Dowen Farmer Architects has submitted plans to transform an abandoned tennis court in Blackheath The Peckham-based practice's proposals for client V Fund and operator Padium would transform abandoned tennis facilities in Blackheath into a padel court club with courts and a clubhouse padel – a racket sport – is the ‘fastest-growing sport in the world’ with the number of padel courts in Great Britain ballooning from 50 in 2019 to 350 at the end of 2023 features eight covered padel courts and a 450m2 clubhouse building with associated landscaping car and cycle parking and amenities on a 4,470m2 site next door to Blackheath High School sports ground and nearby homes Two curved lightweight canopy structures will cover the eight padel courts which Dowen Farmer says provides ‘functionality and aesthetics’ ‘maintaining a bright and open atmosphere’ while protecting users from the weather A clubhouse building will provide changing rooms Dowen Farmer says its minimalist timber design is inspired by the Scandinavian and Nordic origins of Padium which also operates a padel club at Canary Wharf Dowen Farmer's Blackheath padel club scheme (submitted April 2025) In planning documents, Dowen Farmer said its proposals would breathe new life into the site ‘enhancing its value to the community and restoring its role as a positive and functional space’ following a fire in 2020 The new clubhouse is located on the site of the existing burnt-out structure The former tennis club contains four tennis courts with hard-standing landscaping and a pavilion in the south-west corner of the site The structure and its facilities have remained unused since The practice added that ‘accessibility has been a key consideration with the site designed to accommodate pedestrians providing convenient entry points and supporting a wide range of users’ A planning decision is due to be made this year The clubhouse is designed with a focus on materiality that reflects a Nordic-inspired aesthetic sustainability and ability to harmonise with the surrounding environment The use of natural wood finishes highlights the clean modern lines of the structure while creating a welcoming and tactile experience for users This approach not only complements the clubhouse’s low-lying design but also reinforces its integration into the landscape and local setting The clubhouse design prioritises functionality and aesthetics to create spaces that are not only practical but also visually appealing The goal is to design facilities that attract and retain members by providing an inviting and well-thought-out environment ensuring that the facilities are accessible to all users By integrating features that accommodate diverse needs the design fosters a welcoming atmosphere and promotes broader community engagement but the current arrangement is based on projected visitor requirements (informed by data from Padium’s existing London club) Tags BDP’s College of Arts & Society at Coventry University has been named… Lewisham Council has given Turner Works planning permission for a mixed-use regeneration… Wandsworth Council has given Gehry Partners planning permission for two more residential… Southwark Council has approved tp bennett’s plans for a 25-storey student tower… Amelia Gabriel and Frankie Turton in The Elmer Adventure at Blackheath Halls and Touring The Elmer Adventure was reviewed at Blackheath Halls The three-person cast are full of smiles and that vital knack of engaging and involving their very young audience stage presence is much more important than nuanced acting or award-winning singing although characters have to be convincing and the singing tuneful and incisive Over the years I have seen many of these 60-minute shows based on memorable colourful books for young children and their grown-ups Tall Stories’ musical adaptation of the much-loved Elmer books by David McKee uses unpatronising vocabulary and comes with commendably clear diction from three young actors In short it ticks most of the boxes and is a pretty decent show of its type One of the boxes ticked is a gently understated message about otherness and inclusion because Elmer is rather different from the rest of the herd And that point is subtly reinforced by the casting of the excellent Frankie Turton who is an ambulatory wheelchair user a strong singer and a powerful personality The framing device gives us three young people friends since primary school visiting a jungle (colourful set and costumes by Amanda Mascarenhas) in search of Elmer So it’s a quest during which they pass the time by acting out Elmer stories like children in a playground their search comes good with a wonderful puppet (bravo Yvonne Stone) and this hardened critic had to swallow a lump in her throat Along the way there are some chirpy songs (by Matthew Floyd Jones) one of which is so catchy that children were singing it as they left the auditorium Inevitably the music is mostly backing track but Amelia Gabriel is an unusually accomplished guitarist and her skills are used to good effect Rob Astillo (who also plays guitar) is a fine foil to the two girls We also get some pantomimic stage business with pistols balloons and things appearing upstage behind the action all of which seems to go down well enough with the