Dear Householder

Redevelopment of the Bell Green site

Lewisham Council recently approved the planning application for this redevelopment. The decision was taken despite the overwhelming opposition of local residents. Lewisham Council received some 143 replies to their consultation exercise; 132 were against the proposed retail park and only 11 were in favour (92% against, 8% for).

Your views were ignored by councillors. During the debate on the planning application not one councillor even mentioned the opinions of local residents.

The Sydenham Society believes Lewisham Council has made a bad decision: bad for local residents, bad for Sydenham and bad for Forest Hill and Catford.

The issue now moves to the Greater London Authority (GLA). We are writing to the GLA asking them to reject the planning application on planning grounds. These grounds are:

• The large increase in traffic volumes and in congestion which are in conflict with both Government and GLA policy.
  
• The very serious effect the proposed retail park would have on shops and businesses in Sydenham, Forest Hill and Catford.

We also want the GLA to invite Lewisham Council and British Gas to prepare a better plan. This would include:

• Housing for sale, shared ownership or rent. This would help to meet the present acute shortage of affordable housing.
• Units for small business and industry.
• A small retail element.

The Sydenham Society asks you to support us by writing to:

Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London Greater London Authority City Hall Queens Walk London SE1 2AA

You can also write here

Other pages on the Bell Green saga:

• July strategic planning report (go-ahead) <here>
• June strategic planning report (deferral) <here>
• Planning application in more detail <here>