Phase 2 conceptual impression looking northwest from SavaCentre
(Courtesy Castlemore Ltd)

Councillors at the meeting of Lewisham's Strategic Planning Committee on July 14 voted 6-1 in favour of the phase 2 application to build a Homebase and a restaurant plus further retail and business/industrial space at Bell Green.

At last month's chaotic planning meeting councillors had approved the Phase 3 iconic/residential proposals but deferred the controversial phase 2 scheme. Phase 1 is the existing Sainsbury SavaCentre development.

The decision came after four impassioned speeches by objectors. For one Perry Rise resident, the increase in traffic was a major worry. In two half-hour periods she had counted 320 vehicles in the early morning and 500 in the evening. A Selworthy Road resident spoke of widespread anti-social behaviour, with 'boy racers' roaring up and down. The restaurant would become a meeting point for gangs, high streets would be harmed and the area already has two Homebase stores and a branch of Wickes.

For the Sydenham Traders, Geraldine Cox of the Kirkdale Bookshop said that Sydenham Road was not 'vibrant' and that since the Savacentre opened many specialist shops had gone under. In 39 years of trading she had never seen 'footfall' so low. She said that the high street needed to be stabilised and pleaded with the councillors not to give the go-ahead to the development.

For the Sydenham Society Jimmy Dickens cited the planning grounds on which the councillors could reject the application - traffic volumes, air pollution and job losses, with the latter being the most important: 'the central question is the reduction in footfall in Sydenham Road - that's what's dragging the area down and that's what this planning application seeks to worsen'.

Planning officer Pete Smith summarised the key changes to the development since the last meeting (see overleaf). The 'drive-thru' restaurant was now to be replaced by a 'destination' restaurant (such as TGI Friday); two extra CCTV cameras would be added to the existing network at Bell Green; and the industrial building would act like an 'incubator' for new business - similar to Workspace in Deptford.

These improvements, together with a package of pedestrian improvements including a pedestrian cut-through on the north side of the Southend Lane bridge appeared to satisfy the councillors. Cllr Mark Ingleby moved the motion to approve, stating that the development was now possibly both 'livable and lovable'. With the proviso that work is done on traffic calming in Perry Rise he moved the motion to accept, which was carried 6-1.

The meeting report is courtesy of Sydenham Society. Images are indicative of the development prior to detailed planning applications. The final designs will be subject to further planning applications.

• June strategic planning report <here>
• Planning application in more detail <here>
• Sydenham Society fight back <here>

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Phase 3 conceptual impression & elevations
(Courtesy Castlemore Ltd)