Sydenham Town Forum

At the time of the listing I asked Syd Soc on this forum whether the listing would or should prevent housing being built, but we don’t have a clear answer. The idea of putting housing inside the holders is pie in the sky - that’s such an expensive process and there’s been no study as to whether ther...

At the moment it’s characterised by dumped sofas, mattresses, graffiti, weeds, crows and rats so I’m a touch sceptical that redevelopment - some nice new houses for example - would “make it less pleasant”.

It’s a vicious circle isn’t it? Using property as an investment drives up prices (although tax changes on enveloped dwellings and buy to let are squeezing this.) But the reason people regard property as a viable investment because they believe prices will increase indefinitely ahead of other asset c...

From the Syd Soc newsletter "Regent House, to the rear of Cobbs, is the subject of an application to convert the existing office space to 14 studio flats. This application has been submitted under recent government legislation which allows for the conversion of offices to residential units with...

Nigel wrote: none of us really want to give up anything much to alleviate the shortfall between available homes and the amount of people demanding them

It's honest at least. But I struggle to believe it's a majority view in a progressive and community-minded area like this one.

I completely understand your point Nigel. Of course people would like things to stay beautiful round here, and like to have gardens and leafy open spaces. The question is not whether people have a right to dislike development, or have a preference about how the area should look, and have your views ...

To be fair - I think the “private dwelling cash cow” you mention is going to cross-subsidise all the new social housing, which seems sensible. And private garages are a terrible way of providing parking in a large development! They take up about twice the space of an individual parking spot and are ...

I agree with you Stuart. Surely we can’t say that storage for cars is more important than homes for people. Call me naive but why must people always obsess on the so-called “problems” that new developments bring? Isn’t having new neighbours, new customers for the high street shops, more people invol...

I agree with a lot of you on that. No one should have to give up their gardens, communal green spaces or football pitches for houses. Particularly if they already live in high density housing such as a local authority scheme. But - to make sure that doesn’t happen, and houses we need get built, it m...

@oncrestofhill Building next to railway lines is what you get when planning policy locks down all other options. Building on green belt? Nope. Building next to existing houses? Nope. Might “overlook” people who already have homes. Build next to a park, or on a high street? Nope. Might change the “ch...

On the railway cutting by the bridge - four new 4-bedroom houses. Plans were lodged before Christmas. Summary document with pictures here: http://planning.lewisham.gov.uk/online-applications/files/0189D608A014C3249CEA06ECD55C0B21/pdf/DC_17_105125-NEW_DWELLING__LAND_ADJOINING_RAYMOND_CLOSE_SYDENHAM-6...

Forum messages are sometimes taken to mean something different to what the original poster intended (either by accident, or to 'push a point'). This is the nature of one way communication - when you can't hear / see the other parties in the discussion. It's also the same with the process and nature...

This has worked great at Brockley station - sainsburys, shops and architect's office below, and three floors of flats above. Big improvement on the old garage that was there before. It would be great to see the same here (and of course it was the Victorian high street model)

Well - if you look up the Syd Soc 2017 spring news letter on google the implication is they think the land the gas holders sit on should be used for housing not shops. “Many people can’t afford the increased rents in SE26 and buying their own home is an impossible dream as house prices in our area z...

My thoughts are the Society could set a framework which is shared and explains the focus and priority in the local area. I think there are some other initiatives like people suggest which can be considered too. Ben - I have one further suggestion that I wonder if you might consider. As well as need...

Did anyone attend the exhibition? What did they think? I'd encourage anyone who likes the look of the scheme - or indeed would like to live in it themselves - to drop the council a short email at planning@lewisham.gov.uk. I think it's so sad this site has sat empty for so long - 30 new families woul...

I can fully understand why people like them. Elegant and striking and adds character to the area. Even if the land could be put to better use. But it makes me laugh how modest new two-storey houses or simple kitchen extensions (you know, for families to live in) are denounced as “looming” “massing” ...

Thanks for your message Ben I have one really simple proposal: the Sydenham Soc should publish its submissions to planning applications on its website. The SydSoc has a privileged role in the planning process which no private resident enjoys - it has early access to proposals and its views are given...

Why did it close down in the first place? I thought we had an ageing population and that sheltered accommodation is in demand? I did pass it on Saturday and it did appear to be an eyesore and a waste of space. According to the council it was found no longer fit for purpose - too small for wheelchai...

Also that the objection by Sydenham Society was not to any development per se but only to specific details of the scheme and that the planning committee agreed to put further conditions on the plans accepted in response to concerns raised. I'd hate for people reading this thread to get the impressi...