Hi Jacksprat

The proposal was felt to be inappropriate because it was contrary to the council's own policies regarding conservation areas.

The objectors had many different reasons for objecting - but just because you don't like a proposal or think it's ugly isn't a valid reason to object to it. You can only object on grounds that it breaks laid down policies - such as ones about overshadowing, privacy or even building on archaeological sites. In our case we used the policies relating to Conservation Areas.

I know many people don't like the idea of conservation areas because they feel it stifles design but as we have conservation areas in Lewisham, we felt that they should at least mean something.

Abbreviating the council policy URB16 we get:
the council will not grant planning permission or Conservation Area Consent where:new development, is incompatible with the special characteristics of the area... its form and materials

We felt that a building completely covered in black glass with a zinc roof was clearly at odds with what this policy sets out to do.

Bonnie Blue - agree incongruous
Londondrz - go for it! - tell the planning department I sent you.