Celebrities join locals to oppose 45-home Blackheath development

Celebrities and residents of Blackheath in south-east London are lining up against a proposed 45-home development in the village’s Blackheath Station car park, arguing the plan would damage London's first conservation area and strain local amenities. Acorn, a north London developer, has submitted plans to build 20 terraced houses and 25 flats in two blocks on the car park site, where the weekly farmers market is held. About 638 locals have formally objected, representing roughly 97% of the 660 public comments submitted to Lewisham Council. An open letter backing the campaign has been signed by Jude Law, fashion designer Jeff Banks, Sir Terry Waite and musician Chris Difford, among others.

Hadland, who has lived in Blackheath for more than two decades, told the Daily Mail that the plan represents a turning point: "This is a good landmark to say 'no this has to stop, you cannot destroy areas to make money for private developers'." She warned that if the project proceeds, similar schemes could become commonplace across the country, with developers pursuing profits at the expense of communities. She said: "If it doesn't, this will become routine everywhere across this country. People will just be going, 'We'll build where we like because we want to make money'."

Under the proposals, the 162-space car park would be reduced to 17 spaces, renewing fears among locals about congested streets and parking battles. Campaigners contend the scale and design would dwarf the area’s Victorian-style terraces on Collins Street and overlook a nearby primary school. "I appreciate all different types of architecture but if you put something as sympathetic as that, it just looks extraordinary," Hadland said, adding that the blocks would be incongruous in the village landscape. She also raised concerns about safety and pollution, noting several schools and nurseries in the area and saying: "It's a little village. It's not designed for lorries to be thundering through."

Blackheath became London’s first conservation area jointly with Greenwich in 1968, a status Hadland described as a point of pride and a reminder that local character matters. She said the issue is about more than aesthetics: it reflects a broader pattern she believes is unfolding nationwide, with residents facing stricter rules while developers press ahead. "The car park and the farmer's market are a huge part of the Blackheath community," she said, emphasizing that losing these amenities would have lasting effects on the village.

The campaign also features a chorus of celebrities who grew up in or near Blackheath. Law wrote in support of residents’ opposition, recalling his childhood near the site: "I grew up in Blackheath. My junior school was across from the site where this proposed development will take place. This plan does not answer housing needs. Instead this plan will enforce a strain on a wonderful old village that deserves our protection." Other signatories weighed in. Musician Chris Difford of Squeeze said the skyline of Blackheath already faces pressure from Canary Wharf’s towers and nearby Lewisham developments, urging people to respect the village’s atmosphere and say no to the project. Dire Straits co-founder Mark Knopfler described Blackheath as a treasured, largely intact village that should be left alone, while Sir Terry Waite and Jeff Banks highlighted the impact on the farmers market and local roads. Waite noted that the proposal would place further strain on crowded roadways in a place with a strong sense of community; Banks argued for preserving Blackheath’s historical value and heritage.

Acorn, the developer behind the proposal, said the plan includes extensive community engagement and would deliver 45 high-quality, sustainable homes, including much-needed social-rented, family-sized affordable housing. A spokesperson noted that the project would re-provision and enhance the farmers market and provide a substantial level of public benefits aimed at sustainable development for residents and the local environment. The company highlighted ongoing engagement with residents, businesses and the Blackheath Society as part of the pre-application process and said it welcomes further comments during planning.

The opposition in Blackheath underscores a broader national debate over how communities can balance the need for new housing with the preservation of local character and essential amenities. While residents emphasize the importance of conserving historic streetscapes and preserving public spaces, developers point to housing needs and social-rented options as critical benefits. As Lewisham Council reviews the proposal, the Blackheath story adds to a growing chorus of communities nationwide that are seeking to shape the footprint of growth while safeguarding the places that define them.