Net loss of green space in Lewisham must be addressed

CPRE London has responded to the Lewisham’s Local Plan consultation saying green space provision needs to be measured ‘per person’ and, where there is not enough, this needs to be addressed head on.

While the council goes to some lengths in its Draft Local Plan to map Areas of Deficiency (technical planning speak for areas where there’s not enough green space), this is not – as far as we can ascertain – set out in terms of the amount per person.

Given the super-densification of Lewisham town centre in particular, the borough is likely to have seen a net loss of green space when measured per person. Lewisham should revise its policy on green space provision – and the way provision is measured – to reflect the amount of space available per person. Then they must introduce policies to address identified areas which are deficient in green open space.

The way green space provision is measured can mask the fact that provision is in fact being eroded. Boroughs may have clear policies to state that the amount of green space should not be decreased, for example when a major new development is being built. But that can mask the fact that the significant increase in density means that there is less space per person. This might not be a major issue where population increases are a matter of a few percent but where increases are large and high density, the impact will be felt: green spaces will be overcrowded, they may be eroded, and – the worst case scenario – people may not even make use of the spaces because they are too crowded or there simply aren’t any close enough.

• You can read our response to the consultation here. Response to Lewisham Local Plan consultation April 2023 final
• The Lewisham Local Plan consultation documents.
• For anyone who wishes to respond, the consultation closes 25 April 2023. Responses can be sent to localplan@lewisham.gov.uk.