Greenwich Council's Local Planning Committee has approved the construction of a new two-storey dwelling on land to the rear of 62 and 64 Footscray Road in Eltham, contributing to the council's goal of addressing a national housing shortage.
The decision, made at a meeting on Thursday, February 19, 2026, will see the former service area, which was previously used by small ground-floor retail units including a beauty salon and a convenience store, transformed into a three-bedroom family home. The site, previously undeveloped and fenced off, will now accommodate the new dwelling.
The new dwelling has been designed to be in keeping with the surrounding Edwardian terraced properties, utilising traditional London red brick, clay roof tiles, and painted white timber windows and doors. The two-storey structure will have an eaves height of six metres and an overall height of 10 metres, featuring a hip roof with two front gable features.
During the meeting, Councillor Ann-Marie Cousins raised concerns about parking availability in the area. However, planning officers and the applicant's representative, Brendan Meade, presented evidence indicating sufficient parking capacity. A parking survey conducted on December 12th and 13th, 2023, showed that a car park with 28 spaces had a maximum of only eight cars parked during those two days. Furthermore, the development includes improved on-site loading facilities with a new bay suitable for a 7.5-ton van, and an existing parking bay will be kept clear for delivery vehicles. Swept path analysis confirmed that vehicles up to 7.5 tons could access the site safely.
Objections regarding the potential loss of sunlight and outlook for neighbouring properties at 66 and 68 Footscray Road were also addressed. Assurances were given that the dwelling's orientation and setback would minimise impact. Specifically, on the southern elevations, the new upward extension will be set back approximately 4 metres from the walls of the building facing Laster Place and the property on Vanbrugh Hill. Balcony areas for units four and eight will be the same width, the chimney will be two metres tall from ground level, and the terrace will be set back by 0.6 metres.
The committee approved the application, noting its contribution to housing targets and its compliance with design and amenity considerations. Conditions attached to the approval include that the three upper floor rear windows would be obscurely glazed and non-opening below 1.7 metres to prevent overlooking.
The construction period for the new dwelling is estimated to be 15 months.
This development contributes to Greenwich Council's housing targets, which aim to address a national housing shortage and deliver homes in sustainable locations. Further details on planning applications and decisions can be found in the Decisions 19th-Feb-2026 18.30 Local Planning Committee document.
