Pressure mounts over compulsory purchase for Lewisham House
Campaigners seeking to stall the major overhaul of Lewisham Shopping Centre have called on the borough’s newly elected Green leadership to halt a critical compulsory purchase order (CPO) tied to the project. The scheme, led by developer Landsec, received planning approval last October and was formally signed off by council officers last week. Work could begin next year, with construction envisaged over a ten-year programme.
The focus of the immediate dispute is Lewisham House, the tower on Molesworth Street behind the shopping centre. While Landsec holds the freehold across the wider site, the tower is leased by a separate developer that is reported to be unwilling to sell and is pursuing its own proposals. A CPO by Lewisham Council would be needed for Landsec’s plans to proceed in full.
Scale of the redevelopment and the affordable homes offer
The £1.5 billion project seeks to remodel the town centre with a new retail mall, housing and leisure spaces. Campaign group Save Lewisham Shopping Centre argues the development does not deliver sufficient affordable homes—particularly larger family properties—relative to local need. The current offer stands at 20% of homes meeting the legal definition of affordable, including 98 for social rent and 231 at discounted market rent.
| Element | Planned provision |
|---|---|
| Total new homes | 1,744 |
| Affordable housing share | 20% |
| Social rent homes | 98 |
| Discounted market rent | 231 |
| Student rooms | Up to 630 |
| Co-living homes | 445 |
Alongside housing, the plans include a music venue, new public spaces and a rooftop meadow. A replacement shopping mall is to be created as part of the redevelopment.
Political context: new administration, old approval
When councillors endorsed the application last autumn, Lewisham was under Labour control. The May elections returned a Green administration, with Liam Shrivastava becoming elected mayor after criticising the scheme during the campaign. Although the decision has been validated by officers, campaigners now see the CPO decision as the pivotal moment for the new leadership’s stance on the balance between regeneration and affordability.
Campaigners highlight housing need
Save Lewisham Shopping Centre points to the borough’s housing pressures, citing more than 11,000 households on the waiting list and a particular shortage of larger, family-sized properties. The group argues that the mix proposed by Landsec, weighted to one- and two-bedroom units in the affordable tranche, will not significantly reduce overcrowding.
“The council’s own data reports that families on the housing waiting list need affordable three and four-bedroom homes and a lot of the people on the housing waiting list are families. The fact that most of the affordable housing is going to be one and two bedrooms, it’s not going to reduce overcrowding and that’s not serving the families who have kids,” said Christine Hannigan of Save Lewisham Shopping Centre.
What happens next
Without a CPO on Lewisham House, the developer’s vision for the site cannot be delivered as currently configured. With a CPO, the council would be asserting that the wider public benefits of redevelopment justify acquiring the leasehold against the current holder’s wishes. For the new administration, the choice will be seen as an early test of its stated priorities on housing affordability, town-centre renewal and the use of compulsory purchase powers.
Given the sub‑regional role of Lewisham’s town centre in south-east London, the outcome is likely to be closely watched beyond the borough boundary. If the project proceeds on schedule, enabling works are due to start next year and continue in phases over a decade.
Key elements under scrutiny
- Whether the council will issue a CPO for Lewisham House to unlock the full masterplan.
- The 20% affordable housing share, including the balance of family-sized homes.
- The scheme’s timeline, with construction expected to span ten years.
Lewisham Council and Landsec have been approached for further comment on the prospective CPO timetable and any scope for revisiting the affordable housing mix within the approved parameters.
