In June 2024, an application was submitted to Lewisham Council to convert the house standing at 83 Colfe Road into a children’s care home.
If approved, the three-bedroom house would become home to a small number of children who require long-term care in a supportive and stable environment.
The home would be managed by professional carers working on a 24-hour shift pattern, with no more than two staff members on site at any time.
The applicant said no building work is planned, and the outside of the house will remain as it is.
The statement says: “There are no proposed structural changes to the building, and the external appearance of the property will remain unchanged.”
The home is expected to run like a regular family household, with shared spaces and day-to-day activities such as cooking, school attendance and clubs.
The applicant said it would “operate similarly to a family residence,” and described noise levels as being in line with other homes on the street.
The property has existing parking, and shift patterns will be designed to avoid peak traffic times.
The applicant said the site’s location offers “good access to local transport links and amenities,” which is important for children attending school or appointments.
The application argues the proposal is in line with national and local planning policy, including the National Planning Policy Framework and Lewisham’s Local Plan, both of which support specialist accommodation where it meets a clear social need.
But since the application was received, 16 objections have been submitted by neighbours, many of them raising concerns about increased noise, additional cars, and how the change might affect the residential character of the street.
The objections have not been made publicly available yet.
So far, no comments have been submitted in support of the plan.
Lewisham Council is expected to make a decision by August 19, 2025.
