"A civic and commercial role of the town centre"

[Tim Lund]

A 'character study' of Lewisham is available on the Council web site http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/Environment/ ... rStudy.htm, where it is described as providing:

the evidence for policies set out in the Lewisham LDF Core Strategy and acts as a general reference document for the council and residents, developers, designers, planners and other stakeholders.

It is a large document, divided into six parts for downloading, and in itself only part of the current system for developing planning policies. However, it is the background what Local Assemblies are likely to have to engage with if they are indeed to be the "Neighbourhood Forums" required by the new Localism Bill. An illustration of the size and complexity of the task, and why I am not sure about the capacity of Local Assemblies for this.

As I read through its description of topographies and urban typologies, I started wondering when do I get to the bits which make a difference, here in Sydenham. I think I may have found one, in part 5, where the sole key issue given for us is:

Preserving the separate identities of the conservation areas

whereas in other town centres, e.g. Catford, there is

Sustaining and enhancing the civic and commercial role of the town centre

So - how about adding this?

[Tim Lund]

The case for planning Sydenham as a town centre is supported by the map of 'Public Transport Accessibility Levels' (PTALs) from Lewisham's LDF character study



It's showing that both Sydenham and Forest Hill town centres, at the bottom left, have reasonably high PTALs, which should suggest planning policies to support them as town centres. The publication date of the map is given as 2010, so I'm assuming it is post the arrival of London Overground. If it isn't, then the case is even stronger.

However, in Forest Hill, unlike Sydenham,

Viability of the shops and businesses in the neighbourhood

is given as a key issue.