Organisation

Lewisham council

86 stories · discussed at 5 council meetings · 4 councils

Lewisham Council recently refused a major development at the former Lewisham College site, while addressing significant financial overspends and enhancing resident services.

Lewisham Council's Strategic Planning Committee refused planning permission for the redevelopment of the former Lewisham College site in September 2026, citing heritage and urban design impacts. This decision followed officer recommendations regarding the scale and massing of the proposed 802 dwellings. Greenwich Council's Planning Board subsequently deferred its decision on the cross-borough project in September 2026, pending Lewisham Council's determination.

In September 2026, the Public Accounts Select Committee heard that Lewisham Council faces a projected £10 million overspend for SEND services and a £6.5 million overspend due to parking contract costs. Despite these financial pressures, the council launched a 'cash-first' Crisis and Resilience Fund for residents and approved an £83 million investment in housing repairs in September 2026.

Lewisham Council insourced mental health social care services and committed to reviewing its parental leave policy in September 2026, aiming for a minimum of six weeks' fully paid leave. The council also secured an £800,000 grant for a new children's home and improved the speed of EHCP reviews in September 2026 following an LGO investigation. No upcoming meetings are currently scheduled to discuss this topic.

Key facts

  1. Lewisham Council's Strategic Planning Committee refused planning permission for the former Lewisham College site on 24 September 2026. Source
  2. Greenwich Council's Planning Board deferred a decision on the former Lewisham College site on 28 September 2026. Source
  3. Lewisham Council is facing a projected £10 million overspend on its high needs block for SEND services, as heard in September 2026. Source
  4. Lewisham Council launched a 'cash-first' Crisis and Resilience Fund for residents on 23 September 2026. Source
  5. Lewisham Council approved an £83 million investment in housing repairs and maintenance on 09 September 2026. Source
About this summary

This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on, with background from Wikipedia. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.

Stories, page 4

  1. Lewisham Council Sees 460% Rise in Identified Fire Safety Actions, Straining Resources Lewisham Council has reported a significant 460% surge in identified fire safety actions, a substantial increase primarily attributed to a greater number of fire risk... Lewisham 10 July 2026
  2. Lewisham Council to Address Heat in Public Buildings with Cooling Measures Lewisham Council is taking steps to address the impact of heat in its public buildings, a concern that has been raised at the Health and Safety Committee. Lewisham 10 July 2026
  3. Lewisham Council Buildings Contain Asbestos in 94 Sites Lewisham Council has confirmed that asbestos is present in 94 of its buildings, according to a report presented to the Health and Safety Committee. The report, available in the... Lewisham 10 July 2026
  4. Lewisham Launches 'Love Lewisham' Campaign to Combat Fly-Tipping and Enhance Civic Pride Lewisham Council has launched 'Love Lewisham', a new initiative aimed at tackling persistent fly-tipping and enhancing the borough's cleanliness. The campaign, announced by... Lewisham 3 July 2026
  5. Lewisham Council to Review Parking Policies to Address SUV Safety Concerns Lewisham Council is set to review its parking policies as part of a broader effort to address concerns surrounding the safety implications of larger vehicles, particularly SUVs. Lewisham 3 July 2026
  6. Islington Council backs judicial review of Mayor's housing plans Islington Council has formally backed a judicial review into the Mayor of London's emergency housing plans, a move that could significantly impact future housing development in... Islington 3 July 2026
  7. Lewisham Council to Focus on Racial Inequality in Schools Lewisham Council is set to implement measures aimed at tackling racial inequality in educational attainment within the borough's schools, with a dedicated focus on the topic... Lewisham 1 July 2026
  8. Lewisham Council approves £1.5m in grants for local organisations Lewisham Council has approved a £1.5 million package of grants for local organisations, aimed at supporting community initiatives and services across the borough. Lewisham 13 February 2026