Unauthorised demolition of historic Mercy Terrace stables

Photo of the rear of Mercy Terrace, taken from
the bridge (c.2011)

The Council’s Planning Enforcement Team carried out a site visit on 25 July when officers noted that the historic stable buildings had been completely demolished and the foundation for a new building had been excavated. 

The level of demolition is ‘substantial’ and to have done this is an offence under the Planning Acts (where planning permission is not in place for such development).

The Council has therefore issued a warning of the likelihood of formal enforcement action, given that an offence has been committed.  It has been made clear that the works should cease immediately (subject to making the site safe).

Planning Enforcement officers will be visiting the site again to check that the notice to cease works is being observed.

10-14 Mercy Terrace - Update

In January this year the Council refused planning permission for a development on this existing warehouse site round the back of the Ladywell Post Office.  The Council wrote, amongst other things:

• the proposed dwelling mix, through the inclusion of studio units and the failure to provide any family sized dwellings, would fail to provide a long term and  sustainable solution to housing need within the borough . . . ; and that
• the development would fail to provide an acceptable standard of residential amenity for future occupiers by reason of the provision of undersized units which would have poor internal amenity levels due to the substandard access to sunlight and daylight and would also fail to provide dedicated private amenity space for all units . . . ; and that
• the proposed development would fail to provide any affordable housing . . .

Now a further application has been received for "Demolition of the existing building and the construction of a mixed-use development comprising approximately 372sqm of office floorspace (Use Class B1) and a part 3/part4/part 5 storey building to provide 45 residential units together with the provision of disabled parking and landscaping at 10-14 Mercy Terrace SE13 (Outline Application)."

This looks like little more than a reduction in units from 49 to 45 but it's difficult to know as no supporting documents are yet available on the Council website.

Robert Sheppard

Ladywell Old Baths/'Playtower' - update

The Ladywell Old Baths (or 'Playtower') featured heavily at the Ladywell Ward Assembly meeting on 27 January where a presentation was made by Ashton Bentley, one of the organisations proposing to restore and re-use the building.  The Company, which makes audio visual equipment, proposes to base its R&D and main offices in a fully-restored building.  They would also enable various leisure/cultural uses - including a cafe, rehearsal space and exhibition space as well as 30 hi-tech office 'pods' which would be installed in the main swimming pool hall.

The Company would also rebuild the old destroyed 'second class' pool hall (at the rear of the site adjacent to the Churchyard) and use this for their own offices.  Ashton Bentley are also interested in taking on the Coroner's Court building, although it is unclear whether the Council is willing to dispose of this building at the same time.  There was considerable support for the proposals from those present, though there was consensus too that the public should be able to see all the other proposals coming forward.

The officer responsible for the future of the site, Gavin Plaskitt, also spoke at the meeting.  He indicated that the Council had received a number of exciting proposals for the Old Baths from some very experienced organisations, of which Ashton Bentley's was just one, and the Council would be publishing an 'Expression of Interest' form in the next 4-6 weeks to kick-off the process of selecting a development partner.  He gave a clear assurance at the meeting that the local community would get a chance to see all the various proposals, potentially at a future local assembly meeting.

Tony Rich

Self-build Scheme for Ladywell - update

Proposal for the Ladywell site by designers Architype

Last week the Guardian reported - in the context of Walter Segal's pioneering Walters Way self-build scheme of the 1980s - on the self-build scheme planned for the former Watergate School site, at the end of Church Grove in Ladywell.  The article says:

"On a site in Ladywell, a couple of miles east of Walters Way, the council has agreed to hand over the land on a long-term lease to the Rural Urban Synthesis Society (Russ), a community land trust (CLT) set up by Dayes, to develop 33 new homes for a mix of affordable tenures. Unlike the original Lewisham self-builds of the 80s, the Ladywell development will remain affordable in perpetuity, with rents linked to local incomes through the community land trust, which will retain a stake of at least 20% in each home.

"The proposal includes five flats for social rent; two shared flats – each with three purpose-designed studios for young people unable to afford full market rents; 14 flats offered on a discounted shared-equity basis (the CLT’s stake will enable control of subsequent resales to people similarly in need); and 12 homes available shared-ownership, where residents buy a 25% share and can 'earn' up to a further 12% ownership to reflect the sweat equity in building their homes."

Robert Sheppard

Got views on the future of the former Ladywell Leisure Centre site? So have your say!

Residents will be aware that Lewisham Council has earmarked the former Ladywell Leisure Centre site for temporary housing (‘pop-up’ in modern parlance) to meet high housing demand – though in the longer term the site is earmarked for permanent/wider development.

'PLACE/Ladywell'   will provide temporary homes for 24 families plus  ground floor space for community/ business use.

