Lewisham’s Aladdin’s Cave at disused station sees new housing plan
The site of Aladdin’s Cave antique and salvage shop in Lewisham has seen new housing plans submitted.
Eight years ago plans were submitted for the site which was once home to Lewisham Road station on the now-closed Greenwich Park line.
That 2018 plan never went anywhere and now another has popped up on Lewisham Council’s planning site. The former station site faces Loampit Vale and stretches someway back alongside the railway.
A contemporary version of local buildings is proposed to match the conservation area with a garden to the rear.
Former railway
The Greenwich Park branch once ran from Nunhead to Lewisham before heading to Greenwich High Road and Stockwell Street. The stretch between Lewisham and Greenwich Park station is long gone though a section between Nunhead and Lewisham remains.
That’s used by trains to Victoria along the Bexleyheath line.
The now-lost line was originally designed to head to Woolwich Dockyard but that idea was dropped. Upon opening it was never a great success and after eventually making it as far as Greenwich Park station went no further. The opening of the line still in operation through Greenwich rendered an extension moot.
There was also a station on the A2 at Blackheath Hill between Lewisham Road and Greenwich Park stations.
Lewisham Hill station only lasted from 1871 to 1917. The building is locally listed though would be demolished under these proposals. The application states “it is in a poor state of repair and permission was granted in 2018 for its demolition”.
A Heritage document continues: “Officers confirmed within their report that, whilst it is of some historic interest, it cannot be said to have much architectural interest given its poor condition and therefore its significance is low, and it does not make a positive contribution to the character or appearance of the St John’s Conservation Area.”
Click here to view the application.
The frontage is not very wide, although the site does go back some way. The proposed build looks quite large.
I used to live in a house very close to Aladdin’s cave and from my windows, I could see the lines to and from Victoria, as all as those heading into London and out to the suburbs. It remains to be seen whether anything will come of this latest proposal.
Get. It. Built.
The of that beauty architecture ages well have it removed like that I dunno what do locals think. New builds aint got taste for London a low skyline the better we need to see more trees. Don’t take away nature like that’s a leaf patch we still need oxygen. Atleast make the architecture have style news buildings are characterless and boring yawn*
As a resident living close by I would hate to see another ugly new build put there!
Let it stay! It’s the only surviving station building of the branch. Blackheath Hill station was demolished in the late 80s, Brockley Lane burnt down and Greenwich Park was replaced by a hotel. Aladdin’s Cave was re-roofed not so long and it’s a popular shop. Enough shops are closing down. Keep it!