Housing plan delayed after celebrities pushback

A council has deferred its decision on plans for 45 new homes after they drew criticism from campaigners including actors Jude Law and Dominic Cooper.

Developers want to build 25 flats in a four-storey and a five-storey block as well as a terrace of 20 three-storey townhouses at Blackheath station car park in south London.

In an open letter, campaigners including Law and Cooper said the buildings were of an "overbearing, unsympathetic design" which "destroys rather than improves" the neighbourhood and could ruin its "unique character".

On Tuesday, Lewisham Council requested further information on parking, the impact on commercial activity and access arrangements for emergency services.

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

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.

Other public figures to oppose the plans include Jools Holland, Miranda, Sir Terry Waite and Manfred Mann.

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

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

"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."

Sarah Hadland, who starred in the BBC sitcom Miranda, said: "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."

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, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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 a loss of light and car parking spaces, 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 farmer's market a secure home on the site, improve pedestrian routes to a local school and improve parking.

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

Speaking at the meeting, councillor James Rathbone said the application was "extremely controversial" and had sparked a "huge level of public interest".

"It's certainly attracted more press interest than practically anything else which has occurred at this council in my seven-and-three-quarters' years on the council, and I think it's important we can turn around to the thousands of people who've commented on this application, far more than I've ever seen on any other planning application, and be able to give them reassurance that we did cross all the Ts and dot all the Is."

The committee's next meeting will be on 12 February.

Additional reporting by Ruby Gregory, Local Democracy Reporting Service

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