Lewisham Council has reversed its planning permission for abandoned swimming baths to be redeveloped after the company that was due to deliver the scheme said it could not afford the project. 

The Ladywell Playtower was one of London’s first public pools when it was built in 1884, although it stopped being used as baths in the 1960s. It has been empty for 21 years after a community centre in the building closed.

Lewisham has long wanted to redevelop the site and agreed to sign a deal with Guildmore in 2017, and plans for a four-screen cinema and 33 homes were approved in 2022. But the plans stalled the following year after the developer Guildmore said  it could not begin work on the project until it found extra cash.

The council said Guildmore had not been able to overcome the issues and on Tuesday  councillors voted to rescind the planning application, which will allow it to terminate its agreement with Guildmore.

James-J Walsh, the cabinet member for inclusive development and planning, said the council would progress with a developer “who prioritises delivery without further delay”.

The uncertainty surrounding the future of the Grade II-listed building has left many local people frustrated, and a petition calling on the council to consult with residents “urgently and transparently” has now attracted more than 3,400 signatures. A public meeting is to be held at nearby St Mary’s Church on September 25 to discuss residents’ concerns.

Walsh said the council would use the cash it gets from developments elsewhere in the borough to finally push the scheme forward with a new partner, and would look for expressions of interest later this autumn.

He said: “The council will not allow this local landmark to remain in limbo. We share residents’ frustrations and are acting decisively to break the deadlock. We are committed to working with the local community to identify new opportunities to restore the building.”

Guildmore said: “The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic caused significant delays and disruption, with construction costs rising sharply. In addition, the cinema operator we had partnered with was no longer in a position to move forward, and the wider housing market remained flat, making the scheme financially unviable. 

“This was not a decision we took lightly. We recognise how important Ladywell Playtower is to Lewisham and remain supportive of the building being restored for the benefit of the community.”

Ruby Gregory is the Local Democracy Reporter for Lewisham. The Local Democracy Reporting Service is a BBC-funded initiative to ensure councils are covered properly in local media.

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