Leegate has been sold by Galliard Homes to London based developer London Square, the third owners in four years. Galliard had acquired the site in 2021 from St Modwen, and had secured planning consent for a major residential and retail development.
It is understood Galliard went cool on the project because of the difficulty in finding retail businesses to occupy the commercial space. It seems likely London Square will ask Lewisham Council to vary the plans to reduce the shopping space, and add more homes.
London Square says work will start on the site later this year. Its website says: “London Square plans to deliver an attractive mixed use destination development, with high quality homes featuring communal areas in a landscaped setting with retail, leisure, restaurants, cafes, and a medical facility. The redevelopment will bring a new focus to the heart of Lee town centre in the London Borough of Lewisham.
“Acquired from Galliard Homes, there is currently planning in place for 562 homes, comprising 389 private and 173 affordable houses, with 4,538sqm of ground floor commercial space. London Square will work with the London borough of Lewisham to increase the level of residential options in an area where there is a shortage of new build homes being delivered.”
It is London Square’s 14th purchase since being acquired by the Abu Dhabi based company Aldar at the end of 2023. It claims to have a strong track record in the area, having delivered an award-winning development in the centre of Greenwich, and also providing 100 per cent affordable homes on behalf of affordable registered provider Square Roots in Lewisham.
Adam Lawrence, London Square’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “This acquisition will herald a new chapter for Lee town centre, with much-needed homes and a new retail and leisure destination to attract the existing community and new residents. We look forward to working with the London Borough of Lewisham to get the re-development under way later this year.”
More doubt another horror show. Not looking forward to the next tranche of appalling plans. Meanwhile, this boarded – up site is a total eyesore.
Lots more homes to rent and less affordable homes please . And hopefully they’ll be brick built and not plaster board .
I’ve lived here 40 years and it’s been an eye sore for 30years .
So all the businesses and residents thrown out last year could have stayed there for longer. Money wins above community again.
Exactly. I wonder if the rates for retail space were a factor in there being less interest…
As well as “affordable” housing, whatever that means these days, make the retail premises affordable rents so that, those that want to, can try selling their wares and make it a nice place to go on a weekend etc. Crafts, beauty, wellness, food markets. While we still can before Amazon and Deliveroo really kills it all off.
Please, oh please, reduce the height of the tallest building at the crossroads. It will just dwarf the existing buildings. Or put it on the opposite diagonal corner of the site. And has any thought been given to the additional traffic (is there an underground parking facility for residents, for example?); the crossroads already gets jammed during rush hour. The site has great potential but it needs to be people friendly.
The concerns of the residents surrounding the site, particularly those living directly across, deserve significant attention and respect. Many seem to overlook our perspectives. The residents of Burnt Ash Road are opposed to high-rise buildings obstructing our natural light. My children and I already struggle with increased pollution levels, and I am genuinely apprehensive about the implications of this renovation. It is essential to include ample parking spaces if the existing car park is not going to be replaced, as we are already feeling the adverse effects of its closure. Also, please think about a way to keep the opening between the old Wetherspoons and the car park accessible to ease the traffic on Burnt Ash Road because I’m sure many would agree, it can be horrendous!