Update given on £24 million Lewisham town centre, library and market project
Lewisham Council have given an update on plans for a new market pavilion on Lewisham High Street currently underway.
A report before the council’s Mayor and cabinet next week covers a number of changes in the town centre underway as part of a £24 million project. Back in February 2023 Lewisham Council was awarded £19 million from the last government’s “Levelling Up Fund” which saw an additional £5 million in Council match funding.
Work see public realm changes across the town centre as well as alterations to Lewisham library.
Market
One of the biggest changes will be a new covering for part of the market on the High Street.
Next week’s meeting covers that plan and highlights the need to “vary the Council’s existing Highways Term Contract with FM Conway for construction of the Lewisham market canopy at a confirmed value of £2.9 million.”
A procurement exercise in 2025 saw two bids which were both judged to be inadequate. They were for £2.3m and £2.4m against a £1.6m budget.
In turn the council have chosen on site contractor FM Conway to do the work. The council claim that £1.3 million difference compared to budget result in “no additional or new funding…being asked for as part of this decision” and achieved by “reallocation of funding from wider programme savings in order to ensure the canopy can be delivered.”
It continues: “These adjustments within the high street works and market equipment packages have been achieved through scope refinement and sequencing rather than any reduction in specification or build quality.”
Though at the end of the report it then states “if additional budget is required, there is potential to increase the budget by up to c£1.3m using the following:
• A potential £0.4m uplift in the LRC disposal value, subject to sale outcome.
• Up to £0.4m additional CIL funding, pending approval.
• Up to £0.5m council contribution, using interest earned on holding grant income.”
Two phases
Work around the market has been split into two phases. Phase one saw new paving, new streetlights and seating alongside raised planters. A large “Lewisham Market” sign has been installed.
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Work was slower than forecast according to the council due to contractors encountering “areas of exceptionally deep concrete (over a metre thick in places) and a maze of uncharted utility pipes and cables beneath the roadway. Additionally, some third party utility connections required adjustments”. Cost overruns were not significant they state.
Phase two sees similar work on paving at an adjacent site along with market infrastructure.
Landscaping
Landscaping changes have been seen in the town centre and the report covers work in that area:
“Planting of the new beds was completed in February 2026. The beds had been temporarily covered to prevent littering, and a maintenance programme is in place to ensure ongoing care, including weeding, pruning and plant replacement as needed.
“The rain garden will be planted in the coming weeks, in drier weather. It is currently too sodden.”
Library
A pocket park has been installed near Premier Inn and opposite a forthcoming cinema while a second is to be located near Limes Grove adjacent to the library.
Work on the library itself begun in September last year. A new café will be built as well as “flexible workspace for entrepreneurs and small businesses” plus “areas for cultural programming and exhibitions”.
Sale of the library raised £1.3 million of Lewisham’s £5 million contribution to the overall £24 million budget. £3.6 million is from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) revenue and £200,000 from Section 106 income.
Initial plans for a rooftop bar were dropped. It’s opening is also later than the date given in 2024. In July 2024 a summer 2026 date was given. It’s now “winter 26/27”.
Clocktower
Work here is due to start in spring/summer 2026 which according to the latest report is “earlier than initially scheduled, so that it aligns with the phased market works.
“Five specialist stonemason companies have been identified, and an invitation to tender is expected to be issued in the coming weeks”.
As ever with these projects the key issue is will they be maintained. The area around the clocktower wasn’t for some time.
Nor was much of the High Street with patches of tarmac (and not all from utility companies) as well as street clutter.
Assuming there’s no further delays all work across the town centre should be complete by spring 2027 at the latest.
Which could be in time for the initial demolition of parts of the shopping centre and adjacent buildings.
I like the idea of Lewisham Market having a permanent sheltered presence – as long as the current traders aren’t about to get booted off in favour of those a bit more boujie – but £2.9 million for a canopy?
‘Various paving slabs were replaced with tarmac.’ No, paving is ongoing. As of writing, replacement paving has almost reached Barclays Bank and the opposite side is a work in progress.
‘Public realm work near new library.’ Isn’t the current library under wraps for renovation?
The fixed market canopy looks smart, but I hope Lewisham council is going to keep on top of street cleaning, and I fear for the health of the new plantings.