Planning permission granted for 100% affordable housing development on site of former Ladywell Leisure Centre

Proposals for a new 100% affordable housing development on the site of the former Ladywell Leisure Centre have received planning permission as part of Lewisham Council’s Building for Lewisham programme.

The new development – Ladywell Park Gardens – will provide 47 council homes for local families on the housing waiting list and 55 shared ownership properties for people looking to get onto the housing ladder.

Shared ownership is a form of affordable housing where buyers purchase an initial share of between 25% and 75% of a property and pay rent on the remaining share. It is aimed at residents who are trying to get onto the housing ladder, with priority given to people already living and working in Lewisham.

The approved plans include 11 wheelchair-accessible homes, as well as a new public garden and children’s play space. The development aims to maximise sustainability by providing secure cycle storage for 182 bikes, creating ‘living roofs’ with plants and greenery to support biodiversity and installing sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) to help prevent flooding.

The site of the former Ladywell Leisure Centre is being developed in phases to provide much-needed affordable homes and help tackle the housing crisis. The front of the site is currently occupied by PLACE Ladywell – an award-winning modular housing project that provides temporary accommodation for homeless families. The new Ladywell Park Gardens development will be built to the rear of the site, with plans for the future of PLACE Ladywell to be brought forward at a later date.

As part of the planning permission, a local labour strategy will be developed to ensure local people and businesses are prioritised for training, jobs and contracts during construction.

Damien Egan, Mayor of Lewisham, said: "We are committed to building new homes across the borough to help tackle the housing crisis and help people on our housing waiting list. As well as delivering 47 high-quality council homes for local residents, this development will also provide more shared ownership homes to help local people get onto the housing ladder.”