Blackheath: Lewisham defers decision on controversial plans for station car park

The plans from developer Acorn to develop 45 homes on Blackheath station car park have raised a wave of local opposition, with a record number of 1202 objections and only 30 in favour.

Celebrities who grew up in the area, including Jude Law and Dominic Cooper, have added their names to the Reject campaign, leading to high levels of media interest.

The plans include a row of terraced houses, a five storey block and a 4 storey block, and a reduced number of parking spaces.

There is space for the farmers market to continue, with a purpose built home. Mark Handley, director of London Farmers' Markets, has repeatedly said that he supports the proposals.

Residents in other parts of Lewisham have made comparisons with the type of development they are seeing around them, and struggled to see the problem.

Blackheath is considered a special case because it is a conservation area, with councillor Suzannah Clarke describing it as "the jewel in Lewisham's crown" at yesterday's planning committee meeting.

There are 28 other conservation areas across Lewisham, and other much-loved parks, nature reserves and spaces that might want to stake a claim to that title.

But it became clear that the heritage value of the area and how much that financially contributes to the local economy was key to the debate.

Local businesses also raised concerns about the impact of the loss of car parking spaces, and their fears for the future of the farmers market, despite Handley's support for the plans.

Just before 11 pm, councillor James Rathbone raised the motion for the decision to be deferred, requesting:

• a parking survey covering peak commercial days.
• a survey of the commercial activity in the village and the impact of the plans on the local economy.
• a detailed report of market access arrangements including for emergency services.

The motion was agreed unanimously.

This will inevitably move the decision beyond the May local elections, giving it to a new set of councillors.

The meeting began with officers presenting the benefits of the scheme, which uses the brownfield site to provide 45 homes, including 21% at social rent. The scheme would have excellent transport links, is highly sustainable and car free.

The number of public parking spaces is reduced from its current 163 spaces to 17.

Five homes are wheelchair accessible, there are 2 disabled parking spaces for residents and 2 of the public spaces are allocated for disabled parking.

Councillor Rathbone, referencing resident objections, asked what day of the week the parking survey, which showed showed low use of the car park, was done.

Officers confirmed that it was carried out on Wednesday 4 June 2024.

Councillor Clarke asked a number of questions, raising the low number of disabled parking spaces.

But it was when she began talking about the historic value of the conservation area and the visitors, especially Americans, that this attracted, that she received a long round of applause and whoops from the public gallery, after which the public were asked to stay silent.

Jacqui McQueen, design and development manager for Acorn said "we don't use cookie cutter designs" adding that the firm are "passionate about thoughtfully designed, sustainable communities," to ironic laughter from the public gallery.

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Car park 'never part of Blackheath's heritage'

Acorn's planning consultant pointed out that the car park was never part of Blackheath's heritage, saying that the scheme "replaces car centred development with design which better reflects Blackheath's historic character".

Councillor Rathbone was first to question them with "there's much that I like but .."

His said his concerns were around the parking management plan, it is "highly legitimate to eliminate commuter parking, but there is a legitimate need for parking for the market and for access to the high street.

"I have concerns that survey did not capture visitors to the car park as opposed to commuter use."

Jack Williams, transport planning expert with SLR consulting, defended the surveys saying that they had done on different weekdays over the last four years, adding that there had been plans to extend the market to a Saturday.

He pointed out that the council is trying to encourage people to change their mode of travel, and they had had positive conversations with John Ball primary school, the nearby school.

Blackheath residents raised their objections.

Emma Theedom spoke on behalf of all the residents in Collins street, who would be affected by the new row of terraced housing facing them. At present, the row looks onto the station car park.

Her house would be most affected by the reduction in sunlight, due to block A at the east end of the car park.

The light survey performed by the council showed that from late autumn until March, only 7% of the garden would be getting sunlight.

This would then gradually increase, so that by April, 73% of the garden would be getting sunlight.

