Campaigners trying to save “the last green space” on Brockley Rise have urged residents to object to a proposal to build flats on the site.

Plans to knock down trees and build flats on the Duncombe Hill Green were submitted to Lewisham Council in March after the space was fenced off to the public.

The application from Investor Alliance Limited proposes building a block of seven two-bedroom flats on the site.

But the plans have left residents in uproar as they battle to save the green space.

Sean Ryan, who lives in Brockley Grove, told News Shopper: “The Duncombe Hill Green is the last remaining green space along Brockley Rise. This is our last bit.”

As he called on residents to publicly object to the developer’s plans, he added: “We can’t let them get away with it.”

Junaid Baig of Investors Alliance Limited rejected claims the plot of land is the last green space in the area, pointing to Blythe Fields at the top of Duncombe Hill.

He said: "The fact remains that there is a major shortage of houses in London and Lewisham Council is trying to fill this gap."

After racking up 5,000 signatures on a public petition against the flats, Mr Ryan is calling on residents to add their objections to the planning application by Friday, 19 April.

“Local residents are outraged. [The developers] want to cut the trees down,” the 54-year-old told News Shopper.

He also objected to the fence that has been put up around the green which blocks the space from public use.

“The developers are saying it’s not used for anything, but it’s used in the summer and by dog walkers.”

Although the application makes no mention of social housing within the block, it suggests the building will be accessible for disabled people.

The application reads: “The proposed development will be accessible by most modes of transport and will cater for a wide sector of the population including the elderly and disabled.”

But Mr Ryan, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, dismissed this claim because the space is on a hill.

“As a disabled person myself that offends me to no end. Who wants to wheel their chair up a hill to their front door?” he said.

Mr Baig said: "No matter where a development is, providing disabled access is paramount and we have proposed a ground floor unit which can be adapted if a disabled person was interested to live there."

The planning application has racked up more than 70 objections as the Save Duncombe Hill campaign encourages residents to make their voice heard.

Despite opposition to the plans, Mr Baig insisted: "We have some objections against the site driven by a small number of people. However even those numbers are small compared to the numbers this development can benefit in the years to come."