Lewisham Families Face Eviction as Illegally Built Homes Ordered for Demolition
Families in Lewisham, south London, are confronting the distressing prospect of eviction from cramped rental properties after developers unlawfully converted a site approved for storage units into a row of terraced houses. The eight two-storey homes, constructed on a narrow plot behind high street shops, were built without the necessary planning permission, leading Lewisham Council to order their demolition.
Tenants Left in Limbo Amid Housing Crisis
One resident, Magbule Selyahtinova, 50, has lived in the development—named Kanli Mews after the directors of Eden Park Property Ltd—for approximately five years, unaware of the illegal construction. She expressed her anxiety, stating, "I'm stressed because I have nowhere to go. We're stuck in limbo. Where will we go?" Mrs Selyahtinova, who is Turkish, highlighted the challenges faced by tenants, including difficulty securing new rentals due to reliance on Universal Credit and health issues preventing work.
She added, "We're looking for a rental, but nobody will rent to us. That's why we can't move out. My back hurts, I can't work, my husband can't work, and since we're on Universal Credit nobody will give us a house." With three families remaining in Kanli Mews, others have already relocated after discovering the impending demolition.
Planning Breach and Enforcement Action
Lewisham Council originally granted planning permission in 2009 for the demolition of existing garages and their replacement with eight storage units. However, Eden Park Properties, which describes itself as a small family business focused on tenant relationships, purchased the site in 2018 and constructed residential housing instead. Council planners issued an enforcement notice in 2021, demanding the site be demolished entirely or converted back to storage units.
Following an appeal by the developers in 2023, an independent planning inspector, Timothy King, upheld the council's order this month. In a critical decision, he ruled the homes—each measuring just 50 square metres—provided a "poor standard of accommodation" with inadequate outdoor space, deeming them an "unacceptable form of development." The inspector noted the properties harmed the area's character and failed to enhance its quality.
Developer Response and Future Prospects
Eden Park Property Limited declined to comment when approached, with co-director Husayan Kanli initially claiming no one lived at the address, despite evidence to the contrary. The company's website promotes an ethos of enriching local communities and building long-term tenant relationships, contrasting sharply with the current situation.
The land has now been listed for sale, with sales details warning potential buyers that the houses require demolition and reconstruction as a commercial building for warehouse or light industrial use, in line with the original plans. Meanwhile, a new planning application submitted by Eden Park last year to convert the illegal terrace into five residential homes remains undecided by Lewisham Council, leaving tenants in continued uncertainty.
As the demolition order stands, affected families like Mrs Selyahtinova's face mounting stress and housing insecurity, underscoring broader issues in urban planning and tenant protections in London's competitive rental market.
