EXCLUSIVE: Lewisham set to approve 600 flats, plus shops and auditorium, for around Millwall’s ground The Den

Plans for thousands of homes around Millwall’s home ground look set to get approval on Thursday.

But the football club’s part of the scheme, which is likely to include a revamp of the stadium and a portion of the total 3,500 homes – which could take a decade to complete – is still the subject of talks.

Developers Renewal, whose first purchase of pockets of land around The Den began more than 15 years ago, are expected to be given approval for the first part of their section of the scheme at a Lewisham council strategic planning committee meeting on Thursday.

The firm’s application was lodged in May last year but Millwall are unlikely to submit an application until a lease is agreed between it and Lewisham council for the stadium and sections of land around it.

The signs are that the Lions’ board is becoming increasingly frustrated at Lewisham’s excessive rental demands.

Renewal were offered a very favourable rate for the same sites when Lewisham was planning to make the club hand those plots over more than 10 years ago.

The agenda for Thursday’s meeting says: “The application is recommended for approval subject to planning conditions and completion of a section 106 agreement.”

The latter will be the subject of further discussion between all three parties – it would include transport and infrastructure improvements which Renewal would agree to carry out in exchange for being allowed to go ahead.

The £1billion complex would include redevelopment of land at Surrey Canal Road, Stockholm Road, Bolina Road and Rollins Street.

The £500million Phase 1 – between The Den, the railway line and Surrey Canal Road – would be beside a planned new railway station.

The work would include demolition of buildings at Orion Business Centre and construction of 400,000 sq m of flats in three 32-storey tower blocks of 200 flats each – so a total of 600 flats.

There would also be an 800-seat auditorium, meeting rooms, offices, and restaurant/ café floorspace within a three-storey podium.

There would also be offices and leisure floorspace, shops, food and drink, learning and non-residential institutions, pubs and takeaways – plus a central waste collection system.

There would be roads, cycle parking, public realm, amenity space, landscaping and infrastructure.

And a hard-surfaced public space to the south of the building fronting Surrey Canal Road would be for congregation and spill-out from the auditorium.

Guild House and part of Rollins House, in Surrey Canal Road, are to be left as they are.

Council chiefs say in their report, signed off by planning officer Gareth Clegg: “That Lewisham Council be advised that the uses proposed are generally supported; however, the application does not currently comply with the London Plan for the reasons set out. Where the associated concerns within this report are addressed, the application may become acceptable in strategic planning terms.

“Subject to completion of a satisfactory legal agreement, authorise the Head of Planning to grant planning permission subject to conditions including those set out below and such amendments as considered appropriate to ensure the acceptable implementation of the development.”

A Millwall spokesman said: ““Millwall Football Club welcomes the news that the initial planning application for the New Bermondsey redevelopment has been recommended for approval. This is a significant step forward for what is a much-needed regeneration.

“The club hopes that Lewisham Council can now hasten the finalisation of the lease for land around The Den so that Millwall can be at the heart of these endeavours as promised.”

The scheme would also need the approval of London mayor Sadiq Khan.