Ladywell Playtower to be redeveloped into four-screen cinema and 33 homes

By Robert Firth, Local Democracy Reporter

A neglected swimming bath will be turned into a new four-screen cinema and 33 homes.

Ladywell Playtower in Lewisham has been left to crumble since 2004 when it stopped being used as a community centre. The public baths closed in 1965.

The Grade-II listed Victorian baths – famous for its distinctive water tower – will now get a new lease of life after Lewisham council approved its redevelopment.

Labour councillors voted unanimously to approve the project on Thursday, despite it containing no affordable homes.

Councillor Liz Johnston-Franklin, member for Ladywell, said the works would restore the building to its former glory.

Speaking at the meeting, cllr Johnston-Franklin – who didn’t vote on the matter – said: “It is an iconic building. It is there, but it’s falling apart. It won’t be iconic next week or the week after because it’s falling apart.”

Cllr Johnston-Franklin acknowledged the absence of affordable housing in the plans, but dismissed it as a “one-off” case because of the costs of refurbishing the building.

Local resident Eleanor Keech spoke against the building – saying it would overlook her and her neighbours’ homes.

She said: “We are concerned about the privacy that will affect our flats. It is good to hear about the glazing being changed but we’re still not fully satisfied about that.

“We have objections around the impact on light to us all. […] We’re concerned about noise but it’s not just the noise of the actual cinema, it’s people coming and going.”

The building – which dates back to 1884 – is infested with pigeons and has broken windows and crumbling walls.

The plans for the building would see one of the pool tanks converted into the main cinema area, with three other screens with space for up to 300 people installed elsewhere in the baths.

Two new blocks would be constructed on the site – one five storeys high and the other three storeys – creating 33 homes.

Kane Manley from developer, Guildmore, said: “We will be excited to move forward with the regeneration of Ladywell Playtower back into public use. I would like to thank the mayor of Damien Egan and the local community, particularly the Ladywell Society, for their support over the past months.”

Pictured top: CGI of how Ladywell Playtower will look following the refurbishment (Picture: Lewisham council)