Video update shows Lewisham cinema, shops and housing development
A video released by the developer of Lewisham Central offers a glimpse into how the site will grow in coming months as work progresses.
Muse Developments are building towers including 530 homes, a cinema, numerous shops and a new pedestrian link from the station to the existing town centre. Parts of the site can already be seen rising near Lewisham station.
The tallest block on the corner nearest the old Citibank tower is now up to around the sixth floor – with blocks nearer the station at around four storeys. This screenshot shows progress on site from a couple of weeks ago:
The cinema block is now breaking ground level. An adjacent small block is one of the first things people entering the site will see, and some of the cladding looks pretty cheap:
Those grey stripes bring to mind Woolwich Tesco. They always look shiny in renders, when the reality is often quite different.
Bright orange may appear on some blocks – though other designs appear to tone it down:
This development could well end up a clash of various cladding styles which appear a little cheap. Randomly placed windows also appear – straight out of the early 2000s playbook (and not fondly remembered).
The entire video showing progress and how the site will evolve in coming months can be seen here:
Integration
The new main route though the site from the station to Lewisham town centre will meet a brick wall at the current shopping centre.
The owners of the centre are planning comprehensive redevelopment of the centre to include housing in years to come – though work is at an early stage. Owner LandSec consulted last summer on early ideas. A further consultation is due imminently.
When this does commence it’ll be the latest in a large number of developments all in a relatively small area around Lewisham town centre. Silver Road is the next to start – joining Meyer Homes’ 30-floor tower on Tesco car park, estate rebuilds and Lewisham Exchange and a 27-floor tower bringing a new station entrance to any Bakerloo Line extension – which is now on indefinite hold with no sign of any funding.
