Lewisham Urges AA Homes Sell Protected Gorne Wood Woodland

Key Points

• Lewisham Council is urging the landowner of Gorne Wood, an ancient woodland in Lewisham, to sell the site at “fair market value” amid claims it has deteriorated for decades.​
• Gorne Wood is designated as protected Metropolitan Open Land, featuring 500-year-old trees and endangered species, and is listed among 50 London green spaces under threat from developers in a CPRE London report.
• Campaigner Anna Maria Cahalane states the site has been “shut off to the local community for about 25 years” and criticises its £3m sale price, claiming it is “valued at £60,000”.
• AA Homes, the owner of Gorne Wood, has not responded to requests for comment.
• The Fourth Reserve campaign group has raised £130,000 to save the land, asserting its true value is around £60,000.
• Cahalane notes potential value increase to £3m “if they have planning permission to build 28 houses”, but confirms no such permission exists as a previous application was rejected.
• Four local schools, including Turnham School—where most children lack garden access—are within a 10-minute walk and wish to use the space.
• The site’s former scout hut is nearing collapse, blighted by rubbish like old sofas and chairs, despite its potential as a “beautiful woodland with sweet chestnut trees”, per Cahalane.
• Councillor James-J Walsh, Lewisham Council’s cabinet member for Inclusive Regeneration and Planning, highlights the site’s Local Plan designation as Metropolitan Open Land, offering “significant long-term protection from development” and “very little scope for development at Gorne Wood”.
• Walsh urges the landowner to “engage constructively with the campaign and agree a way forward, including the sale of the site at a fair market value that properly reflects those protections”.
• Cahalane praises the woodland’s biodiversity: “In the spring and summer you’ve got so many birds. You’ve got great spotted woodpeckers, you’ve got tawny owls. It’s just an amazing space and it’s very different to a public park or a leisure space because you’re actually among the trees.”
• Gorne Wood exemplifies broader risks, with CPRE London identifying Bromley, Greenwich, and Havering as worst-affected boroughs, each with four or more sites under threat; at least nine parks, eight playing fields, and eight nature reserves are at risk, including Whitewebbs Park, Wimbledon Park, and Greendale Park.

Lewisham (South London News) February 8, 2026 – Lewisham Council is pressing AA Homes, the owner of Gorne Wood, to sell the protected ancient woodland at a fair market value after decades of neglect, as residents and campaigners decry its deterioration and demand community access.

The 500-year-old site, classified as Metropolitan Open Land, faces development threats despite its rich biodiversity, according to a recent CPRE London report listing it among 50 vulnerable green spaces across the capital. Campaigners from the Fourth Reserve group have amassed £130,000 to preserve it, challenging the £3m asking price as inflated without planning permission.​

Why Is Gorne Wood Under Threat?

Gorne Wood’s plight stems from years of isolation from the public, as articulated by campaigner Anna Maria Cahalane. She remarked that the site has been

“shut off to the local community for about 25 years”,

allowing neglect to fester, with a crumbling former scout hut and rubbish—including old sofas and chairs—marring what she describes as a

“beautiful woodland with sweet chestnut trees”.​

Cahalane further criticised the valuation, stating it was “valued at £60,000”, a figure echoed by the Fourth Reserve campaign group. She speculated on the £3m price tag:

“There are about four local schools all within a 10-minute walk of this space who want to use this space, including one school, Turnham School, where most of the children don’t even have access to a garden.”

The group questions the markup, attributing it potentially to

“if they have planning permission to build 28 houses”,

though Cahalane confirmed the land does not hold such permission, with one prior application rejected.

AA Homes has not responded to requests for comment on these claims, leaving the council’s position as the primary official voice. Lewisham Council has not named a preferred buyer, only advocating for a resolution that respects the site’s protections.

What Protections Does Gorne Wood Have?

The woodland’s safeguards are robust, as outlined by Councillor James-J Walsh, Lewisham Council’s cabinet member for Inclusive Regeneration and Planning. He stated:

“We secured its designation as Metropolitan Open Land in our adopted Local Plan, recognising its biodiversity value and providing significant long-term protection from development”.​

This status, Walsh emphasised, leaves

“very little scope for development at Gorne Wood”.

