Reimagining Lewisham Town Centre: Putting Lewisham’s People and Pride at the Heart of Regeneration
Lewisham is a borough full of pride and potential. We’re securing investment to protect our home, invest in its future, and make sure regeneration delivers on the ambition our communities deserve. The redevelopment of Lewisham Shopping Centre, led by Landsec, is one of the most significant moments in our borough’s recent history. In this post, I want to share what this decision means for local people, how it fits into our wider vision for a fairer and greener town centre, and what comes next for the heart of Lewisham.
Lewisham town centre has always been more than just a place to shop. It is where generations have met friends, worked, built businesses, and shared moments that define our community. The approval of Landsec’s planning application marks a major step forward in the next chapter of that story. The developer’s investment keeps Lewisham’s heart beating strong while giving it the renewal and confidence it deserves.
We are determined that Lewisham continues to be a place where everyone feels proud to live, work, and spend time. For decades, people have called for the shopping centre to be upgraded, and the Council has worked closely with Landsec to turn that shared ambition into reality. Their plans reflect the creativity, confidence, and resilience that define this borough.
Let’s be absolutely clear: the shopping centre is not being demolished. It is being reimagined and renewed. Landsec is investing to give it a new lease of life with more shops and cafés, new public squares, a 500-capacity not-for-profit culture and live music venue, a community café, and a new public park. The return of the much-loved Model Market will strengthen our evening economy and make the town centre more vibrant and welcoming.
This is about protecting what people value most while building a stronger, greener, fairer future for our community.
As someone who grew up shopping here for school shoes, and still remembers the playzone and hippo bins, I know how much this space means to local people. For too long, residents have had to travel out of the borough for the things they should be able to enjoy on their doorstep. These plans put that right, ensuring local people can enjoy the same opportunities, culture, and quality of life as anywhere else in London.
This project has been shaped through genuine dialogue with residents, community groups, and local businesses at every stage. People told us they wanted a safer, greener, more vibrant town centre that feels welcoming to everyone. These plans deliver exactly that.
This is about fairness, opportunity, and prosperity shared locally - growth that works for everyone. The scheme, led by Landsec, will create almost 2,000 new jobs and training places, adding around £160 million each year to our local economy, alongside £5 million of extra investment into the wider town centre. It will deliver at least 16-20 per cent affordable homes, fully paid for by the developer, including social rent and London Living Rent options, providing homes that key workers and young people can genuinely afford.
The Council’s own £24 million investment in Lewisham High Street, Lewisham Market, and Lewisham Library complements this development, helping ensure that public and private investment work hand in hand. Together, these projects show what partnership can achieve: a town centre that works for everyone, not just the few.
No one is being displaced, and no existing homes are being lost. This is a £1.5 billion privately funded investment at no cost to the taxpayer, designed to breathe new life into the heart of Lewisham. It is about protecting what people value most while building a stronger, greener, fairer future for our community.
When we talk about inclusive regeneration, this is what we mean: a town centre that works for everyone, a place where you can access services, connect with your community, or simply be, and feel at home. We believe residents should always be at the heart of regeneration, and that existing communities must get their fair share of the benefits. Developers have a responsibility to invest in the neighbourhoods they build in and to contribute to the local fabric, not just their balance sheets. Regeneration should never be about profit alone, it should be about place-making, pride, and building a Lewisham that truly works for everyone.
This is just the beginning. As the plans take shape, I’m looking forward to continuing the conversation with residents and local businesses to make sure this transformation truly works for everyone.
By Cllr James-J Walsh, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Regeneration and Planning