Here be doggers: Honor Oak mapped by hand
Speaking of Londonist, they also have a cool hand-drawn map of Honor Oak from local artist Annie Greevenbosch.
Not Brockley Central: Portman Village
Even in our most expansionist moments, we wouldn't try to claim Marylebone for Greater Brockley, but sometimes we like to go to other places and sometimes we write about them. So we've written about Portman Village for Londonist, whose readers are less likely to respond by asking with furious indignation what any of this has to do with Brockley.
If you want to see what we get up to when we're not in SE4, feel free to click here.
We didn't say it in the article obviously, but seeing how quickly and positively Portman Village has been transformed through a coherent plan, enlightened landlords and encouragement for independent businesses makes us wish that such an approach was possible in Lewisham. It easier to do it in central London of course, but a year ago, Portman was deader than Ladywell. Strict planning controls, low rents to help independent businesses (and cut vacancy rates) and a determination to create a pleasant public realm are the way forward.
See if you can spot some subtle references to a sewing cafe and craft workshop that we like.
Morley's for Algernon
Ladywell Village Improvement Group reports that Morley's chicken is about to move in to Algernon Road.
Morley's have targeted the area for expansion and are unhappy at the way their brand is being appropriated by other operators.
LVIG are concerned about the affect that this could have on the road and local health, but given that it would be a direct replacement for an off licence, this seems to us like an unreasonable complaint, although we do agree to the extent that chicken bones strewn on the street are a curse.
Brockley Cross scheme "later this year"
Cllr Johnson submitted a formal written question at last week's Council meeting, asking what influence the community consultation would have on the redevelopment of Brockley Cross and calling for the designers to work with community representatives, such as the Brockley Cross Action Group to deliver the final plans. Here is the Council's reply: The Council has appointed an experienced and respected public realm consultant, The Project Centre, to develop a preliminary design for Brockley Cross. The Project Centre’s principal designer has extensive experience in designing award winning public realm schemes including Kensington High Street and Walworth Road. He is also the author of the TFL Streetscape design manual. Members of the local community have been invited to make comments and suggestions on the Council’s preliminary proposals developed by the Project Centre. As a result, a total of 80 responses to our invitation have been received. These have been forwarded to the Project Centre and are now receiving being analysed. We expect that this will result in amendments to the design as is generally the case at this stage in the design development. Once this analysis is complete and has been impacted on the design proposals, the revised design will then be presented to Ward Members and local community representatives. Following this and when the agreed design has been finalised, we hope to be able to implement the scheme later this year. Initial work has already been carried out to make minor modifications to the road layout. This has included widening the central crossing point, repositioning the two mini roundabouts and changing the road markings.
Lewisham invites formal proposals for library buildings
From Lewisham Council:
The Council now invites proposals in relation to the following properties:
- Crofton Park Library 375 Brockley Road, Brockley, London, SE4 2AG
- Grove Park Library Somertrees Avenue, London, SE12 OBX
- New Cross Library 283-285 New Cross Road, London, SE14 6AS
- Sydenham Library 210 Sydenham Road, London, SE26 5SE
The London Borough of Lewisham now seeks to grant a lease/leases of the above premises to secure community use within them. In particular any party interested in taking a lease/leases from the Council would be required to grant appropriate rights to the Council in relation to part of the premises from which the Council will provide some library services.
The Council is keen to ensure that these premises play a central role in the life of the local community. In their proposal any interested party will need to address whether they intend to offer any community use in addition to the library provision to be offered by the Council, though income generating use of the premises is not precluded.
The conditions of any lease will require the lessee to assume full repairing and maintenance obligations in respect of each building. Proposals may relate to one, some or all of the properties.
Those interested in submitting a proposal should contact us at librarybuildings@lewisham.gov.
Further information is set out in the application pack, but interested parties should be aware that they will need to submit a full business case which demonstrates the viability of their proposal. They will also need to set out details of any community benefit they will deliver.
Blackheath Library is not included in this process as the Council does not own the library building.
The Evening Standard on the East London Line effect 2
Because you demanded it, here's the article the Evening Standard ran about the likely impact that the Clapham extension on the East London Line is likely to have on house prices along the route. This is a theme the paper is fond of.
They say:
Homebuyers take note: many good-value SE postcodes will no longer feel the isolation that has kept prices down in the past. Now could prove a good time to buy, before the full impact of the new line is felt and buyers pile in and push up prices.
Transport for London forecasts that the fully extended East London line will boost yearly passenger numbers from nine million to 40 million by 2016.
Transport for London forecasts that the fully extended East London line will boost yearly passenger numbers from nine million to 40 million by 2016.
Obviously, it's not directly relevant to this area, but it shows that the ELL will continue to shine the spotlight on South East London until next year at least.
Coming soon: The Hardcastle, 44 Lewisham Way
Artist's impression of The Hardcastle from the planning document
Major pubco Enterprise Inns has submitted plans to redevelop The Rosemary Branch pub (44 Lewisham Way) as "The Hardcastle". In their planning application, they say:
The proposed site is a large and somewhat run down Victorian era pub set in the heart of New Cross, near to Goldsmith’s College. The site is not listed nor within a conservation area but is however a fine and somewhat grandiose building of some architectural merit.
Means of access, tree planting nor felling and watercourses will not be altered.
It is hoped that the refurbishment, new branding and change of operator of this well sited pub will once again establish it firmly within the local community. As part of the refurbishment it is proposed to fix retractable awnings to the front elevation of the building to help reinforce the pub’s presence and to offer it’s [sic] customers shelter from poor weather. Please note that we also intend to remove the rear pagoda style extension that has caused both the local community and council some concern in the past (Your Ref: DC/10/75156 & DC/09/71739).
The Lewisham Way venue has been through a number of incarnations in recent years.
It had been speculated (though not by Brockley Central) that this could be the site for new drinking establishment, the Grizzly Bar. This news rules that possibility out and shows just how strong the New Cross pub renaissance is.
With thanks to Danja for the story.
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