young audience A 69-year-old athlete who only took up running in his early sixties has become the oldest person to receive funding from a sports charity John Barron from Blackheath, has won countless awards for his sporting prowess and will now be offered a boost from GLL’s Sports Foundation in Lewisham – an opportunity which is one of the area’s ‘best-kept secrets’ Mr Barron’s award will enable him to train for free in sports centres across Lewisham and at the Alex Yee running track in Ladywell He said: “I was sporty when I was young and played football tennis and cricket but life and children got in the way and I forgot about keeping fit “I discovered running just over a decade ago when I started doing ‘Parkruns’ in Hilly Fields It took me about 30 minutes and I thought I was going to die “But I found that running can be quite addictive – I also realised that I’m competitive – so I kept going back week-after-week and soon I was completing the circuit in 20 minutes.” After signing up for Kent Athletics Club and gradually improving his speed and stamina Mr Barron now competes in a variety of distances from 100m to 5km but considers 800m to be his ‘best’ race particularly since he wound up the design firm he’d founded thirty-five years earlier He said: “People think of running as an individual activity but you’re actually part of a community which is very rewarding “It’s brought me into contact with people of all ages keeping fit and healthy is important but exercise is also crucial for mental health.” The Sport Foundation was set up seventeen years ago by charitable social enterprise GLL which runs leisure centres in Lewisham in partnership with the council under the ‘Better’ brand The Foundation has just announced that it will support almost 3,000 athletes in 2025 across England and Wales including those in Lewisham Mr Barron said: “The Sport Foundation is great but more people need to know about it “Lewisham is a very diverse borough and lots of communities might not even be aware of the funding that’s available I’m helping to spread the word so that other local people might apply.” For more information on GLL’s Sport Foundation Pictured top: John Barron (left) from Blackheath takes to the track (Picture: GLL) Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Your guide to London's culture and transport news and events taking place across the city Published on 29th April 2025 by ianVisits in Transport News Passengers in south-east London are being reminded to plan ahead as the railway tunnel between Blackheath and Charlton will close for a second round of repairs next month. The railway will close from Sunday 18th May to Sunday 27th July 2025 as Network Rail carries out £10 million of repairs to the 175-year-old Victorian-era structure The work follows a 10-week closure in 2024 during which engineers cleaned soot from the tunnel lining carried out detailed surveys and replaced thousands of bricks to stop water leaking into the tunnel and damaging the railway Services that normally run through the tunnel will be diverted via other routes The work is needed because the one-mile-long tunnel The tunnel’s brickwork is affected by the freezing and thawing of rainwater which filters through the ground into the tunnel the leaks and very wet conditions inside it damage track and electrical equipment faults in the tunnel have been the cause of around 1,000 minutes of delay to Southeastern passengers Scott Brightwell, Southeastern’s operations and safety director said: “We are working ever closer with our Alliance partner Network Rail to deliver better journeys and these essential repairs will improve the safety and operation of the tunnel “I want to thank customers for bearing with us during the closure and there are a number of alternative travel options “We are running extra services on Woolwich line for connections to the Docklands Light Railway and the Elizabeth line “There are also extra services on the Bexleyheath line and your rail tickets can be used at no extra cost on some local bus routes Full details are available on our website.” Over the course of the entire programme of works Network Rail will replace thousands of bricks and install a new tunnel lining to stop water leaking into the tunnel which will be crucial for the reliable running of the railway long into the future Drainage systems will be rebuilt and track work carried out including the removal of ‘wet beds’ – in other words dealing with waterlogged sections of track that cause bumpy train rides for customers The additional work means less disruption for passengers in the long term services from Dartford to Cannon Street (via Charlton and Lewisham) will run instead via Greenwich This offers the option to travel on the DLR from Greenwich to Lewisham Other services will be diverted along the Bexleyheath line There will be no rail replacement buses, but passengers can travel on selected Transport for London bus routes at no extra cost. A taxi can be provided for customers with accessible needs for travel between Blackheath and Charlton This website has been running now for over a decade, and while advertising revenue contributes to funding the website, it doesn't cover the costs. That is why I have set up a facility with