When a major retailer declares in a major campaign that it has an interest in opening a store in Forest Hill, it is really an open door to engage in a process where the benefits of investing here are promoted from within.
It is always an option.
And if Forest Hill is not promoted from within its community, who will extoll the virtues of locating a business here, especially one that could be viewed as being as highly desirable as M&S. (There are many other highly desirable brands of course).
OK, so ⌠there was some confusion over the date of this meeting which turns out to have been a printer problem. It was meant to be delayed to next week, but because the original flier said 18th, the owner turned up in any case, so I got to meet him and hear some more details of the backstory. I will attempt to summarise it below for information. Please note, I am summarising his information, and not in a position to confirm it, so this is just so that we all have a better understanding of what, and why, he is proposing the above.
Please also note that this summary, and any ideas or commentary, are my personal reflections and are not necessarily endorsements from the @foresthillsociety
The owner is Johnny Srikrishna. He owns and runs the SJS business which is an independent operator of forecourt businesses.
His family have owned the 1 Waldram Park Road site for 40 years or so. His father set up a convenience store there when it stopped being a BP garage, and then eventually leased it to the Co-op for 20 years.
Once that lease expired (around 2018), they wanted to build a residential building on the site and spent a great deal of time (and money) developing drawings for this that went to Lewisham Planning committee who refused it and required changes multiple times. The effective message that the owners got was that Lewisham was not interested in residential construction here. However, that was their original intention.
Once they realised this, they converted the proposal to make it a hotel, and Lewisham Planning was apparently very receptive to this (even though the actual plans were not greatly different), and even provided help and guidance. This was the proposal that was therefore consulted on locally, and was eventually accepted.
The owners had a franchise agreement with Holiday Inn to operate the hotel at this point.
That is why the site was demolished and prepared for development ⌠just before Covid happened.
The delays, and cost increases, this caused meant that Holiday Inn pulled out. Instead, Travelodge agreed to step in (and even to help funding, apparently), and so planning continued. Unfortunately, while this was going on, UK construction costs, and UK interest rates, increased dramatically, doubling the cost of construction and reducing or removing the profit of the operation for both owners and potential operators. Eventually Travelodge also pulled out.
On top of all of this, BT (and the company theyâve sold their real-estate to), threatened to litigate for their âright to lightâ for the Telephone Exchange next door. This is a ridiculous request, but represented another HUGE cost, and was simply profiteering from these companies (that have absolutely no need for light for an unoccupied and under-utilised building).
All together, this stopped all existing plans for the site, leaving the owners with a demolished site, and a huge investment to date in planning, clearing and legal fees.
That is why they have reverted the plan to something simple (for them) which is to operate a single storey (i.e. not affecting the right-to-light of the exchange) retail operation and EV charging hub. This is potentially a short to medium term solution that could easily be replaced and redeveloped if the situation were to change in the next 5-10 years, or could keep operating. However, it brings the site into use, and helps them recover some of the costs to date.
The retail space available will be a bit larger than the previous size of the Co-op (will be about 200sqm), but not large enough for M&S and others, so those are not potential clients for this site. This is a local convenience store, not a âsupermarketâ location. (I am not certain whether even building on the whole plot would be big enough, and even if you did, there would be no solution to the parking and delivery issues this would cause). Morrisons have indicated an interest in the site, and apparently there will be opportunities for it to stock âlocalâ products (eg. bread, coffee, honey,âŚ)
So, the issues that come to mind to be addressed will be:
Hopefully this gives everyone a slightly fuller picture of the background to this proposal. As I say, this is a report of the information I was given, but I have not investigated it or confirmed it, so others may have comments on the accuracy (of the story or my memory).
I have pointed Johnny to this topic and to the strength of feeling in the community, so hopefully our ideas and comments can be taken into account, and he may even chip in at some point.
I also hope that this is useful for the @PVCllrs who will consider the value of different solutions to the ward and the area.
When a major retailer declares in a major campaign that it has an interest in opening a store in Forest Hill, it is really an open door to engage in a process where the benefits of investing here are promoted from within.
Iâm just trying to understand what the channels of communication might be that you have in mind. M&S could have done a survey by mailing all addresses in the neighbourhood, then they would hear from potential consumers. But it sounds like you are suggesting that someone in Forest Hill, or Lewisham, should have taken the initiative. - The Mayor? Our MPâs? Councillors? Forest Hill Society?
Personally I think that a creative architect might be able to design a larger supermarket on this site. It might involve having an underground or ground floor loading bay and customer parking, with the shopping on 1st and 2nd floor. The car wash isnât right for this site, and the car park would need to be ticketed so that we donât have people loitering in cars with engines running, and illicit trading.
Wouldnât their claim be thrown out, since they themselves have almost no windows and no onsite staff?
apparently not. In fact they have a LOT of (little) windows (see the ones on the corner stairwell for example) which are the important factor, irrespective of the staff present (I gather).
Take your pick really.
The candidates you list are all perfectly valid with the addition of one more - a direct approach to M&S made by individual residents and/or FHSoc.
It might even be the case that locally supplied knowledge might provide positive assistance to any retailer to help identify a suitable site for the location of a new store. The âlagâ between when a potential new business owner might conduct preliminary research and examinations of new sites across many locations could lead them to miss out on more up-to-date information.
Itâs all grist to the mill.
I share the views on the paucity of the proposed Morrisons scheme, and going a little further, providing more, in whatever form, than what is effectively a like-for-like replacement to what existed previously on the site absent any substantive enhancements, could and should be achievable.
The big question is the future development of Perry Vale car park. It seems unlikely that any of us will be alive to witness what happens there. But I reckon Forest Hill is at an interesting moment of potential revival.
It definitely feels like there have been some really positive retail developments in the last few months. I love how one or two of them have grown out of pop-ups held by the excellent Better things store.
To be honest, seeing something rather than an empty site surrounded by hoarding blocking the view.
I canât imagine that it is going to turn into a full blown valeting site, in fact I would be shocked if there was any water i.e jet washes. Rather somewhere with vacuums, and chargers.
A convenience store of anything mainstream would also be a nice addition to the location. I really canât be bothered which brand, so am not gonna be swayed one way or another by that.
Itâs Forest Hill, a lovely little part of South London, with good connections and itâs own little vibe. Letâs not get caught up with little details.
I would caveat the above by saying. If I am completely wrong and this somehow becomes a Londis with 24 hour valeting services I will be the first to do my best Harry Enfield impression.
Which character, if I may ask?
