20 Bellingham Trading Estate , Franthorne Way, London , SE6 3BX

Planning appeal 3375719 at 20 Bellingham Trading Estate , Franthorne Way, London , SE6 3BX (London Borough of Lewisham) was dismissed on 29 July 2026 by Inspector Whalley J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the use of the property as a place of worship (Use Class F1) for a continuous period of 10 years or more before the application date had been demonstrated on the balance of probabilities.

Certificate of lawful use for use of property as a place of worship (Use Class F1)

Authority: London Borough of Lewisham
Appeal type: ldc · Lawful Development Certificate
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: community-institutional · Change of use
Inspector: Whalley J
Postcode: SE6 3BX

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the use of the property as a place of worship (Use Class F1) for a continuous period of 10 years or more before the application date had been demonstrated on the balance of probabilities

What decided it

The 25-month gap in occupation between May 2019 and June 2021 broke the continuity of use required to establish a 10-year period of uninterrupted use as a place of worship.

What the Inspector cited

Judgments: Bernard Wheatcroft v Secretary of State for the Environment [1982] 43 P & CR 233; R (Holborn Studios Ltd) v London Borough of Hackney and GHL (Eagle Wharf Road) Ltd [2017] EWHC 2823 (Admin); Panton & Farmer v SSETR & Vale of White Horse DC [1999] JPL 461; Thurrock BC v SSETR & Holding [2002] EWCA Civ 226

How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.

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The decision letter

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The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.