The Mayor of London has agreed to step in end the continuing debacle of botched development opportunities at a site in Deptford. Convoy’s Wharf, which has been derelict for well over a decade is one of the largest potential sites for much needed housing in the Borough. Not only will the proposals provide homes, but will bring much-needed jobs to the Borough. The site has been disused for 13 years, in which time a series of applications to provide housing have stalled before Lewisham’s Labour Council could consider them for approval.
An application that would provide 3,500 new homes and create over 2000 jobs was submitted to the council in May 2013, but the council bungled the application, failing to consider it before the statutory 16 week period to determine planning applications expired. Having missed the opportunity in September, the developer behind the proposals wrote to Boris Johnson to ask if he would agree to take on the role of planning authority for the scheme. Thankfully for Lewisham, he has agreed to do so.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “We need to build thousands of new homes in the capital and proposals to do that at Convoys Wharf have been on the blocks for over a decade. Those plans deserve full and thorough consideration, and my team will work closely with the Borough and the applicant to do so without further delay.” The mayor has asked his team to work closely with officers at Lewisham Borough Council to ensure that all local issues are fully considered, and to ensure that all the benefits of the scheme are felt by the whole of Deptford.
The delivery of these homes will deliver 31% of the required homes to Lewisham under the 10 year targets of the ‘London Plan.’ The proposals for the site are built around the historical and archaeological heritage of Convoys Wharf. The Grade II listed Olympia Warehouse building will be brought back into use following years of disuse and neglect. Once again it seems that it takes a Tory mayor to step in and clear up Labour’s mess. It is expected that the proposals will be ready for his consideration by February 2014.