Part of Lewisham shopping centre could be demolished early to create a “food, culture and music hub” to replace the old Model Market, which could be open as early as next summer.
The developer LandSec U+I plans to demolish the whole centre, which dates back to the 1970s, and replace it with new shops, 1,700 homes, a park and other facilities such as a music venue.
It said in an update to residents on Wednesday that it had changed its plans in the light of consultation to bring forward plans, and would look to emulate the success of the old Model Market street food area, which closed in 2021.
Wider plans for the shopping centre will be submitted to Lewisham Council in the coming weeks, it added.
LandSec U+I said: “Our engagement with the community has also highlighted to us that people would like some of the key benefits delivered as early as possible – particularly giving people more places to eat and especially somewhere to go in the evening.
“In response to this we’ve decided to submit some smaller, standalone planning applications which would allow us to start the regeneration of the town centre much sooner.
“Our plan is to accelerate demolition in the south of the shopping centre, where the old Argos store [was]. In its place we plan to create a new food, culture and music hub for everyone to enjoy, containing the very best of Lewisham, with the same spirit and energy of the old model market.
“That first planning application will be submitted in the next few days and further detail on this early project will be shared soon after.”
Much of Lewisham town centre has undergone radical change in the past two decades, with a large number of towers going up.
Close by, plans for more homes on the retail park containing Matalan are being brought forward under new owners after the previous scheme failed to materialise.
The developer Amro bought the Lewisham Retail Park off Loampit Vale – also home to Sports Direct and a long-closed Mothercare – earlier this year. On Thursday, the company started a public consultation into building on the site.
Plans by Legal & General for 536 homes of in blocks of up to 24 storeys were approved by Lewisham Council in 2019, on the condition that neighbouring properties were bought up. But the plans went nowhere and L&G took on the recently-completed towers next to Tesco instead.
Amro announced its purchase in May and said it had bought adjoining properties too. Its consultation contains little detail but says it plans “a range of rental housing options” in “landmark buildings”, that is better for walking and cycling.
Finishing touches are being made to the final phase of the long-running Lewisham Gateway development by the station, which is running more than a year late after a contractor walked off the job.
Since L&G won approval for its never-built towers, two student blocks next door have been approved, built and opened. Plans are also in train to replace the Tesco with a new superstore and rented housing.
The developers of all these sites will be waiting anxiously for next month’s Budget to see if the government will help fund the Bakerloo Line extension to the area. If the Tube gets the go-ahead, a bus layover space on Thurston Road, opposite the retail park, would be used for construction.
Works are also taking place to improve the look of the high street itself, which will result in a roof being placed on the existing street market so it can be used in the evenings too.
More on the shopping centre plans can be found at centrallewisham.commonplace.is.
Amro’s consultation for the Matalan site can be found at lewishamretailpark.commonplace.is.
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