The Forest Hill Christmas Tree will be switched on Saturday 10th December shortly after 3:45pm at Forest Hill station with carol singing led by Churches Together for Forest Hill and Sydenham. We hope you can join us.
The Forest Hill Society invites you to The 2022 CHRISTMAS QUIZ
Tuesday 20 December, 7.30pm at All Inn One pub, 53 Perry Vale, London SE23 2NE
Maximum 6 people per team. Register at Eventbrite
Entry is free, but donations to Lewisham Foodbank welcome via our fundraising page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/foresthillsocietyxmas2022
Thee is a proposed development at Miriam Lodge, 185 Dartmouth Road, London SE26 4RQ application DC/21/123657: Demolition of existing annex building ancillary to the hostel at Miriam Lodge 185 Dartmouth Road SE26 and construction of 9 three storey 4 bedroomed dwelling houses together with the provision of cycling spaces at the rear and refuse/recycling storage.
The Forest Hill Society has written to object to this application on the grounds that at least one of the proposed dwellings does not meet adequate standards for the size of unit.
We therefore request the application is refused by the council.
I am writing on behalf of the Forest Hill Society regarding the proposed development at 88 Thorpewood Avenue, SE26 4BY, application DC/22/128192: The construction of a part one/part two storey rear extension, roof extension to the rear roof slope and installation of rooflights in the front roof slope at 88 Thorpewood Avenue SE26 in connection with the alteration and conversion to provide 3 self-contained flats, together with the construction an outbuilding in the rear garden.
We are writing to object to the above application by virtue of the unsuitable accommodation proposed and the detrimental impact on the Forest Hill Conservation Area.
The proposals do not satisfy the requirements within “Technical housing standards – nationally described space standard” (Department for Communities and Local Government, March 2015) or the London Plan (March 2021). The proposed Flat B does not fit the requirement within the above documents that "a dwelling with two or more bedspaces has at least one double (or twin) bedroom" (Para 10b, Nationally Described Space Standards). Furthermore, even if a double bed was incorporated into the layout, the size of the flat would still not meet the requirements.
Moreover, the Development Management Local Plan (2014) Policy 3 resists the conversion of a single family house to two or more dwellings unless they meet certain critera. The document states that:
"2.13 Family housing (single family houses with three or more bedrooms) is seen as a valuable resource which should be retained in order to meet identified housing need and provide housing choice. Single family houses with fewer than three bedrooms should also be retained in order to provide housing choice."
It should be noted that the dwelling as existing is/does not:
a. adjacent to noise generating or other environmentally unfriendly uses
b. lack of external amenity space suitable for family use.
Therefore, the site is contrary to Policy 3a within the DMLP (2014). It is also contrary to point c within the same policy with reference to the Forest Hill Conservation Area, as per below.
The Forest Hill Conservation Area is characterised by its commercial and retail centre around the railway station and surrounding suburban residential streets and green spaces. The application site forms part of a terrace of houses designed and built by prominent local developer E.C. Christmas. The buildings are representative of developments by Christmas and the period in which they were built and thus make a positive contribution to the character and appearnace of the Conservation Area. At present, there are no rear extensions projections on any of the terraced buildings, thereby allowing the original form and pattern of the buildings to be understood. The submitted Heritage Statement has not assessed the significance of the Conservation Area and how the application site contributes to that significance in line with the requirement set out in Paragraph 194 of the NPPF, although the statement does acknowledge that the terraced buildings have “survived nearly unaltered with the original doors, clay tile roofs and fine leaded windows still in place.”
The proposals include a rear extension which will remove the articulation of the original rear elevation, which has a small projection and catslide roof, thus breaking up the rhythm of the host terrace. The Heritage Statement concludes that the proposals would not have any negative impacts, but this does not address the incorporation of the extension on what they have themselves stated is an otherwise unaltered terrace. The extension would ultimately detract from the character of the host property, terrace and Conservation Area as a whole and result in harm to its significance. The application has not provided any public benefits to outweigh the heritage harm caused, as per Paragraph 202 of the NPPF.
We therefore request the application is refused
All members and non-members are welcome to attend our AGM, which will
take place at 7:30pm, Tuesday 11th October at the All Inn One pub on
Perry Vale, just opposite Forest Hill Station.
