Plans for 4-storey block of flats on Lowther Hill [Rejected, Appealed, Dismissed]

What’s the verdict on the design?

That’s replacing the white house at number 60, planning application DC/19/113219.

The previous application, DC/19/111874 was refused in June, and didn’t look much different:

Screenshot_20190815-0634271778×1068 256 KB

It was refused for the following reasons, which I guess the developers have tried to address:

1. The principle of demolition of the existing dwellinghouse and construction of a four
   storey building comprising of seven units is considered to be unacceptable as it proposes the loss of an existing family house without evidenced justification and would not provide a suitable family-sized unit which is contrary to the Council’s aim to build mixed, balanced and sustainable communities and Policy 3.8 Housing choice of the London Plan (2016 as amended), Policy 1 Housing provision, mix and affordability of the Core Strategy (2011) and DM Policy 2 Prevention of the loss of existing housing of the Development Management Local Plan (November 2014).
2. The proposed development would provide substandard residential accommodation by
   way of having inadequate bedroom areas and storage; and insufficient evidence has been provided to demonstrate that the bedrooms on eastern side of the rear elevation would comply with the BRE guidelines and provide an acceptable standard of accommodation. The proposed development is therefore contrary to Policy 3.5 'Quality and design of housing developments’ of the London Plan (2016); Policy 1 ‘Housing Provision, mix and affordability’ of the Core Strategy (2011); DM Policy 32 ‘Housing design, layout and space standards’ of the Development Management Local Plan (November 2014); the Housing SPG of the London Plan (2016); and the Nationally Described Space Standards (2015).
3. The proposed development by means of the bridge, lower ground floor accommodation and roof terrace would appear as an incongruous and discordant addition within the streetscene which fails to respect the character and appearance of the wider streetscene and would therefore be of significant harm to the character and appearance of the wider streetscene contrary to Policy 15 High Quality Design for Lewisham of the adopted Core Strategy (2011); DM Policy 30 Urban Design and Local Character and DM Policy 32 Housing design, layout and space standards of the Development Management Local Plan (2014).
4. The proposed four storey building is considered to be overly dominant by means of its depth and siting, resulting in an unneighbourly and overbearing form of development that would cause harm the to the residential amenities of the occupiers at No. 58 Lowther Hill and No. 62 Lowther Hill, particularly the ground floor units, contrary to Policy 15 High Quality Design for Lewisham of the adopted Core Strategy (June 2011), DM Policy 30 Urban Design and Local Character and DM Policy 31 Alterations and Extensions to Existing Buildings including Residential Extensions of the Development Management Local Plan (November 2014).

There’s quite a mix of housing styles on Lowther Hill, so something a bit ambitious could potentially contribute positively to the mix. I’m not sure this is that though.

As one of the two neighbours named as those most affected yes it is a development which will have a significant impact. This is the fourth submission of a planning application on this site and will increase density from a five person house to a 21 person block of flats with no increase in amenities, parking and increase in noise and traffic. I’d encourage people affected to let Lewisham planners understand their views.

An ‘…incongruous and discordant addition within the street-scene’ definitely sums it up.

This application was decided and refused yesterday:

https://planning.lewisham.gov.uk/online-applications/files/347839F50A5C41D8AFD60162E9181FA3/pdf/DC_19_113219-Decision_Notice-846149.pdf

R E A S O N (S) F O R R E F U S A L

1. The principle of demolition of the existing dwellinghouse and construction of a four
   storey building comprising of seven units is considered to be unacceptable as it
   proposes the loss of an existing family house without evidenced justification and would
   not provide a suitable family-sized unit which is contrary to the Council’s aim to build
   mixed, balanced and sustainable communities and Policy 3.8 Housing choice of the
   London Plan (2016 as amended), Policy 1 Housing provision, mix and affordability of
   the Core Strategy (2011) and DM Policy 2 Prevention of the loss of existing housing of
   the Development Management Local Plan (November 2014).
2. The proposed development would provide substandard residential accommodation by
   way of having inadequate storage; and insufficient evidence has been provided to
   demonstrate that the bedrooms on eastern side of the rear elevation would comply
   with the BRE guidelines and provide an acceptable standard of accommodation. The
   proposed development is therefore contrary to Policy 3.5 ‘Quality and design of
   housing developments’ of the London Plan (2016); Policy 1 ‘Housing Provision, mix
   and affordability’ of the Core Strategy (2011); DM Policy 32 ‘Housing design, layout and
   space standards’ of the Development Management Local Plan (November 2014); the
   Housing SPG of the London Plan (2016); and the Nationally Described Space
   Standards (2015).
3. The proposed development by means of the roof terrace would appear as an
   incongruous and discordant addition within the streetscene which fails to respect the
   character and appearance of the wider streetscene and would therefore be of
   significant harm to the character and appearance of the wider streetscene, contrary to
   Policy 15 High Quality Design for Lewisham of the adopted Core Strategy (2011); DM
   Policy 30 Urban Design and Local Character and DM Policy 32 Housing design, layout
   and space standards of the Development Management Local Plan (2014).
4. The proposed four storey building is considered to be overly dominant by means of its
   depth and siting, resulting in an unneighbourly and overbearing form of development
   that would cause harm the to the residential amenities of the occupiers at No. 58
   Lowther Hill and No. 62 Lowther Hill, particularly the ground floor units, contrary to
   Policy 15 High Quality Design for Lewisham of the adopted Core Strategy (June 2011),
   DM Policy 30 Urban Design and Local Character and DM Policy 31 Alterations and
   Extensions to Existing Buildings including Residential Extensions of the Development
   Management Local Plan (November 2014).

Immediate neighbours are deeply relieved.

An appeal has now been lodged, the process having started yesterday as laid out in the following letter:

https://planning.lewisham.gov.uk/online-applications/files/6377BC79C13130A32A230FAF6732C046/pdf/DC_19_113219-APPEAL_START_LETTER-867420.pdf

Christ here we go again.

The planning inspector visited the site today. The appellant was not in. I showed him the site from next door - he was not allowed to speak to me about the case. We should have a response to the appeal on 27 March.

Fingers crossed!

Yesterday the appeal was also dismissed, the decision letter can be found here: https://planning.lewisham.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=_LEWIS_DCAPR_101134

The letter runs to 7 pages, but helpfully summarises the main issues as the following:

Oh happy, happy day. As one of the neighbours mentioned I really do hope this three year battle is finally over and done with.