Policy information sourced from Lewisham Town Centre Local Plan

LTC4 Loampit Vale Policy Area

The Loampit Vale Policy Area is designated for mixed use development. All proposals will be required to complement the primary shopping area as follows:

  • uses located on the ground floor and possibly first floor will need to be retail (A1, A2, A3) limited to the types specified in (b) and (c) below, business (B1) and community (D1, D2),
  • large-format non-food retail proposals will be considered appropriate subject to their having no demonstrable adverse impact on the Primary Shopping Area,
  • a food store of up to 1,500 sq m (net sales area) will be acceptable on site S4, subject to any such proposal having no demonstrable adverse impact on the Primary Shopping Area and/or the local highway network,
  • additional storeys will provide residential uses across a range of dwelling types and sizes in this highly accessible location.

All proposals will be required to deliver the following priorities:

  • the ground floor must provide an active frontage and strong built edge proportionate to the town centre location, especially facing Loampit Vale,
  • buildings must be of an appropriate scale, mindful of the immediate context and the importance of Loampit Vale as a major route without trying to compete with Lewisham Gateway,
  • a high quality public realm is to be provided by ensuring a consistent and coordinated treatment of materials and street furniture and substantially improving key pedestrian and cycle routes along Loampit Vale, Thurston Road, Jerrard Street and north – south routes that link to the surrounding residential areas,
  • generous tree lined pavements of at least 6 to 8 metres in width to create boulevards,
  • buildings must incorporate communal heating and cooling systems and facilitate the Policy Area becoming a decentralised energy hub, in accordance with policy LTC24.

Consideration should be given to the proximity of the proposed ‘bus layover’ site (part of the Lewisham Gateway development) when planning for sensitive uses on adjacent sites.

The site is situated within Flood Zone 3a High Probability. Applicants will need to comply with Core Strategy Policy 10 and work closely with the Environment Agency to ensure proposals will deliver a positive reduction in flood risk. A Flood Risk Assessment for the site will need to be submitted that clearly and concisely summarises how the reduction in flood risk will be delivered.

Additional site specific requirements:

S3a and S3b Loampit Vale north east of Jerrard Street

The Council require a comprehensive masterplan endorsed by all landowners for these sites and their surrounds.

Taller elements of new development should address Loampit Vale.

Building lines may need to be set back to accommodate a dedicated bus lane for turning from Loampit Vale into Jerrard Street and the resultant required depth of pavement.

Accessibility to Lewisham transport interchange should be enhanced wherever possible.

S4 Loampit Vale north west of Jerrard Street

Development should take account of the southerly aspect available and the new amenity space to the south of Loampit Vale.

Proposals need to take into account the impact of surrounding developments on the daylight, sunlight and overshadowing of any new development on this site and use this to inform the design and use of building and spaces.

S5 Railway Strip

This site is considered most appropriate for a commercially led mix of uses (employment generating, most likely B1 use), although sensitive design could make some residential use acceptable.

For all uses, proposals must provide a high quality of accommodation and amenity by suitably addressing and mitigating against:

  • the geographic constraints presented by the narrow plot depth,
  • the location adjacent to the Victorian railway viaduct,
  • the impact of surrounding developments on the daylight, sunlight and overshadowing of new development on this site.

This is a secondary route and not a primary entrance into the town centre and the scale and massing of buildings should reflect this.

For more information please see the Local Plan