I’ve read through many of the documents and any questions fire away.
I’m the person who writes the Murky Depths website covering SE london featuring the story above. I registered here but now can’t log in so have this account.
There were quite a few alternative plans seen in the Design and Access plans. Mostly similar brick based blocks.
It’s mostly four stories but five on the corner. The adjacent former BT exchange tops out at six hence the height here.
A coach bay is planned.
The shop size is small at 150 sq metres on the advice of Lewisham planners who thought a bigger store couldn’t be sustained.
Any questions feel free to ask or see the planning reference in the post. Thanks
This looks worse than the prison blocks built on the old Catford Dogs site.
And twice as bad as the brick monstrosity on the old Court’s site on Bromley Road.
So where is the coach bay - the elevations make no attempt to show it. And this will be crucial to this brand as they ship coachloads in and out of their establishments on a daily basis.
At least they will be to stable overnight in the Perry Vale car park…
Also questionable, the calibre of the architects involved, whose portfolio seems to extend only as far as small-scale (uninspired) residential projects. Not encouraging.
I know this site and there would be space at the front and possibly left hand side for some landscaping to make the outside more attractive.
Also by curving some edges on the finished building work rather than having all straight lines this might make the building look a bit more attractive rather than looking so regimental as it looks in the drawings.
I think it looks awful and for an earlier poster who said it might look better in the flesh I have never once seen something look better in real life than the fanciful artists impressions that these architects produce complete with blue skies, clean streets, flowers everywhere and grazing herds of unicorn…
Also, unless every guest who ever stays there is traveling by public transport or coach, where exactly are they going to park? Answer: on my already over-subscribed street, I assume, so people who actually live here won’t be able to park near their home.
Am sure the location near the station is not accidental. The market they are after is surely those visiting Docklands, say, on business, who do not want to pay central London hotel rates. This is a bit like the Premier Inn in Lewisham.
Regardless of the exterior elevation the reality is its being built to a budget the surroundings will certainly not suffer aesthetically.
How about an additional 89 wallets that will walk into Forest hill to explore and spend, maybe even Dartmouth Road heaven forbid!
Get real people we are not going to get Victorian elegance its cheap accomodation for humans and when it brings money in then be grateful!
Having spoken to the developer I’m not quite so scathing about the look of the building. Possibly higher than ideal, but this is the town centre. The colour of brick is something between the Novotel in Greenwich and other houses in Waldram Park (see below) I think this, and plenty of floor to ceiling glass - will help keep the building from looking too horrible.
I think the principle of a hotel in Forest Hill is not unreasonable, but I think that some residents are concerned about parking issues on Stanstead Road.
The retail unit will apparently be approximately the same size as the Coop, but won’t be a Coop (more likely a Budgens), but the Coops Unique Selling Point was always easy parking, and that will be lost. I did suggest to the developer that a chain restaurant in that unit might be preferable (for hotel users and local residents), but he told me that the local councilors did not want to see loss of A1 retail in the local area - it is the largest grocery store in Perry Vale ward and rather convenient for a lot of people.
At the moment I’m personally erring towards supporting it, but I look forward to listening to other views.
“Area with attractive unspoilt Victorian architecture, views, parks, world class museum and great restaurants,” is why people choose to visit and live in SE23 IMO. Every step we take towards Croydonisation is a step that repels a lot more than 89 wallets.
“More humans, regardless of cost and side-effects” is a strategy that has ruined so many British towns and cities.
Point taken, have you actually walked down towards the location and experienced the salubrious vista you mention. Cannot even see the Gas Holders in the distance!
There is no reason to believe parking will be an issue. As has been pointed out, the clientele are not likely to be driving, as with most other hotels of a similar quality in Zones 1-2.
The area is crying out for a decent hotel (whilst I’m sure the rooms at All Inn One are lovely, not everyone wants to stay above a pub).
When I walk to the Co op, I see a wide tree-lined road (with beautiful mature trees) and lovely Victorian architecture built in an era where people took care over the appearance of buildings and didn’t aim for “more humans” in the area at any cost:
Sorry I just think this is speculative. This is a hotel capable of lodging hundreds of people without a single dedicated parking space. I’m not saying it’s an insurmountable issue - if their guests with cars were compelled to park in Perry Vale car park that would be a solution - but to simply say that none of their guests will have cars is disingenuous.
It’s not more speculative than the assertion that the hotel will increase parking needs. If you object to lack of evidence, perhaps you could provide evidence for the counter claim?
