Celebrities oppose Blackheath station housing plan

Two more celebrities have made fresh pleas to stop 45 new homes from being built in south-east London.

Hollywood star Dominic Cooper and TV actor Sarah Hadland have criticised plans by Lewisham Council to allow the development on Blackheath station car park, accusing the authority of ignoring public opposition.

Other public figures including Jude Law, Sir Terry Waite and Manfred Mann have opposed the plans in an open letter to the council.

Developer Acorn Property Group said its scheme would bring "substantial public benefits" which "outweigh the low level of harm identified".

The council, which is to vote on the plans this week, said it would not comment until a decision was made.

Cooper, who starred in Mamma Mia and The History Boys and grew up in Blackheath, said local people who object are not "anti-development".

He added: "They are instead demanding development that is fair, responsible, and puts local people at the heart of decision-making.

"To plough ahead with a proposal of this size, that provides so little social and affordable housing, that prioritises developer profit, whilst ignoring overwhelming public opposition would amount to a devastating betrayal of the electorate."

Cooper said Lewisham Council must "revisit" the plan.

Hadland, who starred as Stevie Sutton in the BBC sitcom Miranda, said: "It is an absolute travesty that our concerns have been completely overlooked by Lewisham Council in favour of this for profit only development by Acorn.

"As it stands this development brings nothing positive to the area.

"All we are asking is that it's amended further, taking local opinion into consideration."

The plans by developer Acorn would consist of 20 terraced homes and 25 flats, across one five-storey and one four-story block, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The council has received more than 1,200 objections to the plans, including from a local school and dozens of local businesses, and 30 comments in support.

According to the council's planning documents, the Blackheath Society and a group of local residents commissioned several surveys and representations from consultants objecting to the scheme.

There are also letters of objection signed by 181 businesses and an open letter from "notable individuals with a connection to Blackheath" opposing the development.

Concerns raised included loss of car parking spaces, loss of light, the scale of development and uncertainty around the future of the Blackheath Farmer's Market, which operates in the car park every Sunday.

Acorn Property Group said: "As recognised in the officers' report, the proposals would deliver substantial public benefits, including 45 new homes, 21% of which would be wholly social rented, much-needed three- and four-bedroom family homes."

The spokesperson added that the plans would give the the farmer's market a secure home on the site, improve pedestrian routes to a local school and improve parking.

Planning officers have recommended the development be given the go-ahead as long as Acorn fulfils 43 conditions.

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