Strategic Objectives:

A An open Lewisham as part of an open London,

B Housing tailored to the community with genuinely affordable homes,

C A thriving local economy that tackles inequalities,

D A greener borough,

E Responding to the climate emergency,

F Celebrating our local identity,

G Healthy and safe communities,

H Securing the timely delivery of infrastructure.

A Continued investment in Lewisham Major Centre to enable its future designation as a Metropolitan Centre of sub-regional significance in London is a strategic priority. To realise this objective and secure the centre’s long-term vitality and viability, development proposals must contribute to a coordinated process of transformational improvement to the town centre and its environment. They should deliver a complementary mix of main town uses, along with new housing, whilst ensuring that the centre’s predominant commercial role is maintained and enhanced.

B Development proposals will be required to help facilitate, and must not prejudice, the delivery of transport infrastructure necessary to ensure the centre can effectively serve, and benefit from, a wider sub-regional catchment and to support Opportunity Area objectives. This includes the Bakerloo line extension, Lewisham station interchange, land required for bus services, as well as new and improved walking routes and cycleways. Further requirements are set out in Policy TR1 (Sustainable transport and movement) and the site allocation policies for the Central Area.

C Development proposals should respond positively to the evolving urban character of the centre and its surrounds. They must be designed with reference to their relationship with existing clusters of tall and taller buildings, the prevailing townscape and skyline, having regard to Policy QD4 (Building heights). Development must be designed to provide an appropriate transition in bulk, scale, massing, height and character from residential neighbourhoods around the centre, the edges of the centre and the centre’s commercial core, with generous setbacks provided along the Ravensbourne and Quaggy rivers, main roads and other corridors for movement.

D Development proposals must contribute to enhancing the public realm by applying the Healthy Streets Approach. They should promote and enable movement by walking, cycling and the use of public transport in order to make the town centre a significantly more accessible, safer, healthier and attractive place. This will require that a clear hierarchy of streets is established within the town centre and its surrounding neighbourhoods, along with a cohesive and legible network of walking routes and cycleways running through and/ or connecting key commercial destinations, public transport nodes, public open spaces and residential areas. Particular consideration will need to be given to movements to and from Lewisham station interchange, connecting Silk Mills Path and residential neighbourhoods to the north, and Lewisham Gateway and the wider town centre area to the south.

E Development proposals must be designed to improve access and permeability in the town centre and its surrounding area, particularly where sites are to be delivered through comprehensive redevelopment. This includes new or enhanced east-west routes through the Lewisham Shopping Centre site, along Loampit Vale and Thurston Road, and from Silk Mills Path to Connington Road and Lewisham Road.

F Development proposals must maximise opportunities to improve the ecological quality and amenity value of the river environment. This includes improved access to the River Ravensbourne by extending and enhancing Waterlink Way that traverses the wider town centre area, and the River Quaggy at Lee High Road. Development proposals should make provision for attractive and robust embankments as an integral feature of the design, particularly along the River Ravensbourne in order to enhance connections from Silk Mills Path to Lewisham transport interchange and the Lewisham Gateway site, leading to the town centre and the Primary Shopping Area.

G Lewisham market is at the heart of the town centre and will be protected as an important commercial destination, community anchor and visitor attraction. Development proposals should assist in securing the long-term viability of the market by protecting and enhancing its amenity, delivering public realm and access improvements, and making provision for facilities for traders. Effective management of the market and associated public realm will be essential to its long-term viability, and the Council will work with stakeholders to secure appropriate management arrangements.

H Within the designated town centre area and at its edges, development proposals must provide for an appropriate mix of main town centre uses at the ground floor level. Retail uses should be concentrated within the Primary Shopping Area, forming the main use across the shopping frontages, and supported with a wider range of complementary commercial, leisure and cultural uses elsewhere. Evening and night-time economic activities will be supported where they contribute positively to the local area, with reference to Policy EC18 (Culture, creative industries and the night-time economy).

I Development proposals must make provision for positive frontages with active ground floor frontages within the town centre and at its edges. This includes along Lewisham High Street, Molesworth Street, Rennell Street and Lewisham Grove – which together help to frame the Primary Shopping Area – as well as Loampit Vale, Lee High Road and Lewisham Road. Development must reinforce or create a positive relationship with the public realm at the street or ground floor level, and where appropriate podium levels of buildings. Where new housing is proposed within the town centre this will only be acceptable on the upper floor levels.

J To ensure Lewisham Major Centre maintains its role as one of the Borough’s principal commercial and employment locations, development proposals must retain or re-provide existing workspace, and deliver net gains in industrial capacity wherever possible. A broad range of workspace typologies will be supported within the centre and its immediate surrounds, with priority given to Class E(g) uses, including hybrid workspace combining office and light industrial uses appropriate to the area. Provision of workspace suitable for small and independent businesses, including units of 500 square meters or less, will be strongly encouraged.

For more information and policy context please see the Lewisham Local Plan