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 9

  1. Lewisham Council to Appoint Independent Persons to Standards Committee for Ethical Oversight Lewisham Council is seeking to bolster its ethical oversight by appointing two Independent Persons to its Standards Committee. The move comes after a vacancy arose following the... Lewisham 29 September 2025
  2. Lewisham Council to Consider Dispensation for Councillor Coral Howard Due to Ill Health Lewisham Council is scheduled to discuss a dispensation for Councillor Coral Howard, who is currently unwell, at a council meeting on Wednesday, 24 September 2025. The request... Lewisham 28 September 2025
  3. Lewisham Council to Support 30 Hours Free Childcare Lewisham Council has pledged its full support for the Labour government's commitment to delivering 30 hours of free childcare per week for working parents. The decision was made... Lewisham 28 September 2025
  4. Lewisham Council to Debate Public Ownership of Thames Water Lewisham Council is set to debate a motion calling for Thames Water to be brought back into public ownership at a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 24 September 2025. Lewisham 28 September 2025
  5. Lewisham Pension Fund Addresses Data Issues, Including Deceased Members and ABS Processing Lewisham Council's Pension Board is addressing data quality to ensure accurate pension administration, following the identification of several issues through ongoing data... Lewisham 27 September 2025
  6. Lewisham Council Appoints New Director of Finance in Closed Session Lewisham Council's Appointments Committee met on 18 September 2025 and voted to exclude the press and public before discussing and deciding on the appointment of a new Director... Lewisham 22 September 2025
  7. Lewisham Council Faces £2.5 Million Overspend in Special Needs Education Funding Lewisham Council is grappling with a projected £2.5 million overspend in its dedicated schools grant (DSG), specifically within the high needs block. This financial strain... Lewisham 19 September 2025
  8. Lewisham HRA Budget Boosts Housing Repairs by £6.2 Million Lewisham Council has significantly increased its Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget for housing repairs by £6.2 million, aiming to transform its services and address a... Lewisham 19 September 2025