The redevelopment of a derelict “eyesore” shopping centre in Lewisham has been approved despite objections over the 17-storey height of the tallest building.
The revamp of the Leegate Shopping Centre site received unanimous council approval on Tuesday evening (November 18) with almost half the homes being affordable.
Developer London Square has been allowed to increase the height of the tallest building from 15 storeys to 17 storeys, as part of revised proposals after buying the site earlier this year. Under the plans, the 1960s shopping centre will be demolished and redeveloped to provide a mixed-use development that will include new homes, a community centre, commercial floorspace and a pub.
The total number of homes proposed has also increased from 561 to 620 and several other buildings will also be taller by one or two storeys.
However, the size of the proposed medical centre, supermarket and the community centre have been reduced. The number of residential and commercial car parking spaces has also been reduced.
The plans will see changes to the residential unit mix, and an increase in affordable housing by habitable room from 36.2per cent to 46.3per cent. Of the affordable homes, 149 will be social rent, 112 will be intermediate, while the remainder will be private.
Previous planning permission was granted to Galliard Homes in November 2024, however a revised application was submitted after London Square purchased the site. Plans for the site date back as far as 2016, when Modwen Developments Ltd gained planning permission to redevelop the site which included plans for an Asda Supermarket.
London Square’s proposals had been opposed by residents and local organisations including the Lee Manor Society. Objectors referred to council’s own Local Plan for Lee Green, which states building heights should not normally exceed more than 12 storeys.
During a meeting of the council’s Strategic Planning Committee on Tuesday, a London Square representative said the Section 73 application was necessary to address new fire safety regulations.
Simon Bucks of Lee Manor Society said while the group welcomed the development of the “Leegate eyesore” and more housing, there were concerns over the size of the buildings and the impact they could have on the local area.
Mr Bucks said: “London Square’s contempt for Lee and the conservation area is reflected in its initial re-branding of the development as ‘Blackheath Gate’ – it didn’t even acknowledge Lee in its marketing blurb. It’s reviewing that now as you’ve heard but it apparently cares little for the impact this proposed development would have on the area.
“Lewisham’s Local Plan states that Lee as a district centre is not suitable for tall buildings above 12 storeys. If a 17-storey building is allowed it would surely be a precedent for more, so we are now calling on you to do the right thing and amend this grim proposal for a 17-storey block which would overwhelm a historic part of the borough.”
A planning officer later said objectors were correct about Local Plan policy, and that the site allocation should not normally exceed 12 storeys in height. However he went on to state: “What the policy doesn’t say is that if a proposal exceeds the height then it must be refused – that’s not what it says.”
He informed councillors that the plans had been recommended for approval by planning officers, and that they needed to look at the planning benefits of the scheme itself.
When it came to closing statements, Cllr Jack Lavery who sits on the committee, said: “I think we just need to bear in mind that we do have this recently consented scheme, this is a minor material amendment application here tonight which is offering 89 extra affordable homes – 35 of those will be social homes and the others an intermediate product [that] I think are shared ownership.
“So I think I recognise there are some trade-offs and I recognise that the increase in height of that tower hasn’t been well received by everybody but I would like to propose that we accept officers’ recommendations here.”
The plans were ultimately approved by all councillors who were sitting on the committee and were eligible to vote.
