Lewisham Shopping Centre redevelopment approved – bringing new shops, homes, jobs, green and community spaces
The redevelopment will bring hundreds of new homes, jobs and cultural spaces to the heart of Lewisham complementing the £24m investment from the Council to improve the high street, Lewisham Market and Lewisham Library. The Council has worked with Landsec to ensure local people are at the heart of the plans and will benefit from the changes.
Landsec submitted its plans in 2024 following over three years of public engagement and consultation. The scheme includes a reimagined shopping centre with a wider choice of shops, cafés and restaurants, a new culture and live music venue, new housing, a street-food market, park and community spaces. Together, these will help bring more money into the area and create opportunities for local businesses and residents.
No residents will be displaced. Around 1,700 new, high-quality homes will be built, including 630 student units and co-living accommodation and the majority built for renters. Around 344 homes will be affordable, offering a mix of social rent, London Living Rent and discounted key worker housing. Ten percent of all homes will be wheelchair accessible. This mix of housing accommodates for young people, renters, key workers and more.
The proposals include a 500-capacity community-led culture and live music venue and a not-for-profit community café, complemented by a new public park and meadow the size of a Premier League football pitch. New public squares, improved walking and cycling routes and a dedicated family playground are also part of the plans. These spaces will be open to all and managed by Landsec in accordance with plans we have approved, to ensure they are well-maintained.
The development is expected to contribute up to £160 million to the local economy each year and create more job opportunities for residents – including approximately 1,300 roles during the 10-year construction phase and up to 1,910 long-term positions. A dedicated £1.23 million local labour fund, paid for by Landsec, will support employment and training initiatives to ensure residents benefit directly. Meanwhile, a tailored support plan will assist businesses affected by the works and Lewisham Market traders can expect increased custom as visitor numbers to the area grow.
Transport and accessibility will be enhanced through improved walking and cycling routes, car club membership for residents and a £500,000 contribution towards upgrades at Lewisham Station – supporting the town centre’s growth as a key metropolitan hub.
Sustainability is at the heart of the project, with urban greening, a 346% increase in biodiversity net gain – far exceeding the legal requirement of 10% – alongside energy-saving design features. More than 300 new trees and a £1 million investment in public art will help celebrate Lewisham’s unique culture and identity.
The redevelopment is entirely privately funded which means it is not being allocated any taxpayer pounds. These plans deliver the maximum affordable housing possible to meet viability demands, with additional benefits to the town centre, plus any extra profit reinvested into more affordable homes.
Councillor James-J Walsh, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Regeneration and Planning, said:
“This is a major step forward for Lewisham town centre and one that has been a long time coming. For decades, local people have called for the shopping centre to be upgraded and for the town centre to fulfil its potential. I am pleased that Landsec is now bringing forward this long-awaited redevelopment in line with the shared ambitions we have for the borough.
“The redevelopment will bring much-needed homes, jobs, culture and community spaces to Lewisham while making sure local people benefit from the changes. We have worked hard to ensure the plans reflect what residents told us they wanted, including better public spaces, support for local businesses and a town centre that truly works for everyone.
“As someone who grew up shopping here for school shoes, I know how much this place means to people. This project puts inclusion, fairness and sustainability at its heart, helping to build a town centre worthy of Lewisham: ambitious, inclusive and rooted in the community.”
Jon Watson, Development Director at Landsec, said:
“Through an engagement process that reached thousands of local people, together we’ve shaped a new vision for the shopping centre. We’re committed to ensuring the existing centre continues to thrive and these plans ensure it can stay open throughout the future transformation. Our new investment will adapt it for the future, delivering much-needed homes, supporting local businesses, attracting new brands and creating greener, more welcoming spaces for everyone to enjoy.”