His full counsel to the landowner is constructive:

“We would urge the landowner to engage constructively with the campaign and agree a way forward, including the sale of the site at a fair market value that properly reflects those protections.”

These measures underscore the council’s commitment to preserving the site’s ecological integrity, home to endangered species and ancient trees over 500 years old, as highlighted in the CPRE London report.

Who Are the Key Campaigners Involved?

At the forefront is Anna Maria Cahalane, whose passion for Gorne Wood shines through vivid descriptions. She shared:

“In the spring and summer you’ve got so many birds. You’ve got great spotted woodpeckers, you’ve got tawny owls. It’s just an amazing space and it’s very different to a public park or a leisure space because you’re actually among the trees”.​

The Fourth Reserve campaign group backs her efforts, having raised £130,000 towards acquisition. Their valuation at £60,000 contrasts sharply with AA Homes’ £3m demand, fuelling the push for a fair sale. Residents echo these sentiments, lamenting decades of deterioration and proximity to schools like Turnham, whose pupils stand to benefit most from restored access.

How Does Gorne Wood Fit into London’s Green Space Crisis?

Gorne Wood is not isolated; it exemplifies a citywide vulnerability flagged by CPRE London. The report identifies it among 50 green spaces under developer threat, with Bromley, Greenwich, and Havering each counting four or more at-risk sites.​

Nationally, the analysis reveals at least nine parks, eight playing fields, and eight nature reserves in peril, naming prominent examples like Whitewebbs Park, Wimbledon Park, and Greendale Park. This pattern signals intensifying pressure on London’s natural heritage, where protected designations clash with commercial interests.

CPRE London’s findings, titled

“Cashing in on London’s Parks and Countryside”,

warn of a broader erosion, positioning Gorne Wood as a flashpoint for community resistance.

What Is the Current Condition of the Site?

Neglect defines Gorne Wood today, per firsthand accounts. The former scout hut teeters on collapse, surrounded by debris that obscures its potential. Cahalane’s depiction—

“what could be a beautiful woodland with sweet chestnut trees”

highlights the tragedy of its current state after 25 years of inaccessibility.​

This deterioration has galvanised locals, particularly those near the four schools within walking distance. Turnham School’s situation, where

“most of the children don’t even have access to a garden”,

amplifies calls for repurposing as an educational and recreational haven.

Why Does the Council Advocate a Sale?

Lewisham Council’s stance balances preservation with pragmatism. By designating Metropolitan Open Land, they have enshrined protections, yet recognise the need for action against inertia. Councillor Walsh’s urging for a “fair market value” sale reflects this: it acknowledges the landowner’s rights while prioritising biodiversity and community needs.​

The absence of specified buyers suggests flexibility, contingent on terms honouring the Local Plan. This approach aims to sidestep prolonged conflict, fostering dialogue between AA Homes and campaigners.

What Happens Next in the Dispute?

No timeline emerges from official statements, with AA Homes silent thus far. The Fourth Reserve’s £130,000 war chest positions them as serious contenders, should pricing align. Cahalane’s rejection of the £3m tag, tied to unapproved housing plans, keeps pressure on for valuation realism.​

Broader CPRE advocacy may amplify scrutiny, drawing parallels to threatened sites elsewhere. Residents await landowner engagement, hoping to reclaim a woodland that promises unparalleled natural immersion amid urban sprawl.

Are There Lessons from Similar Cases?

Gorne Wood mirrors struggles at Whitewebbs Park, Wimbledon Park, and Greendale Park, where development looms despite protections. CPRE London’s tally—nine parks, eight playing fields, eight nature reserves—illustrates systemic risks in boroughs like Bromley and Greenwich.​

These precedents highlight successful campaigns’ reliance on community funding, council designations, and rejected permissions. For Gorne Wood, emulating such victories could secure its future, transforming neglect into a thriving green lung.