Policy information sourced from Lewisham Town Centre Local Plan

LTC11 Employment uses

General employment uses

In general, the Council will seek to retain or re-provide existing employment uses in the town centre (uses falling within the category of Use Class B). This includes the Local Employment Location in Molesworth Street which is designated in the Core Strategy (protected from non B uses).

The Council will consider redevelopment or conversion of employment sites/buildings for a mix of uses, especially in the Policy Areas and sites identified in Section 5 of this Local Plan. It is envisaged that redevelopment proposals will enable the intensification of sites and there is an opportunity to re-provide employment of an equal or greater floorspace as part of a wider mix of uses, including residential.

The employment area in Engate Street is similarly suitable for intensification and it is desirable to provide a ‘southern anchor’ to the town centre. This site is considered most suitable for redevelopment as employment, leisure or other town centre uses.

The conversion of other existing employment sites to a mix of uses including residential may be considered acceptable where:

  • the building has been vacant for at least two years and appropriately marketed for that length of time, and evidence is provided to this effect,
  • the scheme will considerably assist in meeting other regeneration objectives as identified in policy LTC14 (Vitality and Viability),
  • the design is capable of longer term adaptation.

Office use

Lewisham town centre is the preferred location for office development in the borough and the Council will seek to promote new office development where appropriate. The Council will resist the loss of office space in the town centre. Where redevelopment entails the loss of office uses, proposals will be required to re-provide this office space in a modern format.

Hotel use

The Council is supportive of this use class in principle. The Council will insist that hotel development occurs only within the highly accessible sections of the town centre where carfree development is appropriate and resist it where access is an issue.

Proposals must be sympathetic to the existing and emerging surrounding built and natural environment and show consideration of the wider aims of the site, Policy Area and town centre as a whole. A hotel proposal will be required to:

  • be of the highest design quality,
  • contain appropriate supporting ancillary space,
  • have a ground floor presence,
  • improve pedestrian links and not have a negative affect on transport links or public parking,
  • have provision for a coach and taxi drop off and collection point,
  • enhance the image and experience of the town centre,
  • demonstrate that it plans for long term adaptability and sustainability.

For more information please see the Local Plan