DonorBox where you can contribute to the costs of the website and time invested in writing and research for the news articles It's very similar to the way The Guardian and many smaller websites are now seeking to generate an income in the face of rising costs and declining advertising Whether it's a one-off donation or a regular giver every additional support goes a long way to covering the running costs of this website and keeping you regularly topped up doses of Londony news and facts If you like what you read on here, then please support the website here and website in this browser for the next time I comment and the latest news published on ianVisits You can unsubscribe at any time from my weekly emails © ianVisits Revealed this morning on KISS Breakfast by Jordan & Perri the Kickstarts and Changed The Way You Kiss Me multi-platinum artist Example is set to make his KISSTORY debut at Blackheath Other artists that will be joining him in London include Barbara Tucker Bristol and Cardiff’s audience will be treated to fan-favourites Oxide & Neutrino and Sweet Female Attitude plus many more of the biggest Old Skool and Anthems artists KISS said: “We’re so excited to have Example with us for the first time this year We’ve only announced the first few names of this year’s lineup and it’s already looking to be one of our best events We can’t wait to bring all the best Old Skool vibes and energy to London Cardiff and Bristol – there’s no party like a KISSTORY party!” The full first line up is below. Tickets are on sale now, find more information at playkiss.com Company number: 01176085 Registered Office: Media House Company Number: 1394141 Registered Office: Media House Company Number: LP003328 (England and Wales) Registered Office: The Lantern A £10m programme of repair work to the Blackheath tunnel by Network Rail means that train services will be diverted via Greenwich Passengers in south-east London have been asked to plan ahead from Sunday 18 May to Sunday 27 July 2025 as the Blackheath tunnel between Blackheath and Charlton will close as Network Rail begins £10 million of essential repairs to the 175-year-old Victorian-era structure The work follows a 10-week closure last summer Services that normally run through the tunnel will be diverted via other routes during the 10 weeks said: “We know there’s never a good time to close the railway and that changes to services for a 10-week period is a long time “We are carrying out the repairs over a series of 10-week closures because working in cramped and narrow tunnels is incredibly difficult If traditional weekend working was used engineers would spend at least 50% of a weekend bringing materials and plant in and out of the tunnel “We are sorry for the inconvenience caused by the closure but this is a long-term project and this will be the last closure until we are back in to finish over summer 2027 “When the tunnel is repaired with water damaged infrastructure replaced and the tunnel waterproofed fewer speed restrictions and improved reliability.” Southeastern’s operations and safety director said: “We are working ever closer with our Alliance partner Network Rail to deliver better journeys Drainage systems will be rebuilt and essential track work carried out When the tunnel is repaired and water damaged infrastructure replaced passengers will benefit from fewer delays fewer speed restrictions and improved reliability Around 3,500 passengers per week usually travel to stations between Lewisham and Abbey Wood through the Blackheath tunnel To minimise disruption and keep passengers moving when work is taking place There will be no rail replacement buses but passengers will be able to travel on selected Transport  for London bus routes at no extra cost A taxi can be provided for customers with accessible needs for travel between Blackheath and Charlton to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years On Friday 7 March, Blackheath High School were delighted to welcome BBC Radio London for a live broadcast from a Year 7 Civil Discourse enrichment class with Deputy Head Academic The course – which is designed specifically to teach girls to use their voices with confidence and respect and to disagree well – was the focus of the breakfast show feature in time for International Women’s Day and this year’s theme For ALL women and girls: Rights Kristina Lewis led the conversation with the Year 7 class where they discussed why it is so important to disagree well what these skills bring to ones life and how they will benefit from them into the future You can hear the broadcast on BBC Sounds below (navigate to 1:24:34 for an interview with Kristina Lewis; and to 2:24:15 for the live lesson including interviews with some of our Year 7 students search ‘BBC Radio London’ and find the breakfast show with Victoria Hollins Blackheath High featured at 7.24am and again at 8.24am Saturday 8th March is International Women’s Day and this year’s theme is ‘For ALL women and girls: Rights GDST students – including those from Blackheath High – have been learning more about this year’s theme and why it is a call to action that can unlock equal rights power and opportunities for all and create a future where no one is left behind Blackheath High School is part of