The 'battle for Blackheath' should concern anyone with a love for where they live

For more than 20 years, I have lived in Blackheath.

- SARAH HADLAND

It’s a lovely place in southeast London with real community spirit, full of independent shops and cafes where everyone knows the owners. It's the true village character that I love.

Like many parents here, I walk my child to school every day. With more than half a dozen primary schools and nurseries, there are little ones everywhere at drop-off and pickup. Road crossings can be hectic. It's a special place, with residential streets full of well-preserved Georgian and Victorian buildings protected by it being a conservation area the first in London to be designated, in 1968.

The council upholds this protected status rigorously, as all residents and I know well. I personally went through a lengthy and very costly process to do work on my home, and was happy to do so in order to maintain this charming village and its history. So I've been stunned and deeply saddened by proposals to build 45 new homes next to Blackheath station, a grade II-listed building dating back to 1849. This summer, it marked its 176th birthday with a £1.7m heritage makeover.

Now, a north London property developer has submitted plans to build 20 houses and 25 flats - in three blocks, four and five storeys high - on the station car park. The proposals look ugly, modern and generic, and would be completely out of keeping with the surroundings.