The AGM is an opportunity to find out more about what is happening in Forest Hill, to share your concerns and to shape the future of the Society.
| Environment - including planting and gardening around the town centre and looking at ways to improve air quality in the local area |
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| Transport - including improving roads for pedestrians and cyclists, ensuring Forest Hill is well served by public transport, and considering flight paths over Forest Hill |
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| Planning and Development - including developing long-term plans for the town centre, and also reviewing planning applications in the area |
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| Communications and Events - including contributing to our newsletter and arranging events for the community (e.g. book sales, gin tasting, history talks, pub quizzes, Christmas tree lighting and carols). We are particular interested in anybody who would like to assist with the editing of our paper newsletter. |
43 DARTMOUTH ROAD, LONDON, SE23 3HN, application DC/22/127781: Prior Approval under Schedule 2, Part 3, Class MA of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 (as amended) for the change of use of the existing ground floor and basement from retail (Use Class E) to a single dwelling (Use Class C3) at 43 Dartmouth Road SE23.
We are writing to object to the above application by virtue of the unsuitable accommodation proposed and the detrimental impact on the Forest Hill Conservation Area.
The proposals do not
satisfy the requirements within “Technical housing standards – nationally described
space standard” (Department for Communities and Local Government, March
2015) or the London Plan (March 2021). The above space standards do not
cater for a 1 bedroom/2 person accommodation over two floors, so this would be
subject to the 1 bedroom/2 person requirement. The proposed 45 sqm unit would therefore
not satisfy the requirement within both of the above documents of 58 sqm.
The Forest Hill
Conservation Area is characterised by its commercial and retail centre around
the railway station and surrounding suburban residential streets and green
spaces. The commercial core, including the retail units along Dartmouth Road contribute
to this area’s character. The loss of a retail unit in this area and the
resulting inactivity of its frontage would erode this commercial character and
ultimately, the character of the wider Conservation Area.
Following the final consultation phase the planning application for the above is now being considered. The Planning Committee of the Forest Hill Society discussed this application at their meeting on 26th July 2022.
We would like to support this thoughtfully considered scheme which is considerate to existing residents and neighbours in scale & design, sympathetic to its context and with a particularly comprehensive & imaginative landscaping plan. The documents and plans in the application were clear and detailed which is not always the case with infill developments. The scheme will provide 8 new quality social rented council homes and substantial improvements to the landscaping & amenity areas.
It is pleasing that comments made by residents and others have been incorporated in the final submission.
However, we do consider it important that the contractors respect the intentions of the plan during the construction. Once large quantities of plant & materials are moved on site, we have unfortunately seen too many ‘non material amendments’ seeking to remove inconvenient trees or RPA’s compromised in some other infill developments.
We feel this plan should be a source of pride for those who have worked hard to develop it, and welcomed by the local community.
We are so proud of and grateful for the Horniman Museum - 2022 winner of Museum of the Year.
The Horniman Museum and Gardens was announced as Art Fund Museum of the Year 2022 yesterday (14 July 2022). The £100,000 award – the largest museum prize in the world – was presented by DJ and broadcaster Huw Stephens at a ceremony in the spectacular setting of the Design Museum, London.
The Horniman Museum and Gardens was recognised for its transformational programme in 2021, re-orientating its activity to reach diverse audiences more representative of London and engaging people in addressing the climate emergency.
Nick Merriman, Chief Executive of the Horniman Museum and Gardens, says: ‘To be awarded Art Fund Museum of the Year, when the other finalists have such wonderful achievements to share, is an incredible honour. Thank you to the judges and to Art Fund. I particularly want to pay tribute to everyone involved in the Horniman, in whatever capacity, in 2021. It takes a community of people to create a museum that truly serves its local area. People love museums – we hear “I love the Horniman” a lot – and this award is a great endorsement of love as a motivation for the work that we do here; love for our communities and love for the world we all share.’
A new trial access to Forest Hill station will implements from 30th July 2022 which is designed to make the station more pedestrian friendly.
The car park will remain open except the side closest to WH Smith. This side of the car park will be converted into a pedestrian friendly space with additional plants and flowers. We hope that this will improve the welcome to Forest Hill and encourage events to take place in the town centre.
Drop-off and parking at the station will still be possible through the existing vehicle entrance, but this will also function as the exit from the car park. During the trial period the impact of the scheme will be monitored to see if the scheme works for all the community, and consider whether any changes are necessary to turn this into a permanent change.
Once the changes are in place we would welcome your feedback (positive or negative) to understand the views of the community.
