Cambridge Railway Station did something similar some years ago. They flattened some old office blocks and a hotel, then redesigned the whole station and forecourt into a huge piazza with modern office buildings (one now housing Microsoft Research) with shops and cafes in the ground floor. They also installed a large indoor cycle parking area as part of the redevelopment.
That’s probably on a scale that’s larger than Forest Hill needs, but I follow your idea to demolish a bit more to make a better job of it. The problem is what to do with the businesses and people that currently occupy those properties, and who pays for it all?
Like the Forest Hill bypass tunnel, we can still dream
Bit harsh… I agree things need a tidy up but someone made an effort at least to put some plants there. And the FHC had an architect come up with a nice plan, but it’s down to the council as always not anyone in here.
I’d be happy to throw some money into a crowdfund if we wanted to get more plants and planters.
I have always wondered if there’s a way to make better use of the station car park in FH. Being next to the S Circular is always going to limit what can be done I suppose.
I agree, the South Circular does limit things and that ain’t going anywhere unfortunately. I’ve some great examples of bar/eateries, etc over looking similar busy roads overseas which look really appealing to go to. It. can be done with some thought and the right team of professionals to do the design, plans, build, etc.
Exactly, it can be done. This is a great example. Herne Hill station is another example I noticed thats had a bit of a make over this past year or two. A much nicer experience passing through there with some good coffee shops, etc.
I agree, the businesses would be affected in the mean time which is not great, especially after the past year of being closed so much. I’m not sure if the council would give them something to keep them going while the work takes place?
I think Network Rail own the land not Lewisham so as the landowner NR would have to bring forward any redevelopment scheme. Lewisham in their latest local plan page 764 have already set out the policy and development guidelines for redevelopment of this area. It reflects your initial thoughts above!
The site is located adjacent to Forest Hill Station, west of the railway line and within Forest Hill district centre. Redevelopment and site intensification will provide a more optimal use of land to support the vitality and viabily of the town centre. Development will also enable public realm ehancements to improve the the station approach and forecourt.
Public realm should form an integral part of the design, taking into account the existing trees and the slope of the ground that provides the opportunity to create different site levels and form public/semi-private/private spaces. Consideration should be given to creating a new public square outside of the station entrance, helping to enhance a sense of arrival, with improved interchange with buses.
@DaMo I suggest you have a read of the Forest Hill Society’s submission to the recently closed consultation to the Lewisham Local Plan. And if it meets your ambition, then get behind it by writing to your local councillors and Lewisham council in support, as should any other interested party.
As for the planters on Perry Vale, well that might be a difference of opinion. But if this is of great interest to you then there is also an opportunity for you to get involved. Planting in and around Forest Hill Station is overseen by the Forest Hill Society’s environmental committee. They will next be meeting up for some gardening activity on Saturday 15th May, at 2:30pm at the main entrance to Forest Hill station, in order to put new plants in the platform planters. It would be a great opportunity for you to personally help with that work and put forward some of your own ideas.
It’s clearly a difference of opinion on the planters (and eateries) by the looks of it, and the planters are not of great interest to me. I have no inclination on spending my free time doing the planting around FH station. This was a suggestion on how to make the place look better and a bit more upmarket, which I don’t feel old tyres do. But again, it’s just a personal opinion.
I think a lot of people probably agree with you on the need for some sprucing up. But it does appear you’ve called out a lot of things you think should be done, but as you say have no inclination of getting involved to make those changes happen. I’m as frustrated as you with the slow pace with which the council, Tfl and whoever else is in the mix take to get things done. But I imagine those brockley, Crofton park changes didn’t happen over night.
Totally, is that car park even utilised much? Imagine what could be create by combining the carpark, mot centre and the old car wash into a more pedestrian friendly zone. I’m thinking mini Bermondsey beer mile, chicken N sours…
I would imagine that the most likely direction of change is going to come from the Perry Vale side in the near future. The MOT garage was sold for £1.5m in 2019, and you’d think that whoever bought that would be trying to acquire the adjacent plots including the Forest Hill Cars site.
There could be significant potential to create a nice (albeit mini) public plaza on that side with residential above and restaurant / cafe / community uses below. Although the cynic in me would believe that the land owner may just decide to maximise the development footprint and produce another development similar to the one opposite with frontage directly onto the road
I’m all for putting in some effort for lobbying councillors and TFL to get the right changes made. However, I really don’t think it should be up to us to spend our own time and money making temporary changes/changes that are not up to the standard that should be performed by either the council, TFL or as part of the redevelopment project.
Now we are talking! I love Bermondsey Street, Maltby Market, the beer & gin mile on Tooley Street, chicken N sours and similar eateries. They have have a similar place - Coqfighter near to Brockley Station which is good. These are the kind of things I’d like to see in Forest Hill.
