Help shape the future of Ladywell Playtower as Council launches new partner search
Opened in 1884, Ladywell Playtower is a striking Victorian bath house and an important part of the borough’s heritage. After years of closure and fire damage, the Council is taking the next step towards bringing the building back to life, seeking a partner who can protect its historic character and sustain the building for generations to come.
In November, the Council formally ended a previous development agreement that had stalled, to create a clean starting point for a new approach. This new Restoration Partner Search will run from December 2025 to late 2026 and is designed to secure a viable proposal for renewal and re-use that is deliverable, financially viable and shaped by local priorities.
To kick this off, the Council is now inviting the local community to have their say on the future use of the building. This feedback will help potential partners develop proposals that reflect local aspirations as well as preserving the Playtower’s unique character.
Alongside the community survey, the Council is also welcoming expressions of interest from organisations who have the experience and capability to lead complex heritage restoration projects and operate community-facing buildings for the long term.
Ladywell Baths and Coroners Court, Ladywell, Lewisham, c1900s, LEW PH70/3803, Courtesy of Lewisham Heritage, Lewisham Council
Have your say and expressions of interest
- Community feedback survey is open now until 29 January 2026
- Potential partners can express their interest now until 28 February 2026
Learn more about the new partner search process, how to have your say and more information.
Councillor James-J Walsh, Lewisham Council’s Cabinet Member for Inclusive Regeneration and Planning, said:
“Ladywell Playtower is part of who we are in Lewisham, a landmark that carries real local history and pride and a place I visited when I was younger. After years of being left behind, we now have the chance to bring it back to life for the community.
“For it to thrive again and into the long term, it needs a partner who can restore it properly, run it sustainably, and create a place that people will genuinely use. That is why we are starting with the community, before proposals are developed and before a partner is chosen.
“Whether you live nearby, run a local business, study locally, or simply care about Ladywell’s heritage, we want to hear your ideas about what the Playtower could become.
“We have learned lessons from previous engagement. This time we are making it simpler and more visible, with clearer stages and straightforward ways for local people to take part.
“The Council is committed to finding a partner who shares our ambition to deliver without delay and restore this historic Grade II listed building for generations to come.”