Boroughs | Lewisham

Map

Map Key

Investment Opportunities
Opportunity Areas
Area of Intensification
Central activity Zone

Town Centres

International or metropolitan
Major
District

Borough Boundary
Green Belt
Metropolitan open land / Other open spaces
Rail station
Railway track
Foreshore
Water

Investment Opportunities

A21 Corridor
Catford Town Centre

Investment Opportunities

A21 Corridor

The A21 forms the spine of the borough, running from Lewisham town centre to the borough’s southern boundary. The Framework demonstrates how the spine can be improved and intensified providing a significant uplift in housing, jobs and social infrastructure. It identifies 8 character areas based around existing commercial centres and describes principal tactical moves to strengthen each area’s functioning and distinctiveness. Key residential and mixed use development sites are identified providing indicative capacities and massing options for each, and outlines how transport, environmental and public realm improvements could be delivered to improve sustainable transport options and strengthen sense of place.

Area postcode: Primarily SE4, SE6, SE13
Project owner: London Borough of Lewisham, GLA, Hawkins Brown
Planning status: Development Framework
Document stage: Draft

Catford Town Centre

The Catford Town Centre Framework seeks to transform the town centre and support the delivery of 2,700 new homes. The re-routing of the South Circular road will create a largely car-free town centre and provide new areas of pedestrianised public space. Catford Shopping Centre will be redeveloped to provide opportunities for housing growth, business workspace and new retail space, while maintaining the town centre’s current range of diverse and independent shops. New walking and cycling infrastructure will improve air quality, road safety and access to Catford Bridge train station, which offers regular 10-minute train services into Zone 1.

Area postcode: SE6
Project owner: London Borough of Lewisham
Planning status: Development Framework
Document stage: Approved

Overview

Lewisham is a thriving borough. Our population is young and diverse with a strong entrepreneurial culture. This is reflected in our business base – 95% of businesses in the borough are small or micro enterprises and 70% of our high street businesses are independently owned.

Regeneration is planned in our two main town centres. In Catford, our Town Centre Framework sets out our vision to create the greenest town centre in London and deliver 2,700 homes. In Lewisham Town Centre, plans are being produced for the redevelopment of Lewisham Shopping Centre, including significant housing growth, while the high street and market are set to undergo a £24 million rejuvenation.

The borough boasts a range of transport links including the Docklands Light Railway, London Overground and regular National Rail services, with 10-minute trains into Zone 1 from both major town centres. The planned Bakerloo line extension will see the borough integrated into the London Underground network, with new tube stations proposed at New Cross Gate and Lewisham.

Lewisham was London Borough of Culture in 2022 and is home to one of the capital’s first Creative Enterprise Zones in Deptford/New Cross, with a significant number of cultural and creative businesses based throughout the borough.

Statistics

Population projections 2021 300,600

Population projections 2050 371,836

London plan new homes (ten-year target) 16,670

Building council homes for Londoners (four-year programme) 384

Key Facts

Regeneration is planned in Lewisham’s two main town centres – Catford and Lewisham Town Centre – delivering significant housing growth, new retail and business space and significant improvements to public realm.
Lewisham is a hub for independent and diverse businesses - 70% of the borough’s high-street businesses are independent and two-thirds are owned by Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic business owners.
Lewisham boasts a range of transport links into central London including the Docklands Light Railway, London Overground and fast National Rail services into Zone 1 from Lewisham (8 mins) and Catford (10 mins). The planned Bakerloo line extension will see new London Underground stations at New Cross Gate and Lewisham.

Contact

John Bennett, Head of Economy, Jobs and Partnerships
john.bennett1@lewisham.gov.uk
business@lewisham.gov.uk
http://lewishamlondon.co.uk

Vision

“Lewisham is attracting major investment across a range of strategic sites throughout the borough. We want to ensure we deliver high-quality, character-led development in Lewisham that complements our existing communities and addresses the borough’s housing needs.

We are proud to be a home for thriving businesses and vibrant local high streets. We were the first local authority to conduct a headcount and survey of independent and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic owned businesses, helping us to better understand, champion and support the diversity of our high streets.

With a prime inner London location, easy transport links and a young, highly skilled workforce, Lewisham is an ideal area for investment. Businesses seeking a base in the capital will find a warm welcome here.”

Damien Egan, Mayor of Lewisham

Economic Development Strategy

More local jobs – supporting growth from our existing businesses through sector-based growth programmes, encouraging start-ups and entrepreneurship, increasing the availability and affordability of commercial workspace, and attracting more employers to the borough.
Increased local spending – creating vibrant and attractive town centres that people want to visit, encouraging the evening and night time economy, supporting local markets and enabling local supply chains through public and private sector spending.
Strong partnerships and infrastructure – protecting and enhancing existing transport links, supporting the Bakerloo Line Extension, ensuring high quality and speed of digital connectivity, and creating strong partnerships between the council, local anchor institutions and our businesses.
Tackling unemployment and inequalities – creating new programmes to support unemployed and under-employed residents, giving our young people the best start in their careers, and promoting fair pay and conditions.
A new Local Plan – this will set out a shared vision for the future of the borough along with the planning and investment framework to deliver this vision through to 2040. We are working with and alongside communities and community groups, landowners and other key stakeholders to help us prepare the plan.

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