Millwall FC welcome revised New Bermondsey master plan passed by council
Lewisham council has approved a £1.9billion New Bermondsey master plan, which will see 3,500 new homes and a new London Overground station built in the area surrounding Millwall Football Club’s ground The Den.
The developers’ planning application, unanimously approved by the council’s Strategic Planning Committee last week, rubber stamps Millwall’s future within “New Bermondsey”, which developer Renewal hopes will become a boom town.
Renewal first brought forward a plan for 2,500 homes to be built on the Surrey Canal Triangle site in 2012.
This was later abandoned after Lewisham council – Millwall’s club’s landlord – sought to forcibly buy three plots of land surrounding The Den for Renewal’s use.
The move sparked recriminations between the three parties, after Millwall raised fears that the club could be forced out of Bermondsey.
The approved application forms a ‘revised’ version of the original masterplan which excludes any land under lease to Millwall FC, allowing the club to bring forward an independent scheme in its own time frame.
In May this year, Millwall secured a new 999-year lease for its Bermondsey home. The extension removed the council’s previous restrictions on residential use of the club’s land to harness “unrealised potential” for new homes in the area.
Millwall’s plans for development are expected to include a mix of housing, retail, hospitality and leisure.
A spokesman for Millwall FC said: “Millwall Football Club welcomes the news of the revised master plan.
“The club looks forward to its continuation of work with its community, businesses and council as part of the exciting regeneration plans of New Bermondsey.”
Having been approved by the council, Renewal’s plans for the Surrey Canal Triangle redevelopment include 3,500 homes and more than 1,100 new affordable homes – the largest amount of affordable housing in any single application submitted to the council.
Cllr James J Walsh, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Regeneration and Planning, said: “I am delighted that we continue to make sure that Lewisham is bringing forward and consenting much-needed mixed-use housing developments for our borough, helping to tackle the ongoing housing crisis and unlocking an underdeveloped part of our city.
“The scheme has ambitious plans for homes, sports, cultural and transport infrastructure, it will bring nearly £2billion of investment to Lewisham – and with that jobs and opportunities for local people”.
A total of £25million has been secured for transport improvements, including a Surrey Canal Overground Station and up to three new bus routes toward Lewisham Town Centre and Central London.
The scheme will also provide new work and retail space, and a major leisure centre with a swimming pool, multi sports arena and youth centre, which will offer discounted rates for Lewisham and Southwark residents.
More than £1.4million has also been secured to improve Bridgehouse Meadows.
Jordana Malik, executive director of strategy and development at Renewal, said: “We are pleased that Lewisham council’s Strategic Planning Committee unanimously voted to accept technical changes to the New Bermondsey scheme that are instrumented in unlocking the new Overground station at Surrey Canal Road.”
The council said the first phase could start in 2026, with 600 new homes, including 200 affordable homes, and a new 800 seat auditorium for cultural and creative uses.
The application will now be referred to the Greater London Authority (GLA) and permission will be issued once legal agreements have been completed.
Pictured top: Illustrative CGI of Surrey Canal Road looking east (Picture: Developer, Renewal; Masterplanner, Architect and Landscape Architect, Sudio Egret West; CGI images by Factory Fifteen)