Policy information sourced from the Lewisham Local Plan

LNA3 Creative Enterprise Zone A

Strategic Objectives:

A An open Lewisham as part of an open London,

C A thriving local economy that tackles inequalities, F Celebrating our local identity,

H Securing the timely delivery of infrastructure.

A Creative Enterprise Zone is designated in Lewisham’s North Area and is illustrated on Figure 15.4. The CEZ reflects the presence of significant clusters of creative and cultural industries and institutions in the area, the positive contribution they make to Lewisham’s distinctive character, and the need to expand on their role as a catalyst for local economic and cultural development.

B To enhance existing clusters of creative and cultural industries in the CEZ, and to facilitate the creation of additional clusters, new high quality workspace and facilities will be secured through:

  • The regeneration of Mixed-use Employment Land;
  • Retaining and enhancing workspace provision at Deptford Creekside;
  • Focused renewal of SIL and MEL located at the convergence of Grinstead Road and Trundleys Road to establish a revitalised employment-led mixed-use quarter;
  • Promoting a wide range of complementary commercial, cultural and community uses within and around New Cross and Deptford District Centres, including evening and nighttime economic activities; and
  • Designating Cultural Quarters at Deptford Creekside and New Cross and carefully managing development within them, in accordance with Policy EC18 (Culture, creative industries and the night-time economy).

C The continued growth and evolution of the creative and cultural industries within the CEZ will be supported, in particular, by:

  • Ensuring that development proposals protect existing industrial capacity and contribute to making provision for flexible workspace and facilities in suitable locations, at an appropriate range of rents. Development proposals will be considered favourably where they incorporate low-cost and an appropriate amount of affordable workspace, particularly space catered to micro, small and medium sized businesses, including start-ups and independents;
  • Ensuring new development proposals are designed to enable full-fibre digital connectivity, or equivalent infrastructure, to all end users;
  • Encouraging the temporary use of vacant buildings and sites for workspace catered to creative and cultural activities; and
  • Building on the vital role of the area’s cultural and education institutions in supporting the local economy, and seeking to strengthen their beneficial relationships with Lewisham’s creative and cultural industries.

D Within the CEZ development proposals involving the loss of Class E(g) office and light industrial and Sui Generis business space that is currently occupied or suitable for use by the creative and cultural industries, including artists workspace, will be strongly resisted. Proposals for new creative and cultural use should complement, and not adversely impact on the continued operation and effectiveness of the Surrey Canal SIL for industrial employment uses. Development proposals involving the loss or change of use of type of workspace will only be permitted where they:

  • Ensure that an equivalent amount, or better quality, of Class E(g) workspace is re-provided within the proposal (which is appropriate in terms of type, use and size), subject to viability, market demand and site suitability, incorporating existing businesses where possible; or
  • Within a Mixed-use Employment Location, seek to maximise the provision of Class E(g) office and light industrial workspace for uses in the creative and cultural industries, and demonstrate that reasonable efforts have been made to retain or re-provide such existing provision; and
  • Retain existing and make provision for new affordable workspace, in line with Policy EC4 (Low-cost and affordable workspace).

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