New Leegate development is approved by Lewisham Planners

London Square has won permission from Lewisham planners for their plans for Leegate. The development of 620 homes, which includes a 17-storey tower at the Lee Green crossroads, was approved by the council’s Strategic Planning Committee.

The Committee overruled objectors, including the Lee Manor Society, Lee Forum and a Leyland Road resident Emma Warren, as well as Lee Green councillor James Rathbone. All argued that the proposed tower would be too high.

Lee Manor Society said although it welcomed the development, and the new homes it would bring, the unsightly 17-storey tower at the Lee Green crossroads would dominate and dwarf low-rise homes on its doorstep.

Cllr Rathbone highlighted London Square’s poor record of communication and consultation with Lee residents, including the firm’s sudden announcement that the development would be named Blackheath Gate, even though it is in Lee Green.

“Blackheath Gate was absolutely typical of this. It was a sudden announcement with no notification, no consultation, no input, which was subject to widespread mockery locally,” he said.

Although the naming decision is now on hold, Cllr Rathbone continued “It is just the latest example of a pattern of behaviour where they have made commitments to the local community about how they will listen, they will engage, they will talk to us, they will take our concerns into account. And then they’ve gone away and done something completely differently based upon whatever they wanted.”

Cllr Rathbone demanded the planners explain the exceptional circumstances to justify the 17-storey tower to the communities in Lee and Blackheath, as Lewisham’s Local Plan says buildings in Lee should normally be no more than 12 storeys.

He said residents were united in the belief that the block was too tall and over-dominant, and would fundamentally change the nature of where we live. The additional two storeys above the original Galliard plan, which was approved two years ago, will only add another 14 homes to the development.

An officer told the committee that although the tower doesn’t comply with the Lewisham Local Plan limit of 12 storeys, that had to be weighed against the public benefit of the scheme which included more significant provision of commercial floor space, housing and affordable housing.

Another councillor, Paul Bell, asked what additional GP provision would come with the development. Although there is a designated medical facility in the plans, an officer confirmed that the space would be leased at a commercial rent. There was no certainty it would be a GP surgery; it could house a dentist or physiotherapist.

Cllr Paul Bell told the meeting “This is a large number of housing units, which are going to have a huge impact on GP provision in the area. If a GP provider doesn’t go into that space because of cost, then it’s going to impact the community.”

Despite the concerns of councillors the committee agreed unanimously to allow the plans to go forward unaltered.

You can watch the whole planning meeting here.