The Charlton Society’s stated mission is the “conservation and improvement of Charlton”.

Our Planning Group is responsible for screening the Royal Borough of Greenwich planning policy and its implementation. This involves considering planning strategy and inspecting new planning applications each month; Greater London Plans and new planning advocacy.

Since the development of Charlton Together in 2018, a group of Charlton-based amenity and residents groups all members of the Charlton Society Committee are able to attend these meetings. This then evolved in to Charlton Neighbourhood Forum (CNF), which applied for formal designation in 2021, the designation was granted by Royal Borough of Greenwich in February 2022. Several Committee members of The Charlton Society are also on the Charlton Neighbourhood Forum Committee,

Charlton Neigbourhood Forum meets regularly to discuss large strategic planning applications. Its main business has been to monitor developer interest and proposals within the Charlton Riverside Masterplan area and the development of a Charlton Neighbourhood Plan.

The Committee keeps our members informed about major developments through the Society’s monthly talks, always encouraging Charlton residents to become involved.

We are specifically involved in the Charlton Save Our Village Action Plan (SOVAP), working in close association with the Royal Borough of Greenwich to challenge all the issues are being addressed, please click here for the full planning document. Please also click here to see the updated action plan document which is currently being worked on by the Committee as we embrace 2023.

Charlton Society is a member of the Greenwich Planning Alliance, which is the successor to the Greenwich Conservation Group, with a remit for monitoring borough-wide planning strategy and developments.

Once Charlton Society has formed its views, through discussions with its members, the above two groups and committee meetings it may write to Greenwich Council Planning board suggesting improvements that might be made to an application, or we may object to it altogether.

(The Charlton Society does not comment on private planning applications, except in very exceptional circumstances where they might impact on the wider community)

Current issues for the Society are:

1. Charlton Village – rejuvenation of one of London’s few genuine villages (Save Our Village Action Plan (SOVAP), including the establishment of a 20mph zone)

2. The Rockwell planning application for the Anchor & Hope area of the Charlton Riverside Masterplan. The application was refused by the Royal Borough of Greenwich in 2019. It was referred to the Mayor of London who also refused it permission. In autumn 2019 the application was then referred to Public Enquiry and subsequently to the Secretary of State. Both recommended refusal.
We are delighted the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government, Robert Jenrick, refused permission in June 2020. For the full statement from the Ministry, please click here

Please also see a report prepared by our Vice-Chair, Roden Richardson, on the efforts made by the communities involved in the development negotiations to achieve such a success, please click here

3. Charlton Riverside Development proposals by: Hyde Housing Association – Herringham Quarter; Komoto – Flint Glass Wharf: UAI – Westminster Industrial Estate; Montreux – Stone Foundries; Optivo Housing Association – Old Beaumont site

4. Woolwich SDP: An application for the redevelopment of the area around the Woolwich Covered Market

5. Liaising with the newly formed Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust and the Greenwich Heritage Centre friends group – Greenwich Archive Users Forum

6. TfL: proposed 486 night bus plus proposed cancellation of 53 route

7. Silvertown Tunnel. Architects DRMM ave been appointed for the portal buildings of the new 1.4km tunnel

The current core members of the Society’s Planning Group are:

Ruth Dodson
Roden Richardson
Mark James
Rick Newman 
Other members of the Charlton Society Committee and co-opted members attend meetings as required.

* We are also delighted to announce the rejection of another proposed development in Woolwich, our close neighbours, the Meyer 27-storey tower outside Tesco.

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