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We have opposed a planning application for a commercial children’s day-nursery on Dulwich sports ground at Turney Road in Southwark. The application has been made by Southwark Community Sports Trust to provide revenue for the trust to maintain the sports ground. There are many local objectors including the Friends of Belair Park.
We consider that the commercial nursery is an inappropriate use of Metropolitan Open Land and public open space.
This is a much valued open space, greatly enjoyed by the local population and those who work in the locality, for informal recreation and peace and tranquillity. This development would be an inappropriate use of public open space and would set a damaging precedent which could lead to further degradation of this green area.
View under threat: the proposed nursery would be on the other side of the willow.
In our view, the arguments from Southwark Community Sports Trust, that this will help to secure its financial future, are irrelevant and are not planning grounds for allowing the application, which in our view is the wrong development in the wrong place.
We are dismayed that the footings for the new nursery have already been built, before the trust even sought planning consent. The sports ground must be reinstated and the construction work removed.
We have urged Southwark Council to reject this application.
Construction begins on Dulwich sports ground, without planning permission, July 2013