Planning: For the Conservation and Improvement of Charlton

The Charlton Society takes an active approach to commenting on planning applications although as a rule does not become involved in ‘private’ applications eg, loft extensions etc. 

The Society’s Planning Group – Carol Kenna (Chair), Mark James, Helen Brown, Dr. Michael Passmore and Tim Jeffery – has the specific responsibility for monitoring major planning applications that potentially affect the character and viability of Charlton as a whole. Michael Passmore liaises with the Greenwich Planning Alliance which brings together amenity groups across the Borough.

Charlton Society also works with other organisations such as Charlton Together (a group of Charlton based groups specifically interested in monitoring the implementation of the Charlton Riverside Masterplan), the Charlton Neighbourhood Forum and the Greenwich Planning Alliance. This enables the wider community to discuss major strategic plans that cover parts of Charlton or Greenwich Borough as a whole.

All development plans must concur with 3 tiers of planning regulations: Nationally the ‘National Planning Policy Framework’; Regionally for London, the Mayor of London’s ‘London Plan’ and borough wide for Greenwich, the ‘Core Strategy’ and ‘Supplementary Planning Documents’. In turn any comments on proposed development plans, whether negative or positive must be made in the context of these same policies.

However, the planning system is not neutral, it favours sustainable development, if it is in line with the various national, London and Borough strategic aspirations.

All of which means that both councillors and members of the public have to abide by the rules and if they wish to object to a planning application before the Council, must have verifiable reasons for doing so – it is not enough to say ”we don’t like it’ we must give reasons why we object to an application based on reasons such as height, density – over development, loss of green space, loss of protected views etc.

We are also able to commend a development proposal and have done so where the application is beneficial to Charlton, for example the housing in-fill off Floyd Road – an exemplary local authority development; New Meridian Housing on Charlton Church Lane or the Work Stack on Woolwich Road and the Optivo Housing Association on Eastmoor Street.

In some instances we meet developers before their application is presented to discuss how the development might better fit the locality, for example The Village International Store and Bowes shop. We have also worked with the Council directly on more strategic plans such as the Charlton Conservation Area Management Strategy and the Charlton Riverside Masterplan.

Major applications are dealt with by the Greenwich ‘Planning Board’, while non-strategic applications are referred to Local Planning Committee. Occasionally applications are approved or rejected by a ‘case officer’. If it is felt that such an application requires wider discussion by the Area Committee the application can be ‘called in’ by a local ward councillor or as the result of a total of 8 objections received from private or group objectors.

April 2023

Please click here to see The Charlton Society’s response to the Royal Borough of Greenwich Urban Design Guide SDP consultation. This was put together by The Charlton Society’s Planning Sub-Committee.

As with the Rockwell development, both proposals have faced long-term opposition from community groups, Council and residents, and it is a huge achievement for all parties working together for such successful outcomes 

Wish to get involved with our Planning Group and be part of further successes? Please get in touch. We welcome new people and new points of view