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Lee Community tells London Square: back down on Blackheath Gate

A photoshop wit’s take on the new name

The Lee Green consortium of community groups has called on London Square to reverse its plan to name the Leegate development Blackheath Gate.

In a letter to the firm, the Consortium Chair Jim Mallory said “We appreciate that, as a private company, you are free to name any development what you want, but given
its size and impact on the local community, we would have thought it might prove helpful for you to involve local people in its naming. As the name has appeared without notice, we assume there has been little if any consultation.”

Mr Mallory added ” Associations with Lee and Lee Green are paramount, not least because it is sited in Lee Green. We in Lee/Lee Green are fiercely proud to live in an area rich in its own history and one to which we hope we have contributed and wish to retain. We say that without wishing in any way to disparage either Blackheath or its residents, who can rightly be proud of their area which, of course, has a rich history, too, but it is a completely separate entity from Lee or Lee Green.”

The letter sets out some of the history of Lee dating back to Saxon times. It urges London Square to reconsider and carry out a consultation on the new names with the community.

And it warns the firm “By renaming it Blackheath Gate, London Square will successfully alienate most people who live in the Lee/Lee Green area. In reconsidering, you might manage some local buy-in to the place you are hoping to create.”

Lee Green Councillor James Rathbone has told the Consortium he agrees with the letter and is happy to have his name added to the signatories.

London Square has now said it will review the name.

This article has been updated.

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Blackheath Gate – the fightback begins!

Photo: Gilbert Hill

London Square’s shiny new branded hoarding at Leegate has already been embellished by a graffiti artist, reflecting the disquiet of Lee residents at the new name.

The Lee Consortium of community groups, including the Lee Manor Society, plans to write to London Square asking them to reconsider their plan to name the new development Blackheath Gate,.

The groups acknowledge that Blackheath has a rich history, but it is a separate entity from Lee or Lee Green whose residents themselves are proud of their own identity and rich history.

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Not Leegate – it’s Blackheath Gate!

Photos: Sarah McMichael

So now we know. The Leegate development will be called – Blackheath Gate.

Residents – how do you feel about the name of Lee being replaced by Blackheath, which although nearby, is a mile up the road? Post your replies below.

London Square’s marketing blurb makes no mention of Lee, even though the development is on Lee Green crossroads, the historic centre of the area. Meanwhile it mentions the proximity to “Blackheath Common” which as every local knows is not what it is called.

“With 562 new homes planned, the development is set within a highly sought-after area that strikes a harmonious balance between urban convenience and local charm. Residents will enjoy easy access to the independent shops, cafés, and traditional pubs of Blackheath Village, while Blackheath Common provides expansive public green space perfect for outdoor leisure and relaxation.”

This article has been updated.

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Leegate – London Square initially considered a 20 storey tower block

Lewisham Council has finally published the minutes of an online public meeting about Leegate, which was held on October 2nd.

The minutes record that London Square at one stage considered a 20 storey tower block at the Lee Green crossroads, before eventually settling on 17 storeys. They also set out London Square’s argument for overriding the Lewisham Local Plan constraint on buildings higher than twelve storeys in Lee.

Mark Gibney, from London Square’s planning agents Montague Evans told the meeting:

“It’s not actually in policy. The policy sets out 10 to 12 storeys and says that buildings shall not normally be more than that height. There’s then lots of other policy around that – even if you had a building of 10 to 12 storeys, there is a requirement for a developer to undertake detailed analysis, which we undertook.

“Policy requires a comprehensive Townscape assessment and analysis of the impacts of the development on views on the sensitive receptions of the conservation areas, manor house gardens and surrounding streets. Galliard Homes did that assessment and submitted a 15-storey building, which the Council approved. Precedent for buildings over 12-storeys is established by that. However, that isn’t necessarily where it finishes because if you undertake the detailed assessment that we’ve talked about and you recognise that this is one of the best regeneration locations in this part of the borough identified as such by the Council, then it stands that there is potential for significant regeneration and significant
height.

“We did look at and test a lot of options including buildings up to around 20 storeys
and concluded that was probably too much and settled at the 17-storey approach.”

Adam West of the architects CZWG added “If you think about the design benefit of the taller building, it does improve the proportions of that building. We’ve worked hard at giving it a more slender appearance through the extra two storeys, but also by adjusting the balconies. So the idea of a taller building at this location is very much
seen as good practice in town planning terms .”

The online public meeting was attended by people who had submitted comments on London Square’s application to amend the planning consent originally granted to Galliard.”

You can read the full minutes here.

Lewisham planners will consider London Square’s application on November 18th.

This article has been updated.