Sydenham Assembly Wed 18 March - 7pm Sydenham Centre

[Chris Best]

Hopefully everyone living in Sydenham ward will have received the latest Sydenham Assembly Newsletter through their letter box this week - also on Lewisham Council web site http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/nei ... tters.aspx

Join us to share views on local issues from policing to the transport issues at London Bridge. We will also be reporting back on The Greyhound with a written report that is being presented to the next Mayor and Cabinet meeting on the 25 March - here is the latest update from the Head of Planning:

On 5 March the applicants submitted a formal Building Regulations application to the Council and engineers structural calculations followed on 7 March. On 11 March Building Control officers confirmed the details submitted were acceptable and the application was formally approved.

Whilst the Building Regulations application provided sufficient information to secure Building Control approval there were outstanding details required to satisfy planning requirements. Planning officers therefore requested further advice on 11 March from the applicants on how the lintels would be removed without damaging the brickwork and what tools would be used, confirmation of the proposed treatment to make the flank wall bricks appear more like the existing in terms of colour and, with regard to the rebuilding of the gables, in particular the bonding and pointing, confirmation that the new mortar mix would match the original in type, consistency and colour.

The applicants have today advised that:

1. The lintels will be removed by carefully taking down the brickwork gables with the use of small hand tools only. These will then be re-constructed with lime mortar and cleaned down on completion.
2.We understand the desire to use a water/chemical based cleaning agent on the brickwork and will consult with a specialist masonry cleaning contractor once works have commenced on site.
3.In rebuilding the gables, we will use a lime mortar to match the original but do not necessarily see that the joints will be wider as we will use the original imperial sized bricks.

This response is considered acceptable and we are now looking to sign off the Schedule 10 works next week.

The applicant has further confirmed that they would require 3 to 4 week from receiving the final approval of the scheme of restoration and reinstatement works from the Council to be able to commence works on site. The building works once commenced would take up to 4 months to complete. We consider it reasonable to expect mobilisation and a start on site to be achieved by the week beginning 13 April 2015.

The applicants still wish to pursue proposals for an external staircase to the rear of the Greyhound building leading down to the basement area and a single-storey conservatory to the side. Both additions would require full planning permission. Whist the principle of a conservatory was approved in the 2012 planning application, the provision of external stairs is a new proposal. This will need to be the subject of consultation and will require thorough assessment. The applicants have advised that the planning application will be submitted at ‘the earliest opportunity’ and that they do not intend to delay works from commencing on site whilst the application is considered.

Info items include:
Join us for the community clean up day on Saturday 21 March - 11am outside The Sydenham Centre.
Formal opening of the Mayow Park outdoor gym and trim trail on Wednesday 25 March from 3 - 5p,m.
Sydenham Easter Bonnet workshop and Easter Egg trail on Easter Saturday. 4 April from 12 noon - 3pm.
Return of the SEE Sydenham Market on the 2nd Saturday - 11 April - stalls same price £35 set up, £25 bring your own

[Chris Best]

Reminder Sydenham Assembly this evening - join in the discussion on the future of Sydenham and get the latest on current projects.