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 Reinforcing the role of Catford Major Centre as Lewisham’s principal civic and cultural hub is integral to the delivery of the spatial strategy. To realise this objective and to secure the centre’s long-term vitality and viability, development proposals must contribute to a coordinated process of town centre regeneration that responds positively to Catford’s distinctive character. They should deliver a complementary mix of main town centre uses, along with new housing, whilst ensuring that the centre’s predominant civic, commercial and cultural role is maintained and enhanced.

B Development proposals must be delivered through the masterplan process in accordance with the Catford Town Centre Framework and where appropriate, site allocation policies.

C The realignment of the South Circular (A205) at Catford Major Centre will be facilitated through the Local Plan and delivered through a partnership approach with Transport for London and other key stakeholders. The road realignment will enable the comprehensive regeneration of the town centre and enhance the liveability of its surrounding neighbourhoods. Development proposals must maximise opportunities presented by the road realignment to make provision for safe movement along and across the South Circular and its junction at Rushey Green (A21), new and improved public realm and high quality, publicly accessible open spaces.

D Development proposals should respond positively to the evolving urban character of the town centre and its immediate surrounds. Development must be designed to provide for an appropriate transition in scale, bulk, mass, height and character from residential neighbourhoods around the centre, the edges of the centre, and the centre’s commercial and civic core, with generous setbacks provided along the Ravensbourne River, major roads and other corridors for movement.

E 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 public transport 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 wider town centre area, along with a cohesive and legible network of walking routes and cycleways running through and/or connecting key, commercial, civic and cultural destinations, public transport nodes, public open spaces and residential areas. Particular consideration will need to be given to movements to and from Catford and Catford Bridge stations and along Rushey Green (A21). Careful consideration will also need to be given to the relationship between vehicular, pedestrian and cycle movements and access at Sangley, Brownhill and Plassy Roads, and the South Circular (A205).

F Development proposals must respond positively to the historic and cultural character of the town centre and its surrounds whilst preserving or enhancing the significance of heritage assets, including by:

G Development proposals must respond positively to the distinctive character of the Broadway and the buildings of townscape merit along it. They should reinforce and enhance the function of the Broadway as a key movement corridor by walking and cycling as well as a focal point of community and commercial activity.

H Development proposals must maximise opportunities to improve the ecological quality and amenity value of the river environment. This includes measures to deculvert and naturalise the River Ravensbourne near Catford and Catford Bridge Stations, and to improve public access to the Waterlink Way by repairing the existing break in the path and extending the route to join with the River Pool Linear Park. Development proposals should make provision for attractive and robust embankments as an integral feature of the design to enhance connections to town centre’s western gateway, Ladywell Fields and the train stations.

I Catford market forms an integral part 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.

J Development proposals must provide for an appropriate mix of main town centre uses. 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 civic, commercial, leisure and cultural uses elsewhere. Evening and night-time economic activities should help to reinforce Catford’s role as an important cultural destination, and will be supported where they contribute positively to the local area, with reference to Policy EC18 (Culture, creative industries and the night-time economy).

K Development proposals must make provision for positive frontages within the town centre and at its edges with active ground floor frontages along Rushey Green, The Broadway and within the Primary Shopping Area. 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.

L Catford Major Centre is a key commercial and employment location. It has a unique civic and cultural function that distinguishes it from, and helps to complement, Lewisham Major Centre. 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 office floorspace and hybrid workspace combining office and lighter 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, particularly where the space is designed to support the cultural and creative industries.

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