Campaigners are calling on officials to kill off plans for a three-storey development next to a Deptford playground.
Developer Aurora Apartments launched an appeal to the planning inspectorate in March after Greenwich Council rejected its proposal to build a block of flats on a small patch of land overlooking Charlotte Turner Gardens.
A petition has now been launched urging the Government agency to decisively dismiss the development, which opponents say would deprive the area of essential family-friendly green space.
Dominic Brassington and Thomas Eageling, who started the petition, said: “We launched a petition and a social media campaign to publicise what the developers are trying to do to our community space, constructing a three-storey building inside a children's park is an outrageous thing to do.
“London needs green spaces; Deptford needs green spaces and to try to take them away against the wishes of the local community is totally disrespectful.
“This green, enclosed area is the only safe place in the area where children can safely play.
"Additionally we wanted to give a voice to the local community who are furious that yet another development is being planned in the neighbourhood and is being appealed during the school holidays when many families who use the park are not here to have their voice heard."
Greenwich Council rejected the application at the end of March, concluding that the design, massing, and scale would be “unsympathetic and over-dominant” to the surroundings.
The developer is appealing “on the basis of an exchange of written statements by parties followed by a site visit by the inspector”, though the contents have not yet been released to the public.
The public can submit comments on the appeal to the inspector until August 21.
Midi Music, a local music charity which provides studio space for young people, was donated the former site of the Duke of Wellington Pub in McMillan Street more than 20 years ago, before selling off the land in 2019 for £105,000.
The site once had a ‘community use covenant’, which protects it for community use, but the charity negotiated with the donor for it to be removed.
This means the developer is free to build flats on the site, but only if its proposals are accepted by the Council.
You can view the petition here
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here