Updates for the Sydenham Assembly on 2 December 2017

1          Lewisham Borough of Culture Bid

Lewisham’s bid for the Borough of Culture was launched at the Horniman Museum on 7^th September and the bid submitted to the GLA yesterday. Our programme has co-production and participation at its heart. Our bid emerged from extensive engagement with our communities: actively engaging over 5,000 people with pledges of support and over 500 ideas sent via www.loveitlewisham.co.uk.  Each Local Assembly has committed funding to ensure BoC embeds culture in local communities. 

We have received fantastic support and everyone can help with our profile using the twitter hashtag #loveitlewisham and #mylocalculture  Only two boroughs will be successful in 2019 and 2020 – and if successful this could mean £1.5 million for Lewisham to invest in culture in 2019 or 2020.

One of the asks has been for the return of a cinema in Lewisham. The Mayor and Cabinet approved the bid for the Ladywell Playtower on the 15 November and after careful consideration the Mayor announced that Guildmore Curzon proposal was the preferred provider. This is to develop a 3 screen 220 seat cinema location complete with a café, restaurant and bar space within the existing envelope of the building.  This would involve a new development of residential accommodation to the rear of the site (19 – 21 units, 4 storeys, market value sale) as well as a residential/step down care and nursery facility to the eastern section of the building. 

2          Lewisham SugarSmart campaign

Latest news is that Goldsmiths College and Student Union are now SugarSmart .  For more information https://www.lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/socialcare/health/diet-and-exercise/sugarsmart/sugar-smart-lewisham/Pages/default.aspx

or email: sugarsmart@lewisham.gov.uk

Businesses who come on board get a certificate signed by Jamie Oliver and stickers for their shop windows.

3          Changes to Southern Trains  

On the 30^th October Ellie Reeves MP met with Govia Thameslink Rails (Owner of Southern) Head of Strategic Planning and Local Development Manager to talk about Southern’s proposed timetable change for 2018.

After discussing the proposal to completely remove services between Forest Hill/Sydenham and East Croydon at peak times we were assured that trains will run from these stations to Norwood Junction with an interchange on to East Croydon. Ellie pushed them on making this a direct train, but this is not likely to be the case.  We were assured however, that evening services from London Bridge to Forest Hill/Sydenham will remain at four an hour.

4          Bellingham Gas Holders – Reasons for Refusal

Following the Planning Committee meeting on the 23rd November the reasons for the refusal to demolish the Gas Holders and building an A1 Food Store (Aldi) are set out below:

1. The siting of the proposed development and associated car-parking would result in the unacceptable loss of existing ancillary green open space to the north of Livesey Hall, which would serve to have an adverse and unsympathetic impact upon the historic character, prominence and setting of the Grade II Listed building, War Memorial and front boundary wall, contrary to Policy 7.8 Heritage assets and archaeology of the London Plan (2016), Core Strategy Policy 15 ‘High quality design for Lewisham’ and Core Strategy Policy 16 ‘Conservation areas, heritage assets and the historic environment’ of the Core Strategy (2011), and DM Policy 30 ‘Urban design and local character’ and DM 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 (2014).

2. The application, by reason of additional traffic and congestion generated by the retail units would impact detrimentally upon the surrounding gyratory and local residential streets, contrary to Policy 6.12 ‘Road network capacity’of the London Plan (2016), Core Strategy Policy 14: ‘Sustainable movement and transport’ (2011) and DM Policy 29 ‘Car-parking’ of the Development Management Local Plan (2014).

3. The provision of the proposed additional A1 floorspace within the wider Bell Green retail park would exceed the prescribed maximum retail limit of 16,110sq.m as set out in the Core Strategy (2011), thereby harming the retail character and viability of adjacent shopping centres, contrary to Policy 4.7 ‘Retail and town centre development’of the London Plan (2016), Spatial Policy 4 ‘Local Hubs’ and Core strategy Policy 6‘Retail hierarchy and location of retail development’ of the Core Strategy (2011), and DM 13 ‘Location of main town centre uses’ of the Development Management Local Plan (2014).

4. The application fails to demonstrate sufficiently that traffic and vehicular movement associated with the proposed development would not increase levels of air pollution within the area and would therefore have an unacceptable impact upon amenity, contrary to Policy 7.14 ‘Improving air quality’ of the London Plan (2016), Core Strategy Policy 9 ‘Improving local air quality’ of the Core strategy (2011), and DM Policy 23 ‘Air quality’ of the Development Management Local Plan (2014).

5          Sydenham Crown Post Office

Sydenham Crown Post Office has been under threat since the announcement by the Post Office in early 2016 that Our aim is to create a sustainable and profitable Crown network and to meet our ever changing customer demands. To help achieve this, we’ve been looking at new ways to grow our income and to cut our costs, including introducing new retail ranges and products and re-negotiating our contracts and leases. However, even with these improvements, high property costs and restricted growth opportunities in some locations mean that there will continue to be a number of branches losing money.  We believe that franchising Sydenham branch gives us the best opportunity to protect access to services and create a viable Post Office for our customers.

