83 , Colfe Road , Forrest Hill, London, SE232EX

change of use from residential dwelling (Class C3) to children's home (Class C2)

Authority: London Borough of Lewisham
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: community-institutional · Change of use
Inspector: Heppell J

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the development meets an identified need for supported and specialised accommodation

What decided it

The absence of clear, evidenced need for a children's home in this area and lack of a management plan to mitigate impacts on neighbours meant the development failed to satisfy the requirements of Policy H12 and Policy HO6.

Plan policies cited: Policy H12 London Plan March 2021, Policy HO6 Lewisham Local Plan Adopted July 2025, Policy H8 London Plan

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What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.
- Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
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- Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
- Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.
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