A developer erected hoarding boards without consent in Deptford “in error” and said it will replace them.  

Greenwich Council launched an investigation after construction workers put up a wooden hoarding fence around a small plot of land by the Armada Community Project and Charlotte Turner Gardens in McMillan Street.   

Developer Aurora Apartments, which owns the site, contracted a company to do the work, but did “not check” if the boards were the right size – higher than one metre requires planning permission.  

Aurora is in the process of appealing a planning decision from Greenwich, which rejected its plans to build a three-storey block of flats on the site.  

Locals have objected to the plans, saying children would lose out on “vital” play space, while a nursery playground would have been plunged into darkness by the proposed build.    

The council rejected the application at the end of March, concluding that the design, massing, and scale would be “unsympathetic and over dominant” to the surroundings.   

A resident-led group, Stop McMillan Street Development, set up to oppose the scheme, reported the recent work on the site to the council. 

They also posted a video on Twitter and said: “The four vans parked illegally from before 7.30am this morning, they started work soon after destroying the morning peace.    

“Their planning application was rejected yet the developers keep coming back.”   

The council confirmed to the group on Thursday (September 10) that the developer had not got planning consent. 

She sent a further email after hearing from Aurora.  

“I am advised that the hoarding has been erected at over one metre in height in error.  

“They wish to reduce the height to no more than one metre, they also intend for it to be painted black.  

“I have requested that it is not on the highway and I have advised that I don’t feel it is necessary to enclose the railings to the park area. 

“I have been advised that they are intending to make changes to the hoarding to make it compliant within the next couple of weeks and will confirm the date with me in due course as it is yet to be confirmed.  

“They have agreed to not start any works before 8am and to ensure all contractors are complying with Road Traffic rules,” she wrote.  

Richard Marshall-Greaves, director of Aurora, told the local democracy service it was his “error” and the hoarding boards will be replaced.  

“It was a mess up between me and the contractors.  

“It was my error – I didn’t check so we’ve got to replace it.  

“[The contactors] are very busy, I might have to get someone else to do it,” he said.  

Mr Marshall-Greaves would not explain why the boards have been put up, but said there was nothing “strange or suspicious” going on.  

“There are reasons, I’ll explain to you after the appeal process. There are genuine reasons, it’s not because of anything untoward or suspicious,” he said.