The Sustainable Development Select Committee was scheduled to meet to discuss town centre regeneration, and to review its work programme. Updates on regeneration programmes in Lewisham Town Centre and Catford were expected to be given, including progress on the Lewisham Town Centre Improvement Programme, the Catford Town Centre Framework, the former Catford Constitutional Club, and Thomas' Lane Yard. The committee was also expected to review its work programme and consider items for the next meeting.

Town Centre Regeneration Programme Update

The Sustainable Development Select Committee was scheduled to receive an update on the council's key town centre regeneration programmes in Lewisham and Catford.

The report pack noted that regeneration of Catford and Lewisham town centres directly supports Lewisham Council's Corporate Strategy 2022–2026, which focuses on:

• Cleaner and greener
• A strong local economy
• Quality housing
• Children and young people
• Safer communities
• Open Lewisham
• Health and wellbeing

Lewisham Town Centre

The committee was scheduled to be updated on the Lewisham Shopping Centre scheme, for which the Strategic Planning Committee resolved to grant planning permission in October 2025. The hybrid planning application included a full planning application for phase 1a and an outline planning application for a comprehensive phased redevelopment. The scheme includes a reimagined shopping centre with a wider choice of shops, cafés and restaurants, a new culture and live music venue, new housing, a street-food market, park and community spaces.

The committee was also scheduled to receive an update on the Lewisham Town Centre Improvement Programme, which is being funded by a £19 million grant from the government's Levelling Up Fund¹, combined with £5 million of match funding from the Council's Community Infrastructure Levy². The programme has three main strands:

• Transformation of the market and construction of a new permanent canopy structure
• Significant public realm improvements along the High Street and
• Refurbishment of Lewisham Library.

The report pack stated that the programme of public realm improvements at Lewisham High Street were nearing completion, with granite paving installed across areas surrounding the High Street and Limes Grove, and new energy-efficient LED lighting installed across the town centre.

The new market service area at Burton's Yard was also nearing completion, with water and electrical connections in place and a new electric gate installed to provide access to residents living adjacent to the site.

The new pocket park at Plough Bridge completed in September. The site will act as a rain garden and includes a new sculpture commemorating the floods that took place in the area in 1968.

The design for Hostile Vehicle Mitigation/vehicle restrictions at the market was underway.

The report pack also stated that Lewisham Library was being renovated to create a new Library, Culture and Business Hub. Construction began on-site on 08 September, and is anticipated to complete in September 2026, with a view to the facility opening in Autumn 2026.

Finally, the committee was scheduled to be updated on Lewisham Gateway phase 2, now known as the Filigree, which was delivered by Muse through a development agreement with the council, the Greater London Authority³ and Transport for London⁴ (TfL). In February 2025 there was a catastrophic failure in the energy centre which flooded the majority of the basement. It was anticipated that a water connection to the site would be in place in November 2025, which would allow commercial units to progress fit out.

Catford Town Centre

The committee was scheduled to be updated on Phase 1 Delivery Projects in Catford Town Centre.

The report pack stated that the refurbishment of the former Catford Constitutional Club, now known as The Catford House, represents a key early deliverable in the Catford Town Centre Framework⁵. The project aims to restore and repurpose the historic building into a vibrant cultural and community venue, supporting the wider town centre's regeneration. The project achieved practical completion on 31 October 2025, and the revised programme anticipates that the operator will open the venue in November 2025.

The Thomas Lane Yard scheme (TLY) will deliver 113 affordable units, over 1000sqm of new commercial space and over 3000sqm of public realm. In August 2025 the council formally launched the procurement process to secure a Strategic Partner to deliver Thomas' Lane Yard and other major residential-led developments. Subject to final approvals and procurement it is intended that the scheme will start on site in 2026, with residential units expected to be delivered by 2028.

The committee was also scheduled to be updated on Station Links. The scope of works is based around following key principles in the Catford Town Centre Framework:

• Declutter and create better legibility and accessibility across both Catford and Catford Bridge station entrances
• Unified public realm between stations
• Promote new station entrance for Catford Bridge Station
• Improve footways for generous pedestrian and cycling environment
• Increase greening

Council officers are working closely with TfL to secure funding for the construction works which is currently forecast to commence in spring/summer 2026.

Lewisham Council is participating in the GLA's High Street Place Labs programme, a Mayor of London initiative supporting boroughs to develop strategic high street plans that can attract future investment. As part of this, the council has commissioned a consultant to develop a Public Realm Delivery Plan for Catford Town Centre, with a focus on Catford Broadway as a key area of underutilised public realm in Catford. The strategy is expected to be completed by March 2026, with governance led by Lewisham Council and supported by a range of local partners.

The Council has utilised UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocations to support a range of activation and meanwhile use projects in Catford Town Centre aimed at supporting local jobs, protecting jobs (particularly in the creative economy) and increasing local footfall.

The report pack stated that it is recognised that recent incidents of antisocial behaviour and violent crime in Catford have understandably caused concern among residents and stakeholders. In response, the council has been working closely with the Metropolitan Police to address both the immediate safety risks and the underlying drivers of these issues.

Strategic Infrastructure

The committee was scheduled to be updated on the A205 Road Realignment. Council officers and TfL have been working closely to progress the road realignment scheme, which will introduce a range of improvements to make Catford a more pleasant environment for all road users. These include segregated cycle facilities, wider pavements, new and improved crossings, new and improved public space, reducing exposure to tailpipe emissions and new and improved road crossings.

The scheme achieved planning approval from Lewisham's Strategic Planning Committee in September 2025. However, in July 2025 TfL received correspondence from the Minister for Future of Roads stating that the Catford A205 scheme would no longer be taken forward as part of the MRN process, leaving a significant funding gap.

Finally, the committee was scheduled to be updated on the Bakerloo Line Extension. LB Lewisham have been working closely with LB Southwark and TfL to progress the case for investment in the Bakerloo Line Extension (BLE). An extension of the line to Lewisham via the Old Kent Road and New Cross Gate forms phase one, with an extension to Catford forming part of the second phase.

Select Committee Work Programme

Councillor Liam Curran, Chair of the Committee, was expected to lead a review of the committee's work programme. The committee was asked to review the work programme, consider the items for the next meeting and specify the information required, and look at the forward plan of key decisions to consider whether there are any items that should be considered for further scrutiny.

The following items were scheduled for the next meeting:

• Biodiversity - Performance monitoring