the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) a family of twenty-four independent schools and two academies across the UK dedicated to academic and pastoral excellence As pioneers and shapers of girls’ education for 153 years the GDST are global experts in tailoring learning experiences to nurture confident Our forward-thinking approach to education equips girls with the skills and attributes to become the leaders and changemakers of the future A family of independent schools and academies across England and Wales 10 Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DH Telephone: +44 (0)20 7393 6666 Check out our International Admissions page Work is under way on the £3m Blackheath Bus Interchange Project with disruption in two centres expected for up to seven months Funded to the tune of £2,891,252 by central government's Towns Fund programme, council bosses say the new development will mark a 'major milestone in the regeneration of the town.' The bus interchange will be centred around Market Place and all town centre services will load and drop off there The stops will centre around alongside a landscaped public space which will replace the existing traffic island and create a safer pedestrian environment Work on Phase One is now under way and continues until April 19 Henderson Way and vice-versa via Horner Way and Bassano Road, Phase Two will start on May 20 and last until August 5 and phase three from August 6 until September 22 with further restrictions in place will oversee the works with monthly updates shared with businesses and traders to keep the community informed throughout Councillor Peter Hughes, Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Infrastructure said: “This project aims to encourage more people to visit Blackheath town centre and will support shoppers "We are creating an inviting public space and making it easier to access public transport links as well as improving safety and reducing congestion we will continue to work closely with businesses traders and residents in the town centre to keep disruption to a minimum while we carry out these improvements "The new interchange and road layout will mean buses and other vehicles will no longer have to compete for the same road space in parts of the town centre buses will be able to dock properly at stops level access for people with mobility issues or with pushchairs." Albion take down Blackheath and pick up the win on the road making in 7 wins in a row. Match Report: Blackheath vs Plymouth Albion – Saturday, 8th FebruaryKick-off: 15:00 Plymouth Albion extended their winning streak to seven games with a dramatic 22-19 victory over Blackheath in a hard-fought contest at Well Hall. The win sees Albion continue their impressive form, edging out a determined Blackheath side in a game that went down to the wire. Coming into the fixture, Blackheath sat sixth in the league with 51 points, while Albion were in fifth with 57 points. The visitors were riding high on the back of six consecutive victories, a feat they hadn’t achieved since 2017. Blackheath, however, boasted a formidable home record, having lost only once at home all season. The last meeting between the two sides saw Albion clinch a narrow 30-29 victory at Brickfields, setting the stage for another closely contested encounter. A cold and misty London afternoon greeted the teams, with floodlights required from the outset. Albion, led by captain Jack Oulton, showed early intent, winning an initial penalty and asserting themselves in the scrum. However, Blackheath’s own attacking intent was evident as they earned an early penalty, although the kick drifted wide. The hosts were eventually rewarded for their pressure when vice-captain Billy Harding crossed the line for the opening try, converted by Tom Ffitch, giving Blackheath a 7-0 lead. Albion responded through Harry Legg, who, on his return to the lineup, danced through multiple defenders to score. Frankie Dart’s conversion levelled the game at 7-7. Blackheath edged ahead again before the break, with replacement James Cornish finishing in the corner following a well-worked move. The conversion was missed, but the home side carried a slim 12-7 advantage into halftime. Both teams returned from the break with renewed energy. Albion struck first through Angus Hodges, levelling the score at 12-12 after a missed conversion. The visitors continued to apply pressure, earning multiple penalties and camping inside Blackheath’s 22. Despite this, Blackheath’s resolute defence held firm, even as they went down to 14 men following a yellow card. Albion eventually capitalized on their numerical advantage, with Morgan Stone moving over the line from a scrum. Tom Putt’s conversion gave the visitors a 19-12 lead. However, Blackheath responded instantly, racing the length of the field to score under the posts. The successful conversion levelled the game once more at 19-19. Tensions flared in the closing stages, with Albion’s Dan Pullinger shown a yellow card, reducing them to 14 men. Moments later, Rhys Williams saw red for an alleged dangerous tackle which left a few fans scratching heads, leaving Albion with just 13 players on the pitch. Blackheath had a chance to take the lead, but a crucial penalty kick drifted