The government has approved plans for a giant scrapyard dubbed a “monstrosity” by locals at the end of a South London street.

Housing secretary Marcus Jones overturned Lambeth Council’s decision to block the 1,915 sqm metal recycling centre following an appeal by developer Urban & Provincial. 

The Labour-led Council threw out the scrapyard plans at the bottom of  Windsor Grove in West Norwood in 2021.

This Is Local London: Windsor Grove West Norwood (photo: Grainne Cuffe)Windsor Grove West Norwood (photo: Grainne Cuffe)

More than 5,000 people signed a petition opposing the recycling centre, saying they feared the lorries it would attract could increase pollution in the area and harm the health of local kids. 

But Conservative Mr Jones, who has been in the post since July 7, dismissed residents’ concerns and found in favour of the developer’s appeal.

He said noise from passing traffic wouldn’t have an “unacceptable impact” on locals.

A decision letter dated August 26, reads: “The Secretary of State agrees with the inspector and does not consider that operational noise from the recycling operation on the appeal site would materially harm the living conditions of nearby residents within their dwellings or their outdoor amenity space.

“The Secretary of State does not find that the nature of the noise arising from traffic movements would have an unacceptable impact on the living conditions of local residents.

"He further agrees that in an area of mixed uses such as this, the predicted increase in commercial vehicles would not be so great as to be visually intrusive from the dwellings in the locality.”

It continues: “He hereby allows your client’s appeal and grants planning permission subject to the conditions set out in Annex B of this decision letter for demolition of all existing buildings and structures and the provision of a new building and associated hard and soft landscaping in respect of the use of the site as a metal recycling and management facility.”

Helen Hayes, Labour MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, has previously called Windsor Grove an “entirely inappropriate” site for the planned scrapyard.

In a letter opposing the plans from December 2021, she said the proposed centre would see 150 vehicles a day travelling down the small cul-de-sac to deliver metal. 

The letter continues: “Residents of Windsor Grove will experience severe disturbance from noise and vibration as a consequence of HGVs passing just metres from their homes throughout the day.

"[…] There are particular concerns about the number of shift workers who live on Windsor Grove whose sleep will be disrupted by noise from the trucks.” 

Residents have six weeks to lodge an appeal with the High Court if they want to challenge the minister’s decision.