Flood at new Lewisham development sees residents out for up to a year

A major flood at a recently completed Lewisham development is set to force residents out for up to a year.

A burst pipe at Lewisham Gateway’s latest and final phase recently saw the fire brigade on site with residents subsequently forced into hotels.

Build to Rent company Get Living operate the building constructed as part of a wider project from developer Muse who state on their website: “We create beautiful, diverse and sustainable places; people-centred, high quality and built to last”.

Earlier this month I went to see the site where pumps were in action and the central pedestrian route through the site fenced off.

Around 450 residents were forced out and put up in hotels with a two-week expected stay. Now it could be anything up to a year with residents in limbo.

History

The site has seen problem after problems for many years with construction taking an age to begin.

Once it did one contractor walked away delaying work by a year. The promised cinema never opened as operator Empire went under.

Since opening almost no commercial units have opened and now the flood has seen an uncertain future for hundreds of residents.