Policy information sourced from the Lewisham Local Plan

QD10 Infill and backland sites, garden land and amenity areas

Strategic Objectives:

B Housing tailored to the community with genuinely affordable homes,

F Celebrating our local identity.

A Well-designed development proposals on infill and backland sites, garden land and amenity areas that are sensitive to local context can play an important role in delivering new housing as set out in Policy HO2 (Optimising the use of small housing sites). Development proposals will be acceptable where:

  • The use is appropriate to the site and will not result in an unreasonable adverse impact on the amenity of neighbouring land uses and properties, including their rear gardens;
  • The requirements for Neighbourhood Open Space are adequately addressed, where relevant, with reference to Policy GR3 (Open Space); and
  • The development has a clear urban design rationale, having regard to the Council’s Small Sites SPD.

B Where the requirements of (A) above are satisfied, development proposals must:

  • Be of a high quality design and respond positively to the site context and local character, including historical character;
  • Be sensitively integrated into the site, including by responding to the sizes and proportions of adjoining and neighbouring buildings, as well as the spaces between buildings;
  • Retain trees and integrate high quality landscaping, in line with Policy GR5 (Urban Greening and Trees);
  • Ensure safe and convenient access for all users of the development; and
  • Make adequate arrangements for servicing the building and site.

Infill sites

C Development proposals within street frontages and on street corners will only be supported where they:

  • Make a positive contribution to local character, including historical character; particularly by responding to the distinctive character of the street and street frontage;
  • Maximise opportunities to restore local character and repair street frontages, or the appearance of existing buildings, which detract from positive local character;
  • Are sensitively integrated into the street frontage, including by respecting the proportions and spaces of and between existing buildings; and
  • Retain appropriate garden space for adjacent residential properties.

Backland sites

D Development proposals on backland sites should not introduce gates or other design features that unnecessarily restrict or prevent public access to or through the site unless they are required for security and privacy. Garden land (including back gardens)

E Garden land makes an important contribution to the character and amenity of Lewisham’s neighbourhoods, and often has biodiversity value. The use of garden land for new development should therefore be avoided.

F Development proposals that will result in the loss of garden land within enclosed perimeter blocks, including proposals for separate dwellings, will be strongly resisted. The loss of garden land within enclosed perimeter blocks will only be considered acceptable in exceptional circumstances where:

  • The proposal is for comprehensive redevelopment of a number of whole land plots; and
  • The requirements of (A) and (B) above are satisfied.

Amenity areas

G Development proposals on amenity areas of landscaped open space adjoining existing residential buildings will only be supported where they:

  • Repair, reinstate or re-provide active street frontages;
  • Retain existing private garden space; and
  • Apply inclusive and safe design principles,and seek opportunities to enhance natural surveillance

For more information and policy context please see the Lewisham Local Plan