19 Brockley Rise.
Looked in there yesterday and saw these lovely plants.
I hope they do cut flowers. Certainly coming to life this row of shops.
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There certainly is a lot differently happening along there. Number 15 - the old Iceni Music Shop - also has a planning application (DC/21/121146) to change the use of the ground floor to add a new flat / maisonette.
I can’t tell from the documents, are they replacing the shop with the flat? It describes the existing rooms as an office rather than a shop, so perhaps not, but then the diagrams don’t show that there would still be shop space in front of the flat…
The before and after plans definitely show the ‘ground floor’ ‘office space’ changing to a tiny ‘studio apartment’ of 44m² with access from the street, and the application describes it adding one new private dwelling.
They refer to it as previously being B1, maybe there was a prior change of use, or maybe they hope it is more likely to be approved if changing from office rather than retail space. It’s also possible that the Cardiff-based agent just made a mistake.
Interesting, seems a shame to lose a shop front when the arcade is improving, particularly for such a small flat, but I suppose there isn’t anything objectively wrong about it.
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Yes - I certainly don’t envy the planning department on deciding this one, but it does remind me of the old Lolo’s Patisserie application (DC/17/102874) to convert that to a tiny flat, in that case only 34m2. That was refused in 2017 with the following reason:
It took another 3 years before that site was occupied, but I think it was worth the wait to be come Forest Hill Bistro.
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That new plant shop on Brockley Rise is looking good. Called Mmea (the Swahili for ‘plant’) it’s opening on May 29th.
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I think they might already be open? I got a little wave from the owner yesterday as I double backed to have a look.
Popped in just now and the owner said it is the bank holiday weekend - 29th - that they open
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Wishful thinking
Looks awesome, v.exciting addition!
The planning application to convert number 15 (the old Iceni Music Shop) to a flats, DC/21/121146, was refused yesterday for one reason:
Meanwhile Mmea continues to look good:
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Not surprised that they’ll struggle to get enough natural light with their designs, would be great to see it retained as retail as the strip of shops improves.
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Yes - you only have to look up the road at the corner on the A205 where Sunderland Road meets Waldram Park Road to see how shops to flat conversions doesn’t improve an area. I’m not sure what the actual quality of the housing there is like inside, but I suspect there’s not much light or clean air on the ground floors 
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Seeing that picture makes me think to ask whether anyone knows what happened to the Polish shop on that parade? I used to love picking a few bits and pieces up there, but haven’t seen it open when I’ve driven past for a really long time now.
It’s open most days I walk past.
It’s always been open when I’ve walked past it on my walks. Even up to a week or two ago.
Ah, thanks - on reflection I think I mostly pass by on Sundays, when it’s likely to be closed in any case.
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