About

For more than 30 years Norwood Action Group (NAG) has been dedicated to the economic, environmental and social regeneration of the Norwood area. It is officially recorded as a community organisation presenting a collective view.

NAG is forward looking and has contributed to the promotion and protection of many of West Norwood, Tulse Hill and Upper Norwood’s positive features. These aims remain at the heart of NAG’s constitution.

NAG has always been informal with an open membership for local people. The Committee and other active members are able to react quickly to urgent issues on a non-political basis. We all give our time completely free. Help us put forward your interests and concerns.

NAG’s abiding strength is that it is entirely independent and sets its own agenda, and works cooperatively with other groups, such as Norwood Forum, Norwood Feast, Friends of West Norwood Cemetery, and Station to Station.

Recent successes

Making major submissions to Lambeth and to the Government Inspector at the draft and review stage of the Lambeth Local Plan to remove the incentive to high-rise developments and to keep Norwood High Street as part of the district centre (SADPD Sites 18 & 19).

Opposed the creation of a major new waste metal yard (Southwark Metals) close to West Norwood town centre that would generate much heavy traffic and pollution.
Reviewing all local planning applications to Lambeth to assess whether they raise issues for the community, and submit comments in support as well as objection as appropriate.
Calling and hosting public meetings to inform and engage residents in debate with Lambeth Officers and councillors, and other private entities.
Pedestrian and cyclist safety on Thurlow Park Road.
Improvements to Healthy Route plans – the proposed cycle route and pedestrian improvements which would run along Rosendale Road, Clive Road and then to Crystal Palace via Gipsy Hill.
The continuing bridge strikes, which have the potential for serious injury, even fatalities.
Rosendale Playing Fields use and security.
Knollys Road industrial area – housing v. jobs and the major issues this raises.
Persuading Lambeth Planning to take enforcement action concerning serious and serial offenders against planning regulations.
Seeking to protect shops and businesses from erosion through change of use to residential.
Helping improve our rail stations, and better rail services.

The restoration of St Luke’s church garden and re-installation of railings to the original 1822 pattern.

The repair and renovation of St Luke’s nationally significant historic Vulliamy clock, and clock faces
Later restoring the chimes to St Luke’s church clock, last heard before World War 2
Objecting to various unhelpful or impactful planning proposals resulting in either useful modification or abandonment of plan, including: waste transfer station planned for Ernest Avenue, major developments at Chapel Road, at the Tennis Club on Knight’s Hill, the new Fire Station, redevelopment on Dalton Street, a major development at Avenue Park Road, inappropriate development beside Big Yellow on Knight’s Hill, gym instead of workspace at Parkhall.
Attending Lambeth Planning Application Committee Meetings, also Appeal Inquiries, to make representations.
The renovation of the old Woolworth’s, now Sainsbury’s, white terracotta façade.
Installation of town centre hanging baskets.
Improvement of town centre Christmas lights – ongoing challenge!
Supporting the good plans of existing and new businesses who need planning permission to provide a better service to local people and be more viable.
Bus extension to Peabody Estate – helping people on the estate and nearby decide whether they wanted the service and then supporting them in defeating the proposal.
Assisting Lambeth to refuse consent for large and unsightly advert hoardings at the Grade 2 listed 1914 Fire Station.
Leading local total opposition to large advertising hoardings on local public park railings, including St Luke’s railings, achieving withdrawal of the plan.