The Dulwich Society

New Dulwich Estate website and monthly surgery

The long promised new website was finally launched on 12 July - www.dulwichestate.org.uk. It provides information on the local area like the shops and the Estate’s operations - and includes details of the charity’s annual accounts. Starting on Monday 6 August, anyone who would like to discuss issues relating to their freehold or leasehold property, or plans and ideas for the wider area, can drop in to the Estate office and discuss them with the chief executive Simone Crofton, director of property Adrian Brace, and other members of the Estate’s team. The surgery runs from 10am-4pm at The Old College, Gallery Road, SE21 7AE, and no appointment is needed. They will run on the first Monday of each month and the first is on the 6th August.

Work finally starts on the S G Smith workshop site

Enabling works on the redevelopment started in the third week of July - with the relocation of the boundary fencing and some tree surgery. Demolition of the existing buildings commenced in earnest at the end of the month with the works programmed to take approximately 6 weeks so as minimise the impact on the local schools when the children return for the autumn term.

Street closure to ease air pollution near schools

Responded to concerns at Bessemer Grange Primary School about air pollution and child safety, Southwark Council has agreed to the trial closing of Nairn Grove, the road in front of the School, to motor vehicles during school drop off and pick up times - 8.00-9.15am and 14.40-15.45. The closure will be implemented using physical barriers and will start on 10th September and run though until the end of the Autumn term, a total of 14 weeks. Closure will not be enforced during weekends and school holidays. An essential part of the exercise will be to carry out a monitoring test programme to confirm that air pollution levels are reduced. As well as improving road safety and reducing air pollution, the school and the council believe that this experiment will encourage parents and children to travel to and from school in a more sustainable way - by walking or cycling. Nairn Grove lends itself relatively easily to such an experiment as it is not a major road, implementing a similar proposal in Dulwich village for example, would be far more difficult and contentious. But there has been a lot of talk on what to do about air pollution and it is good to see the Council taking some action.

New Dulwich Picture Gallery Pavilion 2019

Local Peckham based architects’ practice, Pricegore, working together with artist Yinka Ilori, are the winners of the design competition for the temporary pavilion to be built in the Picture Gallery grounds in the summer of 2019. Called ‘The Colour Palace’, the pavilion's colourful exterior fuses African and European design, and draws upon the design team’s intersecting backgrounds to create a pavilion that aims to reflect London's multiculturalism.

Quietway 7 Roadworks in Turney Road between Burbage Road and the Village

Works include footway buildouts, new crossing facilities, a new zebra crossing, and resurfacing of footways and carriageways. They started on 25 June and are planned to run until 3 August - access to Aysgarth, Boxall & Pickwick Roads will be restricted at times. Works further along Turney Road will follow later in the year. If residents have any queries regarding the works, or any specific access requirements, they should contact the supervisor, Michael Bedding through the Conway Aecom call centre on 0330 337 1001 quoting the Borough and site location.

Proposed development in the former rear garden of Lyndenhurst, Red Post Hill

Following on from the ‘sold’ sign recently seen on the boundary wall a planning application has now been made to build three houses on the former rear garden along Red Post Hill. Many local residents joined the Society in objecting to a previous proposal which was turned down by the Council and confirmed on appeal. Nothing has changed and many local residents remain strongly opposed to any plans for this site which has never been built on and has become a haven for trees and wildlife. There is also the question of access, currently a four feet wide gate which opens on to a narrow pavement by the bus stop opposite North Dulwich Station. The applicants have said that they intend to leave the access as it is and that purchasers will either not have cars or park their cars in surrounding streets - but there is the question of how the scheme is actually built if this is the only access.
The Dulwich Village Conservation Area Appraisal says, in Paragraph 3.6.2, that ‘Lyndenhurst's large rear garden has not been developed, although half of it has been separated off. This garden setting positively enhances the listed building. It is important for the proper preservation of the character of the conservation area that the open setting is preserved, and that both parts of the former garden remain undeveloped’. Who can disagree?

Boots on the Ground - Tangled Feet

Originally commissioned by Salisbury Playhouse in collaboration with Army SW, Southwark Council is promoting a local version of the event as part of their programme for Dulwich Park - it will take place on the weekend of 9, 10, 11 of November. ‘Boots on the Ground’ is a headphone performance created by physical theatre ensemble and charity Tangled Feet, (www.tangledfeet.com). Inspired by the centenary of the WW1 Armistice, it explores the experience of demobilising from the Armed Forces and returning to civilian life after the experience of conflict. Each performance is aimed at roughly 30 participants and starts in an Army tent stationed in a public space. The audience 'enlist' to take part and are invited to step inside the boots of a soldier who is being demobilised from the Armed Forces. Wearing headphones, the audience leave the tent and are instructed how to march together. On their route around the local area, two storylines play out - one set in 1918 and one in the current day. Part of the story is told via binaural recordings, and part by our two professional actors. The performance is designed to respond to the local history and environment of Dulwich. The performance will happen three times a day, lasting about an hour in total each time. Tangled Feet are looking for a wide range of participants including local schools, local historians, local forces/ex-forces communities and volunteer stewards. If you are interested in participating or learning more, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..