Lewisham shopping centre development start already delayed by developer

Well that didn’t take long.

Plans to redevelop Lewisham shopping centre have already been delayed by developer Landsec from 2026 to 2027 according to their latest financial results.

As covered in Construction Enquirer the developer has pushed four sites back to 2027 including Lewisham.

At Lewisham a contentious plan to redevelop the shopping centre has aroused opposition, though some appear to overestimate Lewisham Council’s powers as they don’t own the site. Further to that, they can’t block if a “Viability Report” states returns for the organisation aren’t sufficient. Well they could, but then they’d lose an appeal and have to pay costs.

Mind you, with just 98 social homes in a borough with 2,500 households in temporary accommodation being so vocal in support isn’t the best look.

As for delays in Lewisham, it’s hardly a surprise. Can anyone point to a private development that doesn’t take forever and a day in London? Yes there’s now regulation such as second staircases and issues recently such as covid, inflation and higher interest rates but most sites have gone nowhere for many, many years long before that.

So excuse the cynicism for thinking changes will somehow ensure build targets are met by private developers.

When interest rates were at 400 year lows and inflation extremely low with props a plenty for private developers did building in London get anywhere close to needed levels? Not by a mile.

It was not some halcyon days of development. It was merely slightly less shit. So another delay? Not a surprise.

Preparation

Recently approved plans in Lewisham mostly covered outline planning with just one small section closest to Lewisham station set to be built.

A new square was planned near Lewisham Gateway phase two. Ah, Lewisham Gateway phase two. Another site that took an absolute age to be built , was open for a matter of weeks without a single shop on site opening before a catastrophic flood saw all residents evicted. Seven months on it’s a ghost town.

Whether Landsec will bother to do preparatory work in the near term on the shopping centre site in advance of starting the initial phase remains to be seen.

Oh, and another thing. They’ve had permission now to demolish parts of the shopping centre site to the south for a temporary venue. Has that even started?

I confess I havn’t seen but Landsec did state it would start in November 2024 and complete by May 2025. Anyone know?

On the subject of extremely slow progress the latest plan for Leegate shopping area is set to be decided this week many years after the first plan was approved, with nothing ever happening under successive owners.