She said: "we transformed our garden from a patch of mud and nettles into a space that we live in and love .. my personal loss will be far greater than the analysis suggests ..

"Block A will benefits from the very light and privacy it deprives us of".

Nick Ellis from Ellis butchers, spoke on behalf of Blackheath village businesses, saying that the market brings around 3,000 people to the village, "it is our single best trading day of the week."

He raised concerns about the temporary relocation of the market, "for us, it feels like the beginning of the end of the market."

'Businesses depend on the parking'

Another major concern was loss of parking, "I know its unpopular to say, but businesses depend on the parking ..

Asking for a retail impact survey, he said "we feel like we've been ignored throughout this entire process".

Adam Oliver, trustee of Blackheath society, again raised concerns about access arrangement to the farmers market and the loss of the car park, "the village economy depends on adequate parking".

Council officer Angus Saunders pointed out: "conditions for the market to return are present, but we cannot compel the market to return. 

"Theoretically it could cease tomorrow and there is nothing we could do."

'Prioritising parking spaces over 45 new homes'

Local resident Freddy Soames spoke in favour of the scheme, saying "I'm a proud resident of Blackheath..

"Like so many of my generation, I've spent my whole adult life contending with rising rents, impossible mortgage affordability and the insecurity of the London housing market.

He explained that he had a three-week old baby at home, but had come out to the meeting because this felt so important him.

"When I look at this proposal .. I see the future of the village that my child is going to grow up in.

"We cannot afford to prioritise parking spaces over 45 new homes."

Mark Handley, the director of London Farmers' Markets, spoke in favour of the scheme. He had seen the market through 25 years of growth since it started in the Blackheath Conservatoire, "we have endured, survived and thrived."

He said that very few London markets had a permanent home, which is offered in the Acorn proposal and he supported the servicing plan.

Many councillors were struggling with the dissonance between Handley' assurances that he welcomed the proposals, including the servicing scheme, and the views of objectors, including, they said, stall holders.

Councillors insisted that there were issues with the servicing scheme, and raised questions about access by emergency services during market hours.

Officers confirmed there are three access points in for emergency services, but only one access point out, which would require movement of some stalls.

The three Blackheath councillors were permitted to address the meeting.

Councillor Luke Warner mentioned the threat to the "delicate economy" of Blackheath village.

Councillor Pauline Dall raised concerns of parents at John Ball school about daylight and overlooking.

These concerns were not raised in the objection from the school, although it mentions unspecified "community opposition", and the "likely detrimental impact" of noise, dust and disruption during the construction phase.

'Not about saying no to new homes'

Councillor Amanda De Ryk is ward councillor for Blackheath, cabinet member for finance and Labour's mayoral candidate for Lewisham.

She thanked councillor Clarke for calling Blackheath 'the jewel in the crown' of Lewisham, saying it was a "privilege to represent such a special place."

She mentioned the pressures on Blackheath high street, which has struggled to recover after the pandemic, asserting that it is struggling more than other high streets across Lewisham.

She raised questions about every aspect of the market, and again Mark Hadley's views were dismissed.

"It does not feel like it’s the right solution for us," she said.

"Everyone understands the need for new homes.  This isn’t about saying no to new homes, it about making sure that what is built doesn't damage something precious along the way".

After more questions, the meeting broke to allow the committee to take legal advice.

After reconvening, they approved the motion to defer the decision.

A Lewisham Council spokesperson said:

 “The Planning Committee deferred the Blackheath Station Car Park application because members were not satisfied they had the information needed to make a fully informed decision. In particular, councillors were clear they needed stronger and more detailed evidence about the potential impact of the proposals on Blackheath’s economy. 

“Deferring the application ensures residents’ concerns can be properly considered and any decision is taken with a full understanding of the likely effects on local businesses and the wider area. Our priority is securing the best possible outcome for Blackheath.”

Amended 29 January 20.55. 1202 objections were received as of 16 January 2026.

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