From November 1, 2025, businesses in certain areas will need planning permission to convert their premises into homes.
The council confirmed the new rule, known as an Article 4 Direction, on March 6.
This development follows a prior notice issued in September of the previous year.
The Article 4 Direction stops the automatic right to change the use of a building from commercial (Class E) to residential (Class C3) in specified areas.
It means businesses and services in those areas will now have to apply for planning permission to make such changes.
The direction applies to major centres such as Catford and different parts of Lewisham, including district centres like New Cross, Deptford, Forest Hill, Sydenham, Blackheath, Lee Green, and Downham.
Local centres affected include Evelyn Street, New Cross Road, Brockley Cross, Ladywell, Crofton Park, Honor Oak/Brockley Rise, Bellingham, Downham Way, Hither Green Lane, Staplehurst Road, Grove Park, Lee Station, Kirkdale, and Lewisham Way.
Parades in Burnt Ash Hill, Marvels Lane & Chinbrook Road, Evelyn Street, Southend Lane, Brockley Rise, Perry Vale, Perry Hill, Verdant Lane, Stanstead Road, Sangley Road & Sandhurst Road are included as well.
Strategic industrial locations like Bromley Road and Surrey Canal are also part of the areas covered by this new rule.
In addition, mixed-use employment locations such as Plough Way, Convoys Wharf, Grinstead Road, Surrey Canal Triangle, Childers Street East, and Arklow Road are subject to the new planning permission requirements.
Locally significant industrial sites in Endwell Road, Malham Road, Childers Street West, and Lower Creekside are also included.
The Article 4 Direction applies to the entirety of mixed-use employment locations at Oxestalls Road, Sun and Kent Wharf, and Thanet Wharf.
Locally significant industrial sites at Blackheath Hill, Evelyn Court, Willow Way, Worsley Bridge Road, Stanton Square, Apollo Business Centre, Trundley’s Road, Perry Vale, and Clyde Vale are also entirely covered by the direction.
The Article 4 Direction will be enforced starting November 1, 2025.
The council has made documents related to the direction, including maps defining the affected areas, available online.
They can be viewed at lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/planning/policy/article-4-direction-for-class-e.
Physical copies are also available for review at several local libraries, including Catford Library, Deptford Library, Grove Park Library, Downham Library, and Sydenham Library.
The council has emphasised that these changes are aimed at regulating the transformation of business areas into residential zones, ensuring a balanced development approach that considers both community and economic needs.
Nick Fenwick, the council’s Director of Planning, is the authorised officer overseeing these changes.
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