wide. With time running out, Albion earned a penalty, and Putt held his nerve to slot it over, putting the visitors ahead 22-19. Blackheath immediately conceded another penalty, and Albion attempted a long-range kick to seal the victory, but it fell short. As Blackheath pushed for a late response, an infringement handed possession back to Albion, allowing them to see out the match and secure a thrilling win. Final Score: Blackheath 19-22 Plymouth Albion Albion’s resilience and determination ensured their seventh consecutive victory, handing Blackheath only their second home loss of the season. The result keeps Albion’s momentum rolling as they prepare to host Sedgley next weekend. After the game Ryan Lamb had this to say “Great shift from the lads, to get 3 wins in a row away from home shows how much this team is growing. Really proud of the effort against a very good Blackheath side”. Dan Pullinger picked up Player of the match with huge effort dominating in set pieces. Albion stay in 5th place 9 pints ahead of 6th place Blackheath and just one point off Rosslyn Park in 4th, Next Match – Albion vs Sedgley, Saturday 15th February With Albion on an incredible run, we need all the support we can get at Brickfields! We’re offering a special promotion of £10 tickets to fill the stands and create an electric atmosphere. Bring your friends, bring your family, and let’s keep this winning streak alive! Don’t miss out on what promises to be another thrilling encounter. Grab your tickets now and be part of the action!   I agree to the terms and conditions © 2025 Plymouth Albion RFC|Privacy Policy|Terms & Conditions|Safeguarding Policy Website by After their 2024 A-level success, we are delighted to announce that Blackheath High School’s students have also excelled in their GCSEs too achieving an outstanding set of results in a wide variety of subjects More than three quarters (77%) of grades were 9-7 dedication and hard work of all students and their teachers (A**to A*) and (28%) of all grades hit the highest level 9 (A**) Biology and Physics as well as Computer Science where 74% of grades were straight 9-7 (A**-A) and 55% were 9-8 (A**-A*) 2024 saw the introduction of Statistics GCSE of which a stellar 70% were awarded grade 9 Many subjects achieved more than 75% grades 9-7 (A** – A) German and Spanish; 85% in Geography and 83% in Art As part of its commitment to supporting every girl in finding their passion Blackheath High School offers an extremely varied range of GCSE options including Ancient Greek and Astronomy (part of a community project which funds students from local state schools to take the subject); with GCSE Psychology being introduced to the curriculum in September 2024 saying: “I am incredibly proud of our students for their outstanding GCSE results this year Each grade reflects an individual story of dedication “I am particularly delighted to see our Science and Maths results which reflect our mission to address the gender gap in STEM subjects at Higher Education and into the jobs market – our girls continue to smash gender stereotypes and close the gap on achievement with confidence we are committed to building our academic excellence and to stretching and challenging every student to the best of her ability The introduction of Statistics GCSE is a great example of this as we have created an additional opportunity to prepare students for A-level Maths where Statistics features stretching and expanding their capabilities making these results all the more exceptional for this cohort of students who had just begun Year 7 when the pandemic struck and who experienced significant disruption in the early stages of their secondary education These results are a testament to the commitment our students have shown and of course the unwavering support and encouragement from their teachers and families We look forward to seeing many of our girls continue to thrive in Sixth Form and beyond.” At GDST senior schools we tailor our approach to how girls learn best providing them with the attributes they need to excel academic excellence is a given and our girls beat the GCSE national average year on year to be prepared for the opportunities of the future We have 23 independent schools and two academies in England and Wales and we congratulate students from across our family of schools for achieving outstanding results again this year See all GCSE 2024 results at GDST schools A landlord has been told to lower their rent demands after their flat was judged to be worth over £200 less than the market value due to its “very poor condition” A property tribunal calculated that the ground floor studio flat in Blackheath would be worth £1,400 per month based on market rate but determined it is actually worth £1,183 per month due to its “lack of modernisation” and “general disrepair” Nicholas Payne has been the sole tenant of a flat in Falconwood Court Mr Payne’s landlord E J & D Azouz proposed an increase of rent from £1,025 per month to £1,250 per month My Payne made an application to the Residential Property Tribunal to determine whether the rise was fair While the panel concluded its value was about £70 less than that which was being demanded it ruled that if it wasn’t in such a state it would be worth