The storage and distribution centre on the corner of Ladywell Road and Malyons Road has finally come up with a delivery plan in order to gain planning consent for the site.
Regular deliveries at the garage site by 44 tonne articulated lorries have been causing disruption on Ladywell Rd and angered Malyons Rd residents who have seen access to their street blocked as deliveries are unloaded.
The delivery plan submitted to Lewisham planners (DC/25/140645) claims the deliveries are for two local supermarkets and occur once or twice a day.
They “are generally made (and are to be made in the future) with vehicles having a maximum weight of 7.8 tons and not being articulated.”
Local residents disagree and say most deliveries are made by huge articulated lorries despite council planners excluding the use of such vehicles.
They have compiled a substantial dossier of photographs and videos showing articulated lorries blocking Malyons Road as they make deliveries. The photographs have been handed to local councillors.
“These people just don’t care,” said a resident. “They just shout abuse when you complain.”
The owners of the site claim the size of lorry used for deliveries is often beyond their control as it is decided by suppliers.
Residents say this is an excuse – “an attempt to shed all responsibility for the use of articulated lorries.”
They also dispute the owner’s claim that deliveries take about 15 minutes and do not take place before 9.30am – the school run.
. “Its nonsense. This morning (July 9) an articulated lorry arrived at 8.36 am. It was still here way after 10.00am,” said a resident.
Finally residents dispute the claim by the owner that Ladywell Road “is in no way affected by the delivery process.”
“Whenever one of the articulated lorries tries to pull into Malyons or turn out on to Ladywell Road traffic is brought to a complete standstill. Its ridiculous what they are saying,” say residents.
Garage site operators ignore Lewisham planners’ request for delivery plan that excludes articulated lorries
Malyons Rd residents are still being plagued by 44 tonne lorries causing havoc at the end of the street as they unload goods at the garage site, a storage and distribution centre for local fast food outlets.
We understand the site operators were given until May 24 to submit a delivery action plan that specifically excluded 44 tonne (articulated) lorries as these were not allowed into the road.
But in mid June articulated lorries could be seen delivering goods to the site. “I am surprised the owners can just ignore planning regulations,” said one resident.
“In a recent delivery the driver just left the engine running the whole time and also while the vehicle was unattended. Both the driver and site man left the site to go to the local shops.”
When the resident contacted planning enforcement she was told the site had not submitted a delivery plan as requested but had been given a further 28 days to comply.
“I think this gives them until the July 2. But that is a substantial extension from a May 24 deadline. It really is time to put an end to this disruption. “
Residents up in arms over disruption caused by articulated lorries on Malyons Road
Residents in Malyons Road in Ladywell have had enough of forklift trucks, articulated lorries, and road blockages.
They are up in arms over the old garage site (62-72 Ladywell Road) at the end of Malyons Road which they say is now being used as a storage and distribution centre for fast food outlets across south London.
“It’s a nightmare. We are being plagued by huge lorries, parked up at the end of Malyons Road, restricting car access to the houses and nearby flats, as forklift trucks ferry pallets of drinks, sauces, burgers and fries into the storage site” said one.
“It’s time the police and council took action.”
Residents suspect the site is being used as the main distribution centre for Metro’s Fried Chicken shops given some of the labelling on the boxes there.
The old garage site has long been an eyesore in Ladywell and is now in the conservation area.
Two people died in a fire in the long neglected site in 2015, prompting calls for the site to be developed.
Applications to turn the site into a car wash were rejected in 2004 and the site remained garages, although residents say a car repair business was running there for some time.
“That changed when a bigger white storage building was set up on the site in 2023,” explains a resident. “That’s when the lorries started arriving.”
The council granted a retrospective planning application for the retention of the swhite torage building in February 2025 despite objections from local residents.
Local people were disappointed with the decision to allow the temporary two year use of the storage facilities.
But they hoped the restrictions the planners’ attached to the permission would keep the number of deliveries under control.
Sadly the restrictions have been ignored and abused by the people using the site.
Articulated lorries, specifically excluded by planning officers, regularly park in Malyons Road and unload.
The planning decision clearly stated Malyons Road should not “be allowed to be used for the loading and unloading of vehicles”.
In addition, Malyons Road should not be blocked for the loading and unloading of any delivery vehicles.
Planners recommended that deliveries should be by vans and should be restricted to between 7am and 8pm Monday to Friday, and 8am to 1pm on Saturday but NOT during school drop-off and collection hours
The application was for the storage of goods on pallets before they are sent on to two local supermarkets.
But local residents say two local supermarkets do not need huge deliveries in articulated lorries. “Not even the local Sainsbury needs them,” they add.
Residents say when they complain to the men unloading the trucks all they get is abuse.
“It’s all got out of hand,” said another.
“Today the road was blocked from 8.50am to almost 1.30pm. It’s Saturday … why should they be allowed to do that? The council needs to get this under control.”