Harm to the Blackheath Conservation Area

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The proposed buildings are far too large and modern for London’s oldest conservation area. Blackheath’s historic look and feel would be seriously harmed.

• Blocks are out of scale and style with the rest of the village
• Fails to preserve the traditional low-rise, village character.
• Damages protected views and breaks visual continuity

Conservation areas must be protected. New buildings should enhance, not overpower, their surroundings.

This plan affects the daily lives of nearby residents and schoolchildren. Tall buildings will overlook homes and classrooms, and there’s no proper safety plan for John Ball School

• Overlooking and loss of light and privacy for homes on Collins Street
• Classrooms and play areas will be visible from new flats
• No alternative fire assembly area for 600+ pupils

New developments must protect the privacy, safety and light of existing homes and schools. 

The Farmers’ Market is vital to Blackheath’s identity and economy — but the plans treat it as an afterthought.  The market has been incorporated into the remaining available space within the development. By retaining the market, the developer can present a sense of continuity and community engagement, serving as a form of 'window dressing' to gain approval from local residents 

• During the 2+ year construction period, the market will be relocated but there is no indication of where it is to be relocated to
• If it returns, compared to the existing market layout the proposal has poor visibility, poor shopper circulation space and, for the traders located at the far end of the ‘tail’, viability challenges
• Of the 17 parking spaces available in the development traders will be limited to parking in 8 spaces. The remaining 9 will be occupied by stalls. Therefore, most trader vehicles will be forced to park on the surrounding streets
• The new “market square” is much smaller and shared with housing and a Café
• There is a concern the market square’ could become a meeting point for anti-social behaviour
• Many market traders believe the plans will, over time, result in the end of the farmers' market

Valued community assets must be protected and supported, not pushed aside. 

The development would cut parking from over 160 spaces to just 17 + 2 disabled. This would disrupt access to the station, school, market and village shops

• No public parking on Sundays (08:00 – 15:00)
• School drop-offs and market trader vans will have to park in the village
• Overflow parking will clog nearby residential streets

Parking must be realistic and support community access, not just developers’ goals. 

This plan crams too much onto a small site. The result is a bulky, crowded development that’s out of place in a low-rise village setting.

• 45 homes + cafe on a tight footprint overwhelms the area
• Massing and layout don’t respect the street pattern
• Will strain local services and infrastructure

 Good design should fit its surroundings. This does not.  

The proposed 2+ year construction period would cause major disruption for residents, businesses and the school — with little detail on how it will be managed.

• Site access via narrow Baizdon Road will create traffic and safety risks
• Noise, dust, pollution and construction vehicles will impact the school
• No clear traffic management or safety plan in place

Construction must be safely managed with proper access plans — especially near schools and homes.  

Residents of the 45 new homes will not be given parking permits — but many will still own cars. Lewisham has seen the problems this causes in other developments.

• Families with cars will park illegally or add to street congestion
• Kidbrooke is a nearby example where this has gone badly wrong
• There’s no plan to manage traffic increases or deliveries

 Transport policies must be realistic and workable — not wishful thinking. 

The development adds population but not services. There's no mention of support for schools, GPs, dentists or public transport.

• No plan for increased demand on local health or education services.
• No provision for community space or safety access.
• No clarity on where schoolchildren would assemble in emergencies.

 Sustainable development means building with infrastructure, not just buildings. 

The developers show lots of green space in their designs — but there’s no clear plan for how it will be maintained or if it’s even possible.

• No one is named to take care of green roofs, trees, rain gardens or public realm
• Lewisham has a poor track record for maintaining public greenery
• Trees near market stalls may not be feasible at all

Green features must be properly planned, managed and meaningful — not just visual decoration.