Creekside Consultations

Crossfields residents are invited to take part in two consultations very shortly. Firstly, we are invited this coming Wednesday to view the plans for a redeveloped Faircharm Estate. Secondly, Lewisham Council will be seeking our views on their plan to designate Creekside a Conservation Area.

WorkSpace who run Faircharm Trading Estate hope to submit a planning application for the redevelopment of the site in 2012. Their architects have developed plans "that are going to deliver an exciting mixed use development that will retain the unique nature of the area whilst delivering new residential and workspace accommodation."

This Drop In session is intended to give locals an opportunity to view the updated designs. Of particular interest to Crossfields residents will be the heights of the new buildings and how the work will be phased – there is likely to be serious disruption whilst building work takes place, should planning permission be granted. However...

CREEKSIDE CONSERVATION AREA

Lewisham Council notified the businesses on Faircharm Estate last week that it is commencing a public consultation on a proposal to designate the Creekside area – including the Faircharm Estate and Crossfields Estate – as a conservation area.

Lewisham's Enterprise Development Manager Paul Hadfield says the council's planning policy is to protect local employment locations such as Faircharm for employment uses in order to support the local economy. This is likely to affect Workspace's plans to redevelop Faircharm as a mixed use site (that will include yet more luxury flats overlooking the Creek, as well as employment space). It may also affect other developers' plans for the Lewisham side of the Creek.

The Council is of the opinion that Creekside is a place of architectural and historic merit, and its buildings and spaces should be enhanced and protected. It wants to know what local businesses think of the area and its buildings and intends to consult on its proposal between 5 December and 16 January 2012.

Crosswhatfields has been assured by Lewisham's Conservation Officer Regina Jaszinski that Crossfields residents shall also be receiving letters next week informing us of the consultation, and hopefully we shall find out what it will mean for the estate to become part of a Conservation Area.