Policy information sourced from Lewisham Core Strategy

3 District Hubs

District Hubs will be reinforced as places which will sustain a diversity of uses and activities appropriate to each hub’s function and location. District Hubs are key places which support the development of a sustainable borough, capitalising on the availability of services, facilities and public transport. Comprising a District town centre and its surrounding residential neighbourhoods, the focus will be to build and maximise the uniqueness and potential of each place. The District Hubs will be managed so as to facilitate change that contributes to the economic vitality and viability of each District town centre.

Blackheath, Forest Hill, Lee Green and Sydenham town centres are designated as District town centres in the borough retail hierarchy and serve as anchors for the District Hubs. New retail, leisure, and other town centre uses and facilities will be focused in these town centres. New development will maintain and enhance the status of each town centre and improve its vitality and viability, attractiveness, accessibility and overall environment.

Change in retail and other services will mostly be brought about via change of use of existing property or through consolidation of existing sites and this will be managed to protect a primary area of local shopping provision and by permitting more varied uses in secondary shopping locations. Improvements to the ‘night time economy’ should generally be located in these centres.

The residential areas immediately surrounding each District town centre will be potential locations for intensification of the development pattern where opportunities exist and relate to public transport accessibility. Density will be in accordance with local context and London Plan policy. These areas will form a transition between the District town centre, where a greater intensity of development would be expected and appropriate, and the wider residential neighbourhood, which have an established development pattern providing less opportunity for change. Importantly, conservation areas will continue to be protected and development will need to preserve or enhance their quality and character.

Blackheath

  • Ensure the preservation or enhancement of the village’s historic character and significance, and that of the surrounding residential areas, through conservation area status.

Forest Hill

  • Support the redevelopment of underused sites to ensure improved pedestrian connections to the station, throughout the town centre and to the surrounding neighbourhoods, in conjunction with an improved streetscape and public realm.
  • Support the creative industries in Havelock Walk and Clyde Terrace.
  • Capitalise on the extension of the East London Line (London Overground) and support the redevelopment of the station.
  • Ensure the preservation or enhancement of the town centre’s historic character, and that of the surrounding residential areas, through conservation area status.
  • Contain Local Employment Locations at Perry Vale and Clyde Vale to provide local employment opportunities.

Lee Green

  • Improve civic space and facilitate a more intensive mixed use development on the shopping centre site to strengthen its role and function.
  • Improve the connectivity between the shopping centre and the supermarket sites.

Sydenham

  • Support physical and environmental improvements to Sydenham High Street.
  • Capitalise on the extension of the East London Line (London Overground).
  • Ensure the preservation or enhancement of the town centre’s historic character, and that of the surrounding residential areas, through conservation area status.

For more information please see the Core Strategy