STUDIO RAW are undertaking the consultation/feasibility work and are giving local people the opportunity to voice their opinions and thoughts about the future of the area.  They say on the PLACE/Ladywell website:

“From the 17th until the 22nd of September, between 10am and 5pm, we are inviting our local community to come along and understand more about the developments taking place at the site of the former Ladywell Leisure Centre.  We have created a little nook where you are welcome to stay to enjoy a fresh coffee, learn about the future and also contribute with your thoughts and ideas.”

Robert Sheppard

Peabody consults on Carpet Corner Plans

Peabody Housing Association is currently consulting on its plans for the Carpet Corner site at the junction of Ladywell Road and Wearside Road.

Robert Sheppard

10-14 Mercy Terrace Planning Application Lodged

This scheme, which has been the subject of considerable advance consultation over recent months, has now come forward formally as a planning application (which can be viewed on the Council website).

Robert Sheppard

Goldcrest outlines modified scheme for 10-14 Mercy Terrace

Daniel Francis of PR Company 'Your Shout' writes:

"As you know Goldcrest Architects propose to redevelop the redundant warehouse building at 10-14 Mercy Terrace. The proposals include flexible office space for small and medium businesses on the ground floor with high quality student accommodation above and will contribute to a wider mix of accommodation that is compatible with and will support local businesses in the existing shopping parade.

"Since last summer’s drop in session, we have carefully analysed all the feedback received, met with council officers and the Council’s Design Review Panel on three occasions. In addition, we have also met with Ladywell Councillors and the Ladywell Society to update them on our emerging proposals. This process has allowed us to amend our proposals and develop the design in line with the feedback we have received.

"As a result, the following changes have been made to the proposals since last summer’s consultation:

• The scheme is one and a half storeys lower at the bridge end (south of site) and two storeys lower at the Mercy Terrace end (north of site) than the scheme consulted upon last summer. As a result, the scheme now steps down from part five storeys to three storeys.
• The scheme continues to provide modern flexible B1 space suitable for start-up businesses that will help bring life to Mercy Terrace. We are working with our local commercial agents to ensure that these are as attractive as possible to future occupiers to ensure that they don’t sit empty in the future.
• The student reception area is located on Mercy Terrace helping to improve safety through passive surveillance of the street.
• We have identified to the council the potential for creating a greatly improved public realm along Mercy Terrace with a wider footpath, tree planting, hard landscaping, public space and the potential for a level access route to the station through one of the existing council-owned arches.
• The material palette has been revised to reflect the conservation area context with stock brick used throughout, as opposed to the previously predominately render above ground.

"We are currently making some minor revisions to the elevations and plan to submit a planning application during March."

 

Please contact Daniel on 0800 458 6976 if you have any further queries regarding the application.

Robert Sheppard, LVIG Secretary

 

New enterprise hub to open on Ladywell Leisure Centre site

The proposed 'pop-up' development on the Ladywell Leisure Centre site

One of three new business enterprise hubs will open on the site of the former Ladywell Leisure Centre (at the junction of Lewisham High Street with Ladywell Road) in October 2015.  The Council website says:

"The enterprise hubs will “create high quality, fully furnished and serviced co-working spaces in Catford, Deptford and Lewisham town centres”;

“All three hubs will provide affordable, co-working spaces for rent which will help to create a new vibrancy and buzz for enterprise in the heart of Lewisham’s main town centres”; and

“Local entrepreneurs and businesses will be able to access space and facilities across the network including advice and support for start-ups; intensive mentoring and practical advice; fixed working for larger organizations; co-working space; events and workshops; meeting rooms; and touchdown working.”

Robert Sheppard

LVIG lodges objection to 59 Ladywell Road planning application

The Ladywell Village Improvement Group has lodged an objection to the application to add a further storey to the 'Rivoli apartments' building on Ladywell bridge.  It's understood that both the Ladywell Society and the Ladywell Fields User Group have also lodged objections on similar grounds.
The LVIG Committee

Goldcrest to present their Mercy Terrace plans

Goldcrest Architects have undertaken to attend this evening's meeting of the Ladywell Society to answer questions about their development proposal, for a new block of student accommodation at 10-14 Mercy Terrace - part of the small industrial estate between Ladywell Post Office and the railway line. 

The meeting will take place at 7.45p.m. at the Ladywell Society's usual meeting venue - the Ladywell Fields Environmental Education Centre (the building backing onto the southbound platform of Ladywell Station, near the entrance to the Park from Ladywell Road).

Robert Sheppard

Rivoli developer seeks additional storey

Just as we all thought the new Rivoli development, flung up at 59 Ladywell Road, is all-but finished with a sales open day just last month, it seems the developer wants to squeeze more value out of the site by adding another floor.  This is logged as planning application DC/14/89383 and you can find more here.

A lively debate has already opened up on this on Brockley Central.

Robert Sheppard