Two semi-detached houses will be built on land to the rear of Sandhurst Road, despite objections from local residents, after Lewisham Council's Planning Committee B approved the application on Tuesday, 15 July 2025.

The development, located at the rear of 179 Sandhurst Road and 174 Glenfarg Road, SE6, will include amenity spaces, terraces, cycle spaces, and bin stores. The existing dropped kerb on Torridon Road will be removed and the footway repaved to improve road safety for pedestrians and highway users, as the development is car-free1.

Aerial view of the proposed development site at land to the rear of 179 Sandhurst Road, SE6 1UR, outlined in red.
Aerial view of the proposed development site at land to the rear of 179 Sandhurst Road, SE6 1UR, outlined in red.Source: Planning Committee B papers, 15 July 2025

The decision comes despite concerns raised by local residents, with ten individual planning objections submitted. Issues included the planning history of the site, overdevelopment, design concerns, and potential impacts on traffic and neighbour amenity. Residents specifically objected to the planning history, which included a refusal and subsequent dismissed appeal for a similar scheme.

According to the Planning Committee B reports pack, planning officers recommended approval, stating that the proposed development would contribute to meeting Lewisham's housing needs and would make efficient use of the site. The design was also considered to be of high quality and appropriate for the location.

Architectural rendering of the proposed development at Land to rear of 179 Sandhurst Road, SE6 1UR.
Architectural rendering of the proposed development at Land to rear of 179 Sandhurst Road, SE6 1UR.Source: Planning Committee B papers, 15 July 2025

The Council's Conservation Officer raised concerns about the impact on the setting of the nearby Corbett Community Library, a Grade II listed building, and the Corbett Estate, a non-designated heritage asset. However, officers considered that the public benefits of the proposal, in terms of providing new housing, outweighed the harm to the heritage assets.

The development is car-free, with cycle storage provided. Conditions will be imposed to protect neighbour amenity and ensure compliance with sustainable design standards2.

The Planning Committee B also addressed other planning applications, including:

  • A proposal to build two additional storeys at 23 Mercia Grove, London, SE13 6BJ, providing 15 flats. Design concerns raised by local residents included the impact on the Mercia Grove Conservation Area (including scale, massing, design and materials). Condition 5 for this development stipulates secured and covered cycle parking for 21 additional cycles in compliance with the London Cycling Design Standards.
  • The continued use of Lee Meeting Hall, Woodyates Road, SE12 9JG for religious worship, along with single-storey extensions and changes to parking. Conditions would be imposed to restrict hours of use and to limit amplified sound, in order to protect the amenity of neighbouring properties.
  • A minor material amendment application for mews houses at land to the rear of 55 Broseley Grove, London, SE26 5LD.

These other applications will be covered in separate news articles.

  1. The existing vehicle access would be closed and the crossover removed, with the kerbline re-instated to full height at the developer's expense. ↩

  2. The report for Land to the Rear of 55 Broseley Grove and Land to rear of 179 Sandhurst Road stated that conditions would be imposed to ensure compliance with sustainable design standards and to protect neighbor amenity. ↩