Route reopens through vacant Lewisham Gateway site
A pedestrian route has reopened through Lewisham Gateway which saw all residents vacated after a flood and electricity supply problems.
The second phase of Lewisham Gateway had barely opened when the flooding incident occurred back in February 2025. A newly-opened pedestrian route through the site linking Lewisham station with the town centre was then entirely closed.
Build-to-rent operator Get Living had branded it as “The Filigree”. Phase two included 649 homes and recently won the Carbuncle Cup.
It was stated that the pedestrian route would hopefully reopen this summer and the route is now accessible. It’s not exactly wide nor well signed.
I used it to check it had reopened. Most people will probably still head the more congested route through bus stops on Rennell Street.
As an aside, landscaping at raised planters there look pretty sorry for themselves. Once again we see landscaping at a new development neglected.
Back to Lewisham Gateway and the walk reveals the many empty retail units. Of course none will open once it was vacated, but none had even opened before incident for some months.
It’s claimed work will start on the nine-screen cinema when electricity supply work is complete. Arc will operate the site.
News on when hundreds of residents can return and other commercial units occupied remains unknown.
I always find it such a shame when areas around new developments including public realm new planters etc are neglected.
Maintaining these can really bring an area up and make them look good and areas people are happy to use rather than avoiding them. It also give residents pride in whete they live.
If the developers are local authorities cannot afford to maintain the planters etc. Than perhaps voluntary groups and trainee gardeners can look after them. This has worked well in some areas up North where public realm and disused land has been talen over maintained by locals to improve the areas.
There is nothing worse than seeing public realm neglected and not well maintained by Local Authorities.
I completely agree with Graham. We often expect the local authorities to look after our public spaces, but even the smallest actions by local residents can make a real difference.
I often see a man watering the newly planted street trees on Belmont Hill to make sure they survive the hot weather. There’s also an elderly lady who regularly picks up the rubbish that collects under the bushes. These small, quiet acts remind me that there are people around who genuinely care about the place they live.
There’s also a little book exchange box near me, on the grounds of a private property. Sadly, it was smashed up on the night of the England/Norway match and was left that way for over a week. I was thinking about seeing if I could get it repaired, but before I had the chance, someone had already fixed it.
It’s these small, thoughtful acts of kindness that make a neighbourhood feel like a community.