Boots has moved into a new store in Lewisham Shopping Centre as preparations for the mall’s redevelopment go on.
The health and beauty chain moved into the old Wilko store at the centre of the mall on Wednesday, adding more consultation rooms and boasting optician and hearing care services.
A £1.5 billion redevelopment is planned for the shopping centre, with 1,744 homes and a new mall planned for the site. The old Boots store on Lewisham High Street is in the area earmarked for the first phase of the development, although bulldozers are not due to move in until next year.
Lewisham councillors approved the plans in October last year, but there has been opposition from campaigners who object to the low levels of “affordable” housing in the plans and have planned a demonstration for Sunday. Just 98 of the new homes would be for social rent, with 231 at discounted rents aimed at key workers.
The owners of the old Citibank tower behind the centre, who have their own development proposal, also object to the plans. Lewisham Council will need to compulsorily purchase the tower on LandSec’s behalf before work there can begin.
LandSec, meanwhile, has emphasised that a new shopping centre will be built and is promising more new stores. Sports Direct recently moved into the old Migration Museum unit, with its old retail park site also set for development, while the Model Market street food court is due to reopen this summer.
Laurence Barber, the area manager for Boots Lewisham, said: “We’re really excited about our new store, and hope our customers are too. We are in a more prominent location in the heart of the shopping centre so grabbing everyday essentials will be made even easier for our customers.”
Paul Redden, the director of Lewisham Shopping Centre, said: “Boots is one of several new openings this spring, reflecting our continued investment in Lewisham. As a centre that is firmly here to stay, we are dedicated to supporting the town’s future by attracting exciting retailers while continuing to serve as a trusted and familiar destination for the community.”
The demonstration on Sunday – at 2pm by the clock tower – is being held by the Lewisham People’s Assembly, which claims the scheme is a “naked gentrification project” that will push up local land values and push neighbours out.
LandSec told councillors last year that the old mall, which opened as the Riverdale Centre in 1977, was no longer fit for purpose and that the scheme would result in a net increase in the number of social and discounted-rent homes, with no loss of existing housing.
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