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Lewisham Council acts to stop commercial premises being converted to residential

Lewisham Council is making it harder for commercial premises to be converted to residential.

The last Government introduced a new Permitted Development right (called Class MA) in 2021. This allows commercial, business, and service premises to change to residential without the need for planning permission.

Lewisham says “Helping to facilitate a thriving, diverse and inclusive local economy is one of the Council’s key priorities. This means growing and strengthening the local economic base, making available a wide range of job opportunities, workspaces and employment sites across the Borough. We believe the indiscriminate loss of retail, commercial, business and service floorspace to residential through permitted development would have a negative effect on our town centres and employment locations within the borough and jeopardise the Council’s ambition.”

Now the Council is introducing an Article 4 Direction which allows a local planning authority to withdraw certain permitted development rights, so that planning permission is required.

Article 4 Directions, covering Use Class E to Use Class C3, are designed to protect the vitality and economic viability of town centres, employment and industrial areas as well as ensure high-quality residential development is delivered.

On 11 September 2024, Lewisham Council made an Article 4 Direction to withdraw this Permitted Development right under Class MA in many parts of the Borough.

The Article 4 Direction is ‘non-immediate’ which means they are proposed to come into force on 01 November 2025. When deciding whether to confirm the Direction, the Council will take into consideration all representations received during the consultation period.

You may make representations and comments concerning the Article 4 Directions from 18 September 2024 until 01 November 2024.

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Time May Be Up For Our Avenues

Update: Another tree in Micheldever Road is infected with Bracket Fungus.

The Honey Fungus which has infected several of the lime trees in Micheldever Road, and elsewhere in the Conservation Area, is a symptom of a timing problem which will affect street trees throughout London. That’s the verdict of Paul Wood, the aptly-named the author of London’s Street Trees, who spoke at the Lee Manor Society Annual General Meeting.

Paul Wood speaking to the Lee Manor Society AGM

“We are reaching that time when a lot of trees that were planted in the Victorian and Edwardian periods are reaching the end of their lives,” he said.

Mt Wood was asked what strategy he would recommend for replacing the trees, as they are likely to continue disappearing over the next decade.

“I love consistent avenues of trees. It kind of makes something look really grand,” said Mr Wood. “But what happens in the future is that they all tend to die at the same time because they’re the same age, and particularly if they’re clonally identical, which often street trees are because they’ll be produced by grafting. So, they will be totally identical. They will all pretty much succumb at the same time.

“Maybe a way to think about it would be to have two different trees, which would allow the avenue to mature, and, if one species succumbs, the other species doesn’t.”

The remains of a lime tree which was infected with honey fungus

Mr Wood believes much more needs to be done to protect urban trees. “I feel like Natural England should be providing a register, like the buildings heritage register, and maintaining a list of trees which have great value to the townscape,” he told the meeting.

Mr Wood’s talk covered street trees all over the capital, including Mulberry trees in Lewisham which he said were originally planted in schools for the children to dance around.

 

Paul Wood also showed a tree in Kensington which had grown into an Edwardian pillar box.
Photo: Frances Migniuolo

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Lime Bikes – Update

Lee Green Assembly last night heard more details about Lewisham Council’s partnership with Lime which is aimed at preventing the electric bikes being dumped randomly around the area, blocking pavements and creating trip hazards.

Under the scheme, which won’t be rolled out until next year, users will have to return the bikes to designated parking bays. If they don’t, they will effectively be fined, as they will continue to be charged. Lime has already signed similar agreements with other London boroughs, including Hackney.

“The new scheme and new service agreement will require that Lime use their technology to prevent people from ending their rides outside of designated parking zones, which will be spread out across the borough,” said Cllr James Rathbone.

The location of the bays will be decided after a consultation process. Lewisham Council has just issued a set of FAQs about the scheme which can be found here.

“Lime is not being required to stop operating in the borough. They have to agree to the terms of the new license but they’re not being required to withdraw their service until that happens,” added Cllr Rathbone. “They also have to keep meeting existing Terms and Conditions about sending people out to remove dumped bikes, particularly if they’re reported, and the council is working to try to get their response time improved and hold them to account.”

Lime is committed to removing bikes parked obstructively or discarded within 12 hours once reported. In cases where bikes are causing an immediate obstruction or danger, they will be removed within two hours once reported.

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The Old Tiger’s Head – Reopening Date

The Old Tiger’s Head will reopen under new management on 17th October from midday with a grand opening on Saturday 19th, accompanied by live music.

A spokesperson for Star Pubs says:  “It will operate as a very different style of pub from before, returning to its roots with real ale hand-pulls back on the bar again, a focus on rugby and on serving traditional pub food, prepared fresh in house.

“The family and dog friendly pub will open seven days a week from midday to 11pm Monday to Thursday; midday to midnight Friday and Saturday, and midday to 10.30pm on a Sunday.   Children will be welcome until seven in the evening.”