Lewisham Council's Planning Committee B convened on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, to discuss a proposal for the construction of three two-storey houses in the rear garden of 113 Dartmouth Road. The project has faced objections from local residents concerned about access and safety, particularly regarding the suitability of the access alleyway for mobility-impaired users.
The committee heard from a Principal Planning Officer who recommended granting planning permission for the development, subject to conditions deemed appropriate to ensure the acceptable implementation of the development[1]. According to the officer, the bedrooms meet size standards, the access width is sufficient for pedestrian and bin access. The officer also stated that disabled access is feasible for two of the three houses via ramps. However, the officer clarified that the proposed alleyway was not wide enough for wheelchair access according to British planning law.
The applicant's agent stated that the project had evolved, reducing the number of dwellings from four to three, incorporating feedback from pre-applications and public consultation.
A Chartered Planning Consultant, commissioned by local residents, voiced concerns about access and safety, citing 29 objections related to the narrow alleyway's suitability for mobility-impaired users, and its proximity to a busy bus stop and schools, raising public and highway safety concerns. The consultant also argued that the site would be overdeveloped, with poorly located bin storage, and that the scheme may negatively impact the character of the area, contrary to national and local policies requiring developments to improve the area's quality, design, and landscaping.
Despite the objections, the committee was asked to grant planning permission, subject to conditions. The Principal Planning Officer noted that the width of the access was sufficient to walk down to the back garden of the site and to pull a normal bin through as well.
The Senior Planning Officer clarified that legal rights of access and land ownership were not material planning considerations, and that the planning authority assesses the application as submitted, focusing on planning issues, not private access disputes. Case law confirmed that planning authorities do not adjudicate access rights.
The committee ultimately voted to grant planning permission for the construction of the three houses, subject to conditions. The decision reflects the council's consideration of the development's impact on the local area, balancing the need for new housing with the concerns of existing residents.
It is important to note that if a satisfactory legal agreement for the development at 113 Dartmouth Road has not been entered into by 18 March 2026, authority is delegated to the Director of Planning to refuse the application if the planning legal agreement (s106) is not completed or sufficiently progressed within six months of the Planning Committee meeting.[2]
[1] The meeting minutes from September 18, 2025, state that planning permission for 113 Dartmouth Road SE23 was granted subject to conditions, including those set out in the report as are considered appropriate to ensure the acceptable implementation of the development. [2] The meeting minutes from September 18, 2025, state that if a satisfactory legal agreement for the developments at Robins Court, 2 Breakspears Road, and 113 Dartmouth Road has not been entered into by 18 March 2026, authority is delegated to the Director of Planning to refuse the application if the planning legal agreement (s106) is not completed or sufficiently progressed within six months of the Planning Committee meeting.