SE23 Forum

Slightly away from the activity on Honor Oak parade, I wanted to draw some attention to a planning application which is in for 113 Bovill Road - where Rodney Garages are currently operating.

A developer has bought the site and after having a previous application to convert a disused building into a house rejected, he is now applying for permission to pretty much clear the whole area and build a set of offices. The active planning application is here on the Lewisham website.

We used to live opposite the garage and found them to be good and considerate neighbours. I've recommended the garage on the forum a few times, and used them myself.

The decision is due on the 24th April - if you want to make your feelings known, best do it soon. Contact details etc are available via the planning link above.

I'm really not sure that this is a good location for a 3 storey office building and am concerned about the design. I would be interested to hear what others think about it?

I like Rodney Garage too but the existing buildings are mostly in terrible condition.

The Forest Hill society is sending a formal objection to the plans. The scale of the block is not in keeping with the character of the road.

The FH Society objection can be found here and I have to congratulate whoever was the author.

This sums up in a very well-structured and articulate manner most of the things that I was thinking when I looked at the plans. There are some excellent points with a lot of common sense as well as some technical objections.

DavidL and Bcm

I wrote the objection on behalf of the society following a discussion about the scheme with other members of the Forest Hill Society's Planning Committee, and my attempts to see what a wider group of people thought of it (see above).

Glad you agree with the letter.

We had no idea that a fresh plan had been submitted for this site, having objected to the first proposal. Your objection covers everything that would worry people in the Honor Oak area about new development here. So far, just about every scheme proposed for the district is out of scale and poorly designed, and generally not for the benefit of the neighbourhood. Thanks for your excellent work here.

If you are impacted by the development in any way please write to the council to tell them: planning@lewisham.gov.uk and feel free to use any part of the text from the Forest Hill Society objections.

One of the local councillors specifically asked if we could encourage others to make their views known on this development. with the possibility of a local meeting if there are enough objectors.

Will do, Michael, and thanks once again.