Former Leegate Centre now completely cleared in advance of development
The former Leegate Centre site has now been completely flattened in advance of development of shops and homes on site.
Proposals to knock down the centre dating from the early 1960s and build shops and homes have been around for many years.
The former centre had a shopping precinct with homes above alongside a taller office block.
The latest iteration sees buildings increased in height with an uplift in “affordable” housing to 45 per cent, with 149 being at social rent level. Clarion are behind those homes, with the “affordable” element also including 112 shared-ownership flats.
Total homes rose from a previously agreed 561 to 640.
Like so many proposals its taken an age, with this site first covering it a full twelve years ago in 2014. In fact plans were first revealed fourteen years ago in 2012.
Back then the plan saw an Asda supermarket on site. Plans since have been and gone, there’s been much talk, many consultations and idea after idea.
All the while shops and a pub closed, people lost jobs and everyone left in limbo while nothing much happened. Ownership changed from St Modwen to Galliard who secured planning permission in 2023, then put it up for sale.
London Square purchased the site and were the first to take any measures regarding proposals for the site, with demolition this year.
That of course is half the story, and now we await construction beginning.
London Square do have a record for starting on site unlike some, with the long-stalled Woolwich Central scheme getting underway 20 years after being proposed as well as a large site in Crayford now commencing.
Mind you at the Leegate site they did get in a spot of bother by trying to claim it was in Blackheath. Nope.
