A developer has lodged an appeal after its proposal to build a block of flats by a playground in Deptford was refused.  

Developer Aurora Apartments wants to build the three-storey building on a small plot of land by the Armada Community Project and Charlotte Turner Gardens in McMillan Street.

Locals objected to the plans, saying children would lose out on “vital” play space, while a nursery playground would have been plunged into darkness by the proposed build. 

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 proposed development would fail to provide an acceptable internal and external living environment for prospective residents. 

“The proposed development by reason of its height, scale and bulk and relationship with adjoining buildings would have an adverse impact on the amenity of adjoining occupiers as a result of a loss of outlook, increased sense of enclosure and a loss of light/overshadowing,” according to the decision notice dated March 31.  

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. 

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.  

But Midi Music sold off the land, called Blusher’s site, last year for £105,000.   

According to the charity in a Companies House document, the sale “contributed towards increasing our reserve fund, easing the charity’s cashflow and even though we received £20k less from our land investment due to the reporter Japanese Knotweed presence, the reality of our financial position is positive”.   

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.