Duncombe Hill Green before the fence was erected. Pic: Chris Beach
Residents concerned over the fate of a local green space in Forest Hill will this weekend meet developers who are planning to build blocks of flats on the land.
The small triangle of land at the junction of Duncombe Hill and Brockley Rise, which is known locally as Duncombe Hill Green, has become the subject of a planning row involving the developers, Lewisham Council and local campaigners.
The landowners, Investor Alliance Limited erected a fence around the land at the end of January which has been the subject of a Lewisham Council enforcement notice. The council has now also issued a Tree Protection Order for a sycamore tree on the site which will prohibit the landowners, from carrying out work on the trees at the property without council consent. An order has already been established for five other trees on the space.
The fence on Duncombe Hill Green. Pic: Fiona Kelly
Sean Ryan, a campaigner for ‘Save Duncombe Hill’ said in response to the order: “Fire up your lawnmowers Investor Alliance. You’ve just paid £120,000 for a lawn in South East London that you can’t build on and you’re now responsible for it. I’m guessing whoever made the deal will be the ones sent to cut the grass.”
The owners are expected to both appeal the notice and push an application to build two blocks of flats on the property.
An online survey has been created to potentially make an application to register Duncombe Hill Green as a village green.
The Mayor of Lewisham, Damien Egan, has expressed multiple times his support to “protect” the piece of green.
A meeting with the landowners has been organised by John Hamilton of Lewisham People Before Profit, March 10, at the Duncombe Hill site. It was bought by the current owners in June 2018, for around £120,000.
Investor Alliance Limited could not be contacted for comment.
I support this planning application. 40 years as a local I have never once considered this green patch now called “Duncombe Hill Green” or “village centre” as useful amenity space or a worthwhile and meaningful contribution to my or anyone else’s quality of life in Lewisham.
The objectors say dog walkers use it, anyone else who treads there will probably get their boots full and children are effectively banned from playing there. As a family we never considered picnicking there or taking visiting friends to show them the crab apple tree and the willow.
The plan shows an oasis of green and vibrant foliage at varying levels and does much to enhance this desolate deserted and long forgotten scrap of land and that’s why I support the full application. The cgi shows rubbish outside neighbouring houses, sadly a familiar local sight that really says far too much about the Lewisham in which we all live. To walk past this new development will lift spirits and show all something really can be done in Lewisham that’s easy on the eye and functional.