There are a handful of new applications. Several others which were previously submitted have still not been dealt with by Lewisham planners. These include London Square’s latest application to build five three-storey houses on the site of the old Carston Close garages, on the south side of the old Leegate site.
London Square is still waiting for approval from the Building Safety Regulator to start work on the Lee Green development on the site of the former Leegate shopping centre.
The Regulator has to approve the plans for all “higher risk buildings” (basically blocks of flats higher than 7 storeys or 18 metres) before construction work can start.
In the three months to the end of June the regulator was taking around 22 weeks to approve new projects. It made 368 decisions (out of around 1,500 applications in the system) – more than half for the developments in London. On that basis it looks unlikely work will start at Lee Green before October.
The site is now completely clear and the hardcore created by the demolition teams has been spread across the area, The first task for the builders will be “piling” – installing the piles which sit on rock well below the surface to support the new buildings.
Meanwhile London Square has confirmed to the Lee Manor Society that they plan to start building their marketing suite in the next three weeks. The suite which will be at the junction of Eltham Road and Burnt Ash Road will include a mock up of one of the private sale flats, complete with running water, so potential buyers can see what they will be like.
Friends of Ralph White, the former Chair of the Lee Manor Society who died in 2023, gathered in Manor House Gardens for the official unveiling of a tree to commemorate him.
Ralph, a long-time supporter of the Society, was deputy Chair before becoming Chair in 2018.
Charles Batchelor told the gathering that Ralph’s huge contribution included leading the Society’s talks on the refurbishment of Manor House Library, expanding the annual Plant Mart and the setting up of the Community Garden.
At the same time Ralph had a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry – so the Society’s had chosen a tree with healing qualities.
It’s a Common Alder (Alnus glutinosa), and its bark, Charles said, was used for treating fevers and inflammation. – amongst other things. However, he added, there were several legends around the alder: in Germany it was believed that evil lurked in Alders because, when cut, the the wood goes an orangey red colour similar to blood.
In Britain, it’s believed that the tree’s catkins produce a green dye which Robin Hood and his men used to dye their clothes.
Alders can grow up to a hundred feet in height (30 metres) so Ralph’s small tree may one day be as high as a small block of flats.
A Red Oak planted by the Lee Manor Society in the Gardens a quarter of a century ago,, not far from the location of Ralph’s tree, now dominates the grassed area.
In the meantime it’s important to keep the young Alder watered, especially during the dry weather. The species thrives in wet conditions – they do especially well in swamps and riversides. Visitors to the Gardens during the drought are urged to give Ralph’s tree a drink if they are passing – there is a tap on the left hand end of the café.
After a day of confusion Lewisham Council has confirmed it messed up its consultation on bin collections, which it said hadn’t been “as clear as it should have been”.
But soon after publishing its consultation the Council withdrew it.
Today a spokesperson said: “We recognise that the survey was not as clear as it should have been and has caused concern. We have withdrawn it while we review and improve it.
“We want to reassure residents that we are not looking to make changes to household bin collections in residential areas.
“The survey aimed to gather views on introducing set collection times on high streets and for people living in flats above shops, where disposal of rubbish and recycling can face different challenges and have a bigger impact on street cleanliness.
“We apologise for the confusion and will provide an update once our approach has been revised.”
