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The Council has now delayed the proposed consultation yet again. Residents were originally told it would be February and it is now to be May. 18,500 of the explanatory leaflets headed ’Dulwich Newsletter March 2021’ have now been issued to householders. To take part in the consultation you should register your details at: https://tinyurl.com/29k573us
The Council has also confirmed that Blue Badge holders who live within the LTN control zone may apply for exemption from penalty charges - see this website for more information: https://tinyurl.com/meptsa7e
Blue badge holders will be able to apply for the exemption on the following website https://forms.southwark.gov.uk/ShowForm.asp?fm_fid=2080
This exemption does not apply to Blue Badge holders who live outside the control area, nor to other vulnerable residents whose carers have been impacted by the LTN’s.
There have been three recent applications for new 5G masts on the SCST Sport ground, on Dulwich Wood Park at Lymer Avenue and on Dovercourt Road. The one on the SCST ground replaces an existing mast and is subject to lease discussions with SCST. The one on Dulwich Wood Park was turned down by Southwark after a large number of complaints from residents – and is currently being appealed. The one in Dovercourt Road had even more objections and has now also been turned down by the Council – though the Dulwich Estate has suggested an alternative location on its land. There is also a pre-application consultation for a similar mast on the corner of East Dulwich Grove and Townley Road, directly outside Alleyn’s School.
A large group of local residents are concerned that, unless there are substantial revisions to the current plans approved by Lewisham Council for the City of London development on Sydenham Hill, it will set an unfortunate precedent for further high-rise blocks in the area. The objectors have been told by their lawyers that Lewisham Council have acted illegally in approving the scheme The Judicial Review application will be on 27 April and a further £22,000 needs to be raised by then. To contribute to the fund, go to https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/friendsofmaishouse
The disappointing news at the 23rd February Multi-ward Zoom meeting was the continued delay in the publication of the Council’s plans to review the installation of the permeable filters in Carlton Avenue, Melbourne Grove and LTN’s generally. We had been previously promised something by the middle of February but, following a question, it would appear that it is still being shaped and may not appear for at least another month. There was also a comment confirming earlier statements that the Council is actively considering changes to support Blue Badge holders and other vulnerable residents.
There have been three recent applications for new 5G masts on the SCST Sport ground, on Dulwich Wood Park at Lymer Avenue and on Dovercourt Road. The one on the SCST ground replaces an existing mast and is subject to lease discussions with SCST. The one on Dulwich Wood Park was turned down by Southwark after a large number of complaints from residents – and is currently being appealed. The one in Dovercourt Road has also produced a large number of objections and councillors are involved in trying to find a less intrusive location. Southwark Ref: 21/AP/0309. There is also a pre-application consultation for a similar mast on the corner of East Dulwich Grove and Townley Road, directly outside Alleyn’s School.
The initial crowd funding campaign for the judicial review of the recent planning consent for the City of London development was a success and the Judicial Review application has been granted ‘on the papers’ so it can proceed straight to a full hearing - on 27 April and a further £22,000 needs to be raised by then. To contribute, go to https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/friendsofmaishouse/# Local residents are concerned that, unless there are substantial revisions to the plans the development will set an unwanted precedent for further high-rise blocks on Sydenham Hill.
Following the successful talks on Court Lane (January), Woodward Road (February) and Dulwich Radicals (March). A total of nearly £2000 has been raised for local charities. The next two events, bookable at https://www.bellhouse.co.uk/events are:
Tuesday 6 April 8.00pm. The Heiress & the Hussar: A talk by Gavin Bowyer on the Georgian and Victorian history of the Friern Estate in East Dulwich.
Tuesday 4 May. Life in Dulwich in WW2, Part 1, 1939 – 1942: A talk by local historian Brian Green covering the lead up to the outbreak of war - fascism, evacuation, civil defence, rationing, the Blitz and bomb damage, Dulwich Picture Gallery’s dilemma, everyday life.
If you are looking for something a little extra for your exercise walk and are bored with the same old routes, try this challenging roam around Dulwich’s green spaces and vantage points abounding in great views over London and Kent. Stops for the occasional breather coincide with the opportunity to read the numerous information panels located around the route. As the walk is circular it can be joined at any point, although the suggested start is Dulwich’s new Village Orchard located at the junction of Gallery Road and Dulwich Village. Take-away refreshments and toilet facilities are located at Dulwich Picture Gallery, Dulwich Park and Horniman Gardens. PDF Download (also available in The Journal, Spring 2021).
Nick Bailey: “Revive your garden in 2021: breathing life, style and good-health into your garden”
7.30pm, Thursday 15th April 2021
This year’s Spring garden talk will by Nick Bailey, a freelance horticulturalist, best-selling author and regular presenter on BBC Gardeners’ World, garden designer and speaker.
His illustrated online talk will provide a fresh approach to designing and planting gardens along with a host of tips on rejuvenatingtired plants, lawns and patios. This coupled with a wide range of recommended plants for difficult situations will ensure that there is ample take-home advice for all participants. The talk will last for 45 minutes with additional time for questions.
The talk is being given in association with Bell House Dulwich, with any surplus going towards Bell House’s wildlife pond. Tickets are £10, bookable through www.bellhouse.co.uk/events or https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/revive-your-garden-in-2021-tickets-133476396495
The Council has sent the following letter to all residents who will be directly affected by the Phase 2 and 3 emergency traffic measures being introduced into Dulwich Village. it says:
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed how many people live, work, travel and use Southwark’s streets and spaces. As a result, the council has introduced experimental transport measures. Across Southwark, we are fast-tracking a variety of measures that support increased walking and cycling, allow social distancing and discourage a rise in motor traffic.
The Dulwich area was prioritised as it has very high volumes of traffic passing through its local streets, with a high number of schools and school pupils exposed to this. Our first intervention in Dulwich was the installation of a ‘permeable filter’ at the junction of Court Lane, Calton Avenue and Dulwich Village. This means the junction is closed to motor traffic but not to pedestrians, cycles, scooters or wheelchairs. The next phase of trial measures in Dulwich has been developed following community engagement and aims to improve the measures already installed by creating a holistic low-traffic neighbourhood that enables safe walking and cycling, and encourages healthier lifestyles for the Dulwich community.
These experimental measures will facilitate a live consultation with local people on how they work. The experimental measures are installed for a maximum of 18 months and within that time the council will carry out several reviews and will consider people’s views to decide whether to make the trial permanent or to remove these measures. We will be monitoring the impact of these changes during the trial period, using counts of motor vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. In addition, we are inviting residents to let us know how they affect the streets they use - whether positively or negatively - using the feedback map at https://dulwichvillagestreetspace.commonplace.is You can also subscribe for regular updates on this project.
Starting on Monday 16th November the following roads will have measures installed to restrict traffic travelling northbound or eastbound only from 8-10am and 3-6pm on Mondays-Fridays. There will be no restrictions at weekends and the measures have been designed so that there is always an alternative route for residents, visitors and deliveries to access every road in the area at all times of the week.
- Dulwich Village at the junction with Burbage Road – a northbound camera enforced restriction
- Burbage Road (South) at the junction with Dulwich Village – a northbound camera enforced restriction
- Burbage Road (North) at the junction with Turney Road – a northbound camera enforced restriction
- Turney Road at the junction with Burbage Road – an eastbound camera enforced restriction
- Townley Road at the junction with Calton Avenue – a northbound camera enforced restriction
There will also be new double yellow lines installed on the section of Dulwich Village south of the junction with East Dulwich Grove.
Following community request and in response to the Phase 1 measures we have also made changes to the junction of Red Post Hill to introduce a right-turn filter to reduce northbound delays to traffic on Dulwich Village.
To find out more information and the review dates for these measures please subscribe to the Council’s newsfeed at https://dulwichvillagestreetspace.commonplace.is You can also write to the Council at
Like many other London amenity societies, the Dulwich Society has considerable concerns over the proposed changes to England’s planning system proposed by the Government in the recent consultation document ‘Planning for the Future’. They are likely to be profoundly unpopular and could cause permanent damage to the built environment. The London Forum of Amenity Societies is asking member societies and individuals to consider writing to their MP, asking them to take note of the concerns and to make their views known to the Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP. Write to our MP Helen Hayes at
The major points are as follows:
The new Standard Method for setting housing requirements is wholly inappropriate for London. Overall, the Capital will be expected to deliver almost three times as many homes annually as it has averaged over the past 5 years, with much of the increase directed at those boroughs with the least capacity to raise output. The method takes no account of London’s great shortage of homes for social and low-cost rent for key workers and their families.
Councils will be required to produce new Local Plans in 30 months, an impossibly short timescale given the need to map the entire borough into Growth, Renewal and Protected areas, and to create design specifications (known as Design Codes) for all sites earmarked for development. Until this task is completed, it is likely that highly inappropriate and unpopular developments will gain planning consent.
The proposals foresee more intensive public participation in producing Local Plans and Design Codes, but curtailment of the public’s right to comment on specific planning applications. This might be acceptable were there a requirement for all applications to comply with those plans and designs. But there isn’t. It appears that developers may submit non-compliant applications and have them assessed against planning policies that have been determined centrally, but with nationwide application having no regard to local circumstances. This will rightly incense communities whose up-front efforts have been by-passed or over-ridden.
No mention is made of the London Plan (currently awaiting approval by the Secretary of State), nor of Metropolitan Open Land which currently enjoys the same protection as Greenbelt - and should continue to do so.
A new single-rate Infrastructure Levy, not payable until completion of development, is proposed to replace Section 106 agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy. This will expose Local Authorities to risks they are ill-equipped to bear in borrowing to build the required infrastructure, and the various exemptions proposed will further reduce the delivery of genuinely affordable homes.