Post Office Limited wrote to Lewisham to say that if the change goes ahead the branch will continue to be run by ZCO Ltd and that a public consultation would commence on the 12 April 2017 and end on the 26 May with the changes taking place in August. Whilst the DVLA Photocard Driving Licence renewal and Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence application services would still be available the issue is the loss of the Biometric Enrolment Service for the Home Office.  . The nearest alternative office providing the Biometric Enrolment Service for the Home Office, is Brixton, London Bridge or Croydon Post Office.  There are now no other Crown Post Offices in the borough of Lewisham.

At the Mayor and Cabinet meeting on the 15 November the Executive Director for Resources and Regeneration noted that the Council was the property owner of the Sydenham Crown Post Office and that discussions were underway with the Post Office regarding the future use of the building.  We are still in negotiations over renewal of the lease and one of the proposals the Council has put forward is to rent part of the space from the Post Office to assist with the property cost.

6          Community Use of market squares at Queensthorpe, Venner and Station Approach

Space is available on the market squares for community organisations to promote their activities free of charge. Contact either Lania Rivers or Sue Harper (LB of Lewisham) for further details.

7          Update on empty shops and developments on Sydenham Road

• Nando’s -  Planning permission was granted on the 16th November for the change of use of the existing two units from A1/A2 use to A3 use (restaurants and cafés) at 301-303 Kirkdale SE26, together with the provision of an additional entrance from Spring Hill.  The premises shall only be open for customer business between the hours of 8am and 10.30pm on any day of the week. This is still subject highways agreeing the provision of a loading bay on Spring Hill and the provision of 10 cycle parking spaces on the footpath in the vicinity of the site. 
• KinleighFolkard & Hayward - have the lease on the vacant unit next to The Greyhound and have said that trading conditions for estate agents remain difficult due to the down turn in transactional activity.  However they remain fully committed to open this branch and hope to start the fit out in the New Year.
• 22a – 24 Sydenham Road – We are in the final stages of the construction of the four storey plus basement building with front and rear balconies to provide retail/ restaurant (Use Class A1/A3) on the ground floor and 5 one bedroom, 3 two bedroom and 1 three bedroom self-contained flats and 1 one and 2 three bedroom self-contained maisonettes, together with the construction of a part single/ part two/ part three-storey building at the rear of the site to provide 1 one bedroom and 2 three bedroom self-contained flats and 3 three bedroom self-contained maisonettes, the rebuilding of the southern boundary wall, the provision of 30 bicycles spaces and associated landscaping. Zanara Court is being marketed by Acorn with the 3 bed on the market for £610k and one bed for £385k. 
• 96a Sydenham Road – On site for the alteration and conversion  together with the construction of a first floor plus roofspace extension to the front building, to provide 57sqm of office space (Use Class B1) and five self-contained residential flats comprising 2, two bedroom and 3, one bedroom units, with landscaping works, and provision of cycle and refuse stores.
• 138 Sydenham Road – Planning Permission was granted on the 10th October for the demolition of existing building at 138 Sydenham Road SE26 and the construction of a part three/part four storey building comprising 130sqm of A1/A2 retail space on the ground floor and 4 one bedroom, 2 two bedroom and 1 three bedroom self-contained flats above with the provision of 14 cycle spaces and bin storage area, together with the erection of 2 two-storey, one bedroom dwellings facing Knighton Park Road.
• 154 – 158 Sydenham Road – Family Mosaic went to appeal on the refusal of planning permission for the proposed development of part 2/ part 3/ part 4-storey with basement building providing 18, one, two and three bedroom self – contained residential flats and 155sqm ground and first floor commercial floor space (use classes A1, A2, B1, D1, D2), and a part 2/part 3-storey terrace comprising 10, three bedroom single dwelling-houses, 1, one bedroom self-contained flat and 1, two bedroom self – contained maisonette, together with the provision of upper floor balconies, associated landscaping, PV panels, 14 parking bays (including 4 disabled spaces) and 68 secure cycle spaces.  The appeal was dismissed because of the effect on living conditions of the occupants of Hillmore Grove and the effect on the character and appearance of the area.  Family Mosaic have now submitted a new application and will be consulting the residents of Hillmore Grove.
• Marketing of the previous Co-op/Budgens-  I have spoken to the marketing agent and understand that the freeholder wishes to see a continued use of A1 retail and as such there is interest in this with hopes of a fit out early in the New Year.
• Acorn are letting their old premises at 54 and marketing the previous UniPlan at 17 Sydenham Road

Cllr Chris Best, Chair of the Sydenham Assembly