Whilst the Friends of Oxleas Woodlands fully recognise the need for additional affordable housing in the borough, we believe the proposed development is inappropriate for the location under consideration.  The ‘Shepherd Leas’ development lies within 100 metres of Shepherdleas Wood itself, an ancient woodland which has not only been designated as a local Nature Reserve by the Royal Borough of Greenwich, but which also constitutes a legally protected Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The site of the proposed building lies at a crucial link in the important habitat chain between Shrewsbury Park/Woodlands Farm, in the north and Avery Hill, in the south.  An eleven storey building forms a barrier which will disrupt the migration and foraging of both bats and birds. (Our own survey of bat activity has detected Noctule bat activity in the area. The noctule bat is classified as a priority species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. It is also protected by law in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.The Noctule bat flies and hunts above the tree canopy. An eleven-storey building would be a serious obstruction to them).

Meridian Home Start have failed to take into account the potential impact of an eleven-storey building on the adjacent woodland, even though the site falls within the Impact Risk Zone specified by Natural England.  We believe that the shadow effect of the building will alter sunlight patterns in the adjacent woodland to the detriment of woodland fauna; at the same time, a building taller than six storeys will produce increased light pollution and affect nocturnal birds and bats.

We are also concerned that an eleven-story building will be visible from the top of Oxleas Meadow, for example, and ruin what is now a well-loved and much visited local landscape.

The Friends of Oxleas is calling on the Eltham Area Planning Committee and the Royal Borough of Greenwich Planning Board to reject Meridian Home Start’s Shepherd Leas planning application unless the height of the proposed building is reduced to six storeys or less.

Please help us to protect this ancient woodland by signing our petition.

To find out more about our campaign please visit www.oxleaswoodlands.uk or our Facebook page @oxleasfriends