Studio Egret West, working with Landsec's regeneration arm, LandsecU+I, has produced design proposals for 1,700 new homes on the site of Lewisham Shopping Centre
Strategy
Our proposals for Lewisham Shopping Centre reshape the heart of Lewisham with a bold, green vision that combines urban living, thriving community spaces, and ecological revitalisation. At its core, a lush, expansive public rooftop park will house a wild meadow, larger than a football pitch, creating a green sanctuary for residents and visitors alike.
This 17-acre development will deliver over 1,700 new homes, including 20% affordable housing, along with 445 co-living residences and 660 student beds.
With a completely pedestrianised high street, lined with independent food and drink outlets, the centre will come alive with al fresco dining, public events, and social spaces open day and night.
Specificity
Throughout the design process, we’ve gained a deeper understanding of the strong connection between the local community and Lewisham town centre. We’ve seen first-hand the vital and diverse role the town centre plays in residents’ daily lives. We’ve learned how different communities and age groups engage with the area in unique ways, and we’ve listened to the aspirations of those who want Lewisham to reclaim its place as one of London’s most dynamic neighbourhoods.
This vision goes beyond simply reconfiguring the shopping centre or adding much-needed homes. We propose creating an array of new public spaces that will integrate access to nature into everyday life. Drawing inspiration from Lewisham’s history as a meadowland at the meeting point of the Quaggy and Ravensbourne rivers, we envision a contemporary meadow that includes a new public park, a civic square, and a reimagined shopping environment, all connected through a multi-level landscape.
In ancient Saxon records, Lewisham was known as Levesham, meaning "the house among the meadows." Historically, the area was open marshland located at the confluence of the River Ravensbourne and the River Quaggy.
The overarching concept for the project and its landscape design is to create a series of meadow-inspired spaces called Levesham Meadows, drawing on the site's history and Lewisham’s historic name.
The landscape and public realm connect ground level, a first-floor landscape, and The Podium Park on the upper level, spanning a 14-metre elevation change.
The design embraces these height differences to create a dynamic experience, seamlessly linking public spaces with surrounding areas. Animated frontages ensure activity throughout the day and evening.
Almost half of the development will be dedicated to public green spaces, with more than 300 mature trees, thousands of plants, and three new public squares.
This transformation will result in a 300% increase in biodiversity, providing a haven for wildlife and a much-needed natural space for the local community.
The proposal for the site enhances its character, appearance, and function, guided by a morphological framework and the preservation of heritage buildings. New infill plots will restore continuity along the frontage of Lewisham High Street, incorporating strategic breaks, varied heights, and thoughtful elevation treatments to complement the existing scale and character of the street.
Sustainability
Heritage is a key focus of the Lewisham masterplan, with an emphasis on preserving and celebrating significant assets to anchor the development in its historical context. The principle is to retain heritage buildings wherever possible, striking a balance between conservation and modern placemaking.
Some structures will be preserved entirely, while others may see partial retention, such as façade preservation or the removal of non-original extensions, ensuring historical elements remain integral to the evolving town centre. This approach highlights Lewisham’s unique identity while fostering a vibrant, future-ready community.
This project has been shaped by the community through extensive consultation, has garnered over 2,500 visitors to the engagement hub and over 500 pieces of feedback, ensuring it reflects the needs and aspirations of those it will serve. A group of 16 local Design Champions have worked with us in close collaboration to shape the project from the beginning.
The new neighbourhood will not only provide much-needed homes but will also create thousands of new jobs and opportunities, contributing an estimated £160m annually to Lewisham’s local economy.
The Lewisham masterplan focuses on creating a sustainable arts and culture ecosystem to enrich the neighbourhood and support local talent.
At its heart is the New Model Market, a vibrant public space at 196 High Street that builds on the legacy of the former Model Market, once a beloved summer weekend destination in South London. This flexible, dynamic square will host markets, events, and performances, reflecting the eclectic, ad-hoc energy of its predecessor.
Central to this cultural hub is a new music and community venue, created in collaboration with the local music collective Sister Midnight. This venue responds to the growing need for night-time spaces in Lewisham, offering a platform for local artists and fostering community connections.
The town centre will undergo a transformative change with the development, greatly enhancing natural surveillance and activity. The masterplan, designed in line with Secured by Design principles, will introduce a vibrant mix of residential and evening uses, significantly boosting footfall and creating a safer, more active environment throughout the evening and night.
Key Project Contacts
