Amazing Scenes at Lewisham's Civic Suite over Bell Green Development

Three hours of careful discussion of the controversial Bell Green retail development by the Council's Strategic Planning Committee ended in five minutes of chaos. First the major part of the plan was voted down and then in a mad scrabble was brought back and then deferred...

If you want to know the background to the proposals go <here>. This June 16th meeting had only the Bell Green proposals on the agenda.

• Phase 2 - a large retail & business development alongside Sainsbury's Savacentre
  
• Phase 3 - a residential complex and small retail units on Bell Green

Castlemore Estates, the developer, opened with a thirty minute presentation. they stressed their experience in developing difficult former gas work sites including the former Beckton works. They revealed that Homebase have now signed a legally binding contract for the major DIY/Garden Centre anchor unit for Phase 2.

They pressed their case on the grounds of creating 500 new jobs and that Lewisham was 'undershopped'. This latter point was based on studies which showed that most residents earned their money 'out of borough' and spent it 'out of borough'. Only 34% of retail spend was made in borough and this was related to the lack of retail parks. Lewisham had only half that of Bromley or Croydon and a quarter that of Greenwich.

This, they claimed, needed to be ameliorated. They didn't say why.

The applicant admitted there would be some increase in traffic but it would be minimal in peak periods. A third of the planned 156 residentail units would be affordable and provide an iconic entrance to the development. The Livesey Institute would be kept as a social unit and the local community would also benefit from a widening of Bell Green to dual carriageway and probably a tunnel for pedestrians & cyclists at the Southend Lane bridge.

The committee then heard three objectors:

• Barbara Ellis, a Perry Rise resident, pressed the case that the traffic was already unacceptable. It was difficult to cross the road, the houses shook and sleep was difficult. The promised improvements had not matetialised and Bell Green would just make things worse.
  
• Ken Ambrey from Selworthy Road re-iterated the point that local traffic congestion would get worse and Southend Lane bridge would be a choke point especially if, as rumoured, Downham Road Homebase closes and moves to Bell Green.
  
• Sydenham Society made their case on three points - that the employment gain was an illusion. The numbers were unsubstantiated and no account had been made of consequent job losses in Sydenham & Forest Hill. there would be no or little gain. Traffic was alreay at saturation point so any increase could cause gridlock. Finally that what everyone but the developer wanted was residential units in phase 2.
  

Council officers stated that only 10 of the 141 written contributions received were in favour of the scheme.

Council members probed the applicant, the objectors and their officers. Councillor Dave Whiting (Forest Hill) proposed that the phase 2 application be accepted. In an impassioned plea he urged his fellow councillors to recognise that people's shopping habits were changing and it was their responsibility to react. He believed the impact on local business of Savacentre was not as great as feared and that the (welcome) expansion of Forest Hill Sainsbury's was probably a greater threat to local stores than Bell Green.

When put to the vote the proposal fell by 2 votes to 4 against.

At this stage the chair, some members and most of the 30/40 strong audience believed the application had been refused. A council officer strongly argued that not voting to accept was not the same as a refusal. A councillor then proposed a deferrment. But a deferrment required substantive reasons. The situation became quite desperate and a vote was finally passed for deferrement on the following hastily assembled grounds:

• Refining the restaurant drive-in/drive-to component
• Agreeing 24/7 security arrangements
• Revisiting the employment numbers

Finally Phase 3 (residential/small retail) was passed unanimously as it had received warm support from both the committee, the floor and local residents.

To see what happened at the July meeting go <here>

Comment here....

Castlemore's Website is
<here>