A campaign backed by celebrities including Jude Law and Dominic Cooper has won a victory after controversial plans to build 45 new homes on a car park in Blackheath were put on hold.
Talented Mr Ripley star Law 53, was among campaigners objecting to proposals to turn Blackheath station car park into 20 terraced houses and 25 flats, saying the development would place “a strain on a wonderful old village”.
Law, who grew up in Blackheath and went to nearby John Ball Primary School, said the plans were not the answer to London’s growing housing crisis.
He said: “My junior school was across from the site where this proposed development will take place.
“This plan does not answer housing needs. Instead this plan will enforce a strain on a wonderful old village that deserves our protection.”
The plans would see the car park capacity reduced from 162 spaces to only 17, while the development itself would deliver 21.3 per cent “affordable” housing by habitable room, according to developer Acorn Property Group.
But residents and local campaigners have argued the plans could have a detrimental impact on the Blackheath Conservation area, which was one of the first in the capital.
In an open letter, campaigners including Law and fellow actor Dominic Cooper objected, saying the buildings are of an "overbearing, unsympathetic design" which "destroys rather than improves" the neighbourhood and could ruin its "unique character".
Other signatories include broadcaster Jools Holland, musician Manfred Mann and Miranda star Sarah Hadland.
On Tuesday evening, Lewisham Council's planning committee deferred the decision on the proposal in order to request further information on parking, the impact on commercial activity in the area, and access arrangements including for emergency services.
Speaking at the meeting, Councillor James Rathbone said the application is "extremely controversial" and has sparked a "huge level of public interest".
He added: "It's certainly attracted more press interest than practically anything else which has occurred at this council in my seven-and-three-quarters' years on the council, and I think it's important we can turn around to the thousands of people who've commented on this application, far more than I've ever seen on any other planning application, and be able to give them reassurance that we did cross all the Ts and dot all the Is."
The open letter from those in opposition reads: "We are fortunate to have lived, worked or studied in Blackheath, one of the most historic and beautiful corners of London. But we are deeply concerned by the threat to the harmony, attractiveness, and economy of Blackheath village by Acorn's plans to build three large blocks of dwellings on the station car park.
"The dramatic loss of parking and the uncertainty around the future of a farmers' market which will be partly shoehorned into a narrow strip of the car park, threaten the viability of the independent shops in the already-struggling village. Blackheath will become a ghost village."
According to a council document, a planning officer has recommended the local authority approves the plans as proposed by Acorn, subject to 43 conditions.
The proposed site currently hosts a farmers' market every Sunday.
The committee's next meeting will be on February 12 at 7pm.
