Planning granted for 100% affordable housing development and new public garden in Lewisham

Proposals for a new 100 per cent affordable housing development on the site of a former leisure centre have received planning permission.

The new development, on the site of former Ladywell Leisure Centre in Lewisham High Street, will provide 47 council homes for local families on the housing waiting list and 55 shared ownership properties for people looking to get onto the housing ladder.

Shared ownership is a form of affordable housing where buyers purchase an initial share of between 25 per cent and 75 per cent of a property and pay rent on the remaining share.

The approved plans for Ladywell Park Gardens include 11 wheelchair-accessible homes, as well as a new public garden and children’s play space.

The development will see cycle storage for 182 bikes, creating “living roofs” with plants and greenery to support biodiversity and installing sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) to help prevent flooding.

The front of the site is currently occupied by PLACE Ladywell – a modular housing project that provides temporary accommodation for homeless families. The new Ladywell Park Gardens development will be built to the rear of the site, with plans for the future of PLACE Ladywell to be brought forward at a later date.

As part of the planning permission, a local labour strategy will be developed to ensure local people and businesses are prioritised for training, jobs and contracts during construction.

Damien Egan, mayor of Lewisham, said: “We are committed to building new homes across the borough to help tackle the housing crisis and help people on our housing waiting list.

“As well as delivering 47 high-quality council homes for local residents, this development will also provide more shared ownership homes to help local people get onto the housing ladder.” 

Pictured top: CGIs of the approved Ladywell Park Gardens scheme (Picture: Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios)