The Camberwell Society

Society for those living, working or interested in Camberwell

The Planning sub-committee reviews all SE5 planning applications received by Southwark and Lambeth Councils that have an impact on the Camberwell area. Applications are reviewed to ensure that they are appropriate to their surroundings and that sufficient information has been submitted with the application.
Members comments received prior to discussion at the next meeting are always recorded and considered

Regularly we host developers and their designers with their proposals both at pre and at planning application stage and review their proposals and provide considered suggestions.

Through the work of the sub-committee, the Society has been instrumental in saving many buildings of note including Addington Square, Denmark Hill Station and part of Windsor Walk. The Society has also been instrumental in influencing new development to make a positive contribution to the area, and works with local residents and tenants groups where there are common issues. The current composition of the Planning sub-committee is: Tim Gaymer, Anthony Kyrke-Smith, Elizabeth Borowiecka, Jason Leech, Robert Potz, Jonathan Hunt, Paul Cohoon, Somayya Yaqub, Michael Galt and Tom Harvey. Potential new members are welcome to attend a meeting as an observer initially. The Society is currently under represented by members from the Myatt Fields and Brunswick Park areas.


Meetings of the Planning sub-committee are usually held in the evenings at monthly intervals.

If you wish to contribute to the work please contact planning@camberwellsociety.org.uk

19/AP/0469 | 21-23 PARKHOUSE STREET, LONDON, SE5 7TQ

19/AP/0469

Demolition of existing building and erection of two blocks (Block A and Block B) of 5 storeys and part-7/part-10 storeys (total AOD 35.86m). Block A comprises 5-storey block for commercial/employment use (962 sqm). Block B comprises ground floor commercial/employment use (129sqm) and 33 residential dwellings (3 x studios; 6 x 1b flats, 18 x 2b flats, 6 x 3b flats) and 1 accessible car parking spaces with associated landscaping, cycle parking and refuse store.

The Camberwell Society objects on the following grounds:

1. Height, Density and Visual Impact

The new proposal for this site on the edge of Burgess Park is for a 10 storey high building with an adjacent 5 storey block. The site has not been identified in the local plan for tall buildings and therefore does not comply with Southwark's own policies. The scale and height of the proposal also would not fit into the local streetscape and the visual impact would be overwhelming, as it would not respect the low-rise character of the area. The 10 storey high element of the development would have a negative impact on views from Burgess Park and would also affect the nearby Grade II listed former church of St George.

2. Exemplary Design

We do not believe that the proposal is of 'exemplary design' because of the following reasons:

- The development will provide 805 habitable rooms per hectare, but the acceptable range for this site is 200-700 habitable rooms per hectare. Therefore, the density is too high.
- 9.1% of the dwellings are studio flats, but the maximum should only be 6%.
- Only 18.2% of the residential units are suitable for at least 5 occupants (the minimum is 20%).
- Bathrooms do not have natural light.

3. Impact on Burgess Park:

The proposal would have a detrimental impact on Burgess Park, a 'Site of Importance for Nature Conservation' (SINC), overshadowing the wildlife area and affecting users of the park. There has been no ecological assessment of the implications for biodiversity.

4. Conclusion

In summary, this proposal does not comply with various planning policies and therefore should be refused

23/AP/1661 & 1662 Camberwell Police Station Section House, London SE5 8QU
Proposed extensions, alterations and change of use of the former Camberwell Police Station Section House ‘rear building’ (sui generis) ...
23/AP/0330 10 Love Walk SE5 8AE
Demolition of all existing buildings on site and comprehensive redevelopment to provide a part-three and part-four storey new care home ...
22/AP/3864 Display of a temporary externally illuminated advertising shroud during refurbishment works until the 18/11/2023. | 20-23 Camberwell Green London Southwark SE5 7AA
It is clear from recent past experience that applications for permission to erect scaffolding shrouds and advertisements on the front ...
22/AP/1095 - Construction of a residential block on Wyndam Road and residential block and replacement church on Redcar Street
22/AP/1095 - Construction of a part six, part five storey residential block on Wyndam Road and part five, part four, part three storey ...
22/AP/2497 Land Rear Of 213-215 Camberwell New Road London SE5 0TJ
Construction of two-storey residential mews to provide x2 two bedroom homes with private terrace, waste storage, green roof and solar ...
22/AP/2069 Land Rear Of 163 Camberwell Grove London Southwark
Demolition of a garage and construction of a two bedroom house - re-applicationThe Camberwell Society considers that the revised application ...
21/AP/4490 | 56-60 Comber Grove London Southwark SE5 0LD
21/AP/4490Redevelopment of an existing community centre (Class F) to provide a six storey building with community centre (Use Class F) at ...
21/AP/1254/5: 5-7 COTTAGE GREEN AND 69 SOUTHAMPTON WAY LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 7ST
COMMENT ON REVISED PROPOSALS MAY 2022Two changes have been made to the proposals:1. Reduction in the height of blocks A and B towards the ...
Champion Hill, Seavington House 22/AP/0174
Demolition of 16 garages and 10 bedsits and redevelopment of the site for the construction of 5 terraced three storey houses and a 19 unit ...
21/AP/1342 | Burgess Industrial Park Parkhouse Street London SE5 7TJ
Application Reference: 21/AP/1342Address: Burgess Industrial Park Parkhouse Street London SE5 7TJProposal: Demolition of the existing ...
21/AP/3255 – 137 Camberwell New Road
21/AP/3255 – 137 Camberwell New RoadErection of a two-storey rear extension in connection to the conversion of a single dwellinghouse ...
219 Camberwell New Road, London SE5 0TJ Ref 21/AP/3278
Construction of mansard roof extension to provide a three-bedroom flat, including the demolition of the existing ancillary buildings to the ...
21/AP/2982 37 Denmark Hill: Conversion of a store to provide a one bed residential unit
There is apparently development potential on this site, but this scheme does not make good use of it. What is proposed is a confusion of ...
21/AP/3468 32 Love Walk: Demolition of existing building and redevelopment to provide 5 residential dwellings
The committee mostly thought this a promising proposal. The new flats would take the place of a very dilapidated house not thought to have ...
21/AP/1342 | BURGESS INDUSTRIAL PARK - CAMBERWELL UNION - 386 RESIDENTIAL UNITS
Application Reference & Link: 21/AP/1342Address: Burgess Industrial Park Parkhouse Street London SE5 7TJProposal: Demolition of the existing ...
21/AP/1651/2 ​75-77 SOUTHAMPTON WAY, LONDON SE5 7SW
Application Reference & Link: 21/AP/1651Change of use from a 11-unit HMO (Hostel) (Sui Generis) into 6 self-contained flats (C3 Use Class), ...
1-13 SOUTHAMPTON WAY, SE5 7SW
Application Reference & Link: 21/AP/0451 The Camberwell Society provides an objection to this proposal. Whilst the Principle of Development ...
21/AP/1648 93 GROVE LANE LONDON SE5
Application Reference & Link: 21/AP/1648Change of use from a 14 unit HMO (Hostel) (Sui Generis) into 5no self-contained Flats (C3 Use ...
21/AP/1254/5: 5-7 COTTAGE GREEN AND 69 SOUTHAMPTON WAY LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 7ST
Demolition of existing structures, including removal and alterations to the flank elevation of grade II listed no. 73 Southampton Way, and ...