Lewisham Tall Buildings Study Addendum

Overview

About the study

The Lewisham Tall Buildings study is an evidence base document that will support the preparation of the new Lewisham Local Plan. The Local Plan, once adopted, will form part of the Council’s statutory Development Plan alongside the London Plan (2021) and adopted Neighbourhood Plans. It will be used in the determination of planning applications.

This study is an Addendum to the Draft Lewisham Tall Buildings Study (2021). The Addendum has been prepared to ensure that that Local Plan is consistent with national planning policy and in general conformity with the London Plan. This is particularly London Plan policy D9 (Tall Buildings) which directs all London boroughs in their Local Plans to identify locations where tall buildings may be an appropriate form of development and to set parameters for building heights.

The study will also help to ensure that the Local Plan provides clarity for communities, developers and decision-makers, including Council officers, about the appropriateness of tall buildings in different parts of the borough.

Background

The Council is currently preparing a new Local Plan. We carried out a public consultation on the Lewisham Local Plan: Main Issues and Preferred Approaches document (Regulation 18 stage) from January to April 2021. The policy proposals were informed by the Draft Lewisham Tall Buildings Study (2021). This can be viewed on our Local Plan evidence webpage here.

The consultation reflected the significant amount of interest in the topic of building heights. We received comments from the London Mayor and other statutory bodies, local communities and community groups, developers and others. The Addendum has been prepared in response to this feedback.

Why your views matter

What we are seeking your views on

There is no statutory requirement for the Council to consult on this evidence base document. However in response to the significant amount of interest in building heights we are publishing the Addendum so that those who wish to do so, have an opportunity to review and comment.

We would like to learn if there:

• Is any technical information or evidence that you feel should be considered as part of this Addendum
• If there are any factual errors or omissions in the Addendum

What we are not asking

We appreciate that there are wide-ranging views on building heights. However:

• As this is an evidence base document which has been prepared by independent consultants to provide an objective assessment we are not asking whether you agree or disagree with the findings of the Addendum

How to submit comments

To submit any comments you may have on the Lewisham Tall Buildings Study please do so by reviewing the Lewisham Tall Buildings Study which is attached below and complete the following survey or by e-mailing:

Localplan@lewisham.gov.uk

or in writing to;

Strategic Planning, Laurence House, 1 Catford Rd, Catford, London, SE6 4RU

Deadline for comments

The deadline for comments is 10 June 2022.

Next steps

All comments received will be considered as the Tall Buildings Study Addendum is finalised. The completed study will then be used to inform the preparation of the Local Plan – Proposed Submission Document (Regulation 19 stage), which will be published for public consultation, tentatively scheduled for autumn 2022.