Brockley social club to be rebuilt, along with nine new flats

By Grainne Cuffe, Local Democracy Reporter

A social club will be knocked down and rebuilt after a Lewisham planning committee approved proposals on Thursday.

Developer Ravensgate will demolish the two-storey Brockley Social Club and replace it with a new venue, along with nine flats reaching five storeys.

The club, in Brockley Road, which has 211 members, is available for parties, social events, local community group meetings and weddings.

Planning officers expect the new facilities will increase the number of full-time staff from six to nine.

The Brockley Society backed the plans, but some nearby residents raised objections, such as the lack of affordable housing on offer, concerns about increased noise, and loss of privacy.

Developers only need to offer affordable housing in builds that include 10 or more homes.

Planning officers said they could only deal with the application in front of them and not what could happen in the future.

Planning officers also said there are buildings of similar height nearby, up to six storeys, and said that “the stepped design and inset top level would prevent the building from appearing overly dominant and visually overbearing”.

The application was approved by seven votes to one – Cllr Suzannah Clarke, who did not give it the green light, had concerns about the height of the build.

Pictured top: The current building