approximately another £200 a month The tribunal undertook an inspection of the property on March 31 and this inspection determined that “the external fabric and common parts of the block had been modernised and improved” but the same could not be said of the flat itself the flat was found to be in very poor condition It requires extensive redecoration throughout modernisation of kitchen and bathroom areas the electrical installation is antiquated and not fit for modern purpose the carpet was worn through and exceptionally dirty – and there was inter pane condensation to the antiquated double glazing and one of the internal double glazed panes on a fanlight had broken.” the property’s carpet and radiators are the same ones from when the flat was built in 1968 and the flat was last decorated in 1997 The tribunal decided on April 7 that the rent should be set at £1,183 per month £217 less than its open market value of £1,400 per month due to the “antiquated” central heating radiators the doubling glazing windows being “no longer fit for purpose” and there being “inadequate electrical installation by modern standards” This 15.5 per cent decrease in value was also due to the kitchen and bathroom being “inadequate by modern standards” and the property requiring a “full decoration internally” Pictured top: Falconwood Court in Montpelier Row Published on 17th March 2025 by ianVisits in Transport News The rail tunnel between Blackheath and Charlton is to close for ten weeks later this year as Network Rail carries out a second set of repairs to the 175 year old tunnel The closure will mean the rail link between Blackheath and Charlton will be closed and trains that usually run between Dartford and Cannon Street via Lewisham will be diverted to run between Greenwich instead People who usually travel to/from Charlton and Blackheath/Lewisham will be able to use the DLR to get to/from Greenwich While there will be no trains between Charlton and Lewisham – the diversion via Greenwich will see the diverted trains also calling at Westcombe Park and Deptford stations — so a modest improvement in service for them The tunnel closure will be between Sunday 18th May to Sunday 27th July 2025 This second tunnel closure follows a 10-week closure last summer and replaced thousands of bricks to prevent water from leaking into the tunnel and damaging the railway said: “We know there’s never a good time to close the railway there won’t be a dedicated rail replacement bus but passengers will be able to travel on selected TfL bus routes at no extra cost A taxi can also be provided for customers with accessible needs for travel between Blackheath and Charlton Blackheath finished their 2024-25 campaign in sixth place after a 40-26 final day defeat at Richmond – with the fixture also signalling the end of James Shanahan’s eight-year tenure as head coach who is moving on to a new challenge at Bury St Edmunds RFC A repeat of the oldest fixture in club rugby is always an event especially when it’s played a short stroll away from Richmond Green the venue of the very first meeting between these two clubs in 1864 but this occasion took on a little more significance For Richmond it was a celebration of their title win and a return to The Championship On a glorious spring afternoon in front of a crowd approaching 1,500 efficient performance that has typified their campaign Jack Daly and Augy Slowik pulled on a Club jersey for the final time – 707 appearances between them – but although unable to provide the outcome they would have craved Blackheath played with pride and commitment showing character to fight back and claim a four-try bonus point red and gold around the pitch fluttering in the light breeze as Billy Harding moved blind following Blackheath opting for a lineout instead of an easy three-points It was the only time Blackheath were to hold a lead and it lasted a mere three minutes As the visitors failed to control a high ball the bounce fell kindly for Richmond loose-head Chris Freeman to rumble over As the powerful Richmond pack built phases on the Club goal-line a lobbed pass found Sam Dardis to trot over on the right touchline and space created for opposite wing Sam Smith to score in the left corner Fly-half Cal Grieve struck three excellent conversions and Richmond led 21-7 at the break Hope emerged for Blackheath soon after the restart but it was only the prelude to three Richmond tries in 13 minutes mid-half that moved the game firmly out of reach Both sides were guilty of obstruction at times losing a man to the sin-bin as they defended following a superb 50:22 from Grieve and with numerical superiority a short offload sent second-row Jake Monson trundling through a gap to score A chip wide was tapped back infield with perfection for Smith to latch on to and sprint over for his second try and again depleted in number as the game continued with the unfortunate Alex Witchell being treated for a serious leg injury Richmond produced a fine handling move from deep to send centre Tololima Savaiinaea across forcing the Surrey side to concede several penalties the deserving Hirskyj-Douglas blasted across from close range on 73 minutes followed by another lineout seeing Will Davis ground across the goal-line at the very death