Sadiq Khan will not use his powers to overturn Lewisham Council’s refusal of plans for 802 homes on either side of Deptford Creek, City Hall has confirmed.
The cross-borough application covered land in both Lewisham and Greenwich. Lewisham Council rejected its part of the scheme in late September, while Greenwich Council approved its side on October 13, subject to Lewisham’s refusal being overturned.
Because the development was above the 150-home threshold, the Mayor of London had the option to intervene. But the Greater London Authority said there were “no sound planning reasons for the Mayor to intervene in this particular case”.
Why the Mayor is not stepping in
Lewisham’s Strategic Planning Committee voted to refuse the proposal for eight new tower blocks. Its planners said the concentration of several towers would not integrate successfully with the relatively low-rise surrounding area of Deptford.
In its report, the GLA planning department said Lewisham’s reasons for refusal were a factor in the decision not to intervene. It also pointed to the lack of a Section 106 agreement, which could have been used to secure public benefits linked to the development.
The GLA did recognise benefits in the scheme. These included adding to housing supply in both Greenwich and Lewisham on a brownfield site, as well as employment linked to commercial floorspace within the plans.
Affordable housing drew criticism
GLA planners were also critical of the level of affordable housing in the proposal. The scheme offered 24 affordable homes, which amounts to 5 per cent of the total residential provision.
According to the report, that figure falls “significantly below” the strategic affordable housing target of 50 per cent set out in the London Plan.
Lewisham also refused the application on the grounds that it would harm the amenity of nearby houseboats moored on the creek. On that point, GLA officers took a different view and found the impact of the towers acceptable for the residential amenity of the houseboats.
What happens next
The decision means the Mayor will not be the route through which the refusal is overturned. However, the Secretary of State for Housing, Angela Rayner, still has the opportunity to reverse Lewisham’s decision.
If that does not happen, the planning application will be blocked unless developer RER London appeals Lewisham’s refusal.
For now, City Hall’s position leaves the future of the Deptford Creek scheme resting on whether there is a further intervention from central government or an appeal by the developer.
