Video shows Lewisham retail park redevelopment plan

A consultation on newly revised plans to redevelop Lewisham retail park has revealed new images and a video of plans.

The site saw approval for development some years ago under Legal and General though no construction ever commenced.

Now under a new owner Amro Partners comes new plans with a new round of consultation.

Full planning application is expected by November 2025 and construction to begin in January 2027. Very much one to file into a box marked “I’ll believe that when I see it”.

The site sits beside what would be a Bakerloo line station if the extension is ever built. But given it’s constantly put back it remains a pipe dream.

Despite that the developer continually refers to it while not mentioning transport links that already exist such as Lewisham station with Southeastern Metro trains to London Bridge, Cannon Street and Charing Cross.

If this goes ahead funding for a new entrance beside platform 1 must be on the cards.

It brings to mind Bexley Council continually talking about a DLR to Belvedere (which isn’t happening) or an Elizabeth line extension beyond Abbey Wood (isn’t happening) for mass housing in Erith and Belvedere when far more feasible and low cost improvements can be undertaken in a fraction of the time to help new housebuilding such as running longer Southeastern Metro trains via procuring more trains, restoring cut services and having Thameslink trains either stop or ditch them from the line for further Southeastern services.

It’s not to say Bexley’s hopes for those transport projects wouldn’t be a positive change but realistically this government – and none on the horizon – are ever going to fund the DLR to Belvedere or an Elizabeth line extension with costs.

Commercial space is located within the site. Hopefully it proves more of a success than all the units within nearby Lewisham Central’s second phase. Even before a catastrophic flood no units were occupied.

Loampit Vale

There’s the usual images within the consultation of lovely looking extensive landscaping including a huge amount directly beside the road along Loampit Vale.

So much so there’s no space for a cycle lane so people have to walk with them? See the image below.

Also can you imagine this in reality next to a busy road? It’ll be strewn with rubbish in no time and people wanting to cross will walk all over it creating desire lines.

And residents will be paying hefty service charges for maintenance too. Another thing that looks all great in images and videos but will not stand up to reality.

We just have to look over the road. A common story when it comes to landscaping.

We’ll see how it all pans out when the full application goes in but let’s hope the developers and Lewisham planner actually take note of transport that exists now and how this site relates to it rather than solely looking towards a hypothetical Bakerloo line extension that won’t exists until 2040 at the earliest, realises cyclists exist and factor in space for a cycle lane and finally that they realise pedestrians want to get from A to B without excessive obstacles and landscaping.

The more I see ever more extensive landscaping at new developments the clearer it is they’re more akin to PR measures to dazzle councillors and prospective tenants and then it’s a case of job done as they wither away.

Keep it simple, keep it manageable and don’t hamper pedestrians and active travel in the process.