Update given on Lewisham town centre £24m market and High Street project
Lewisham Council have given an update on work across the town centre now underway and set to bring a new market place, revamped library and High Street.
A report gives a number of dates when work should be completed, with the High Street work expected to finish by September 2025.
Following on is the market canopy with a target date of March 2026 for construction and opening. Plans were approved in July 2024.
A budget of £1.6 million is allocated out of a total project spend of £24 million.
Funding
£19 million of that funding was announced by the previous government as part of “levelling-up” funding, with £5 million match funding from Lewisham Council.
The report notes that a decision is expected from the borough’s Mayor & Cabinet on 18th Sept 2024 to “seek approvals for the procurement of the market canopy”.
Bus diversions were introduced last month to enable High Street public realm work to commence, with the report stating buses will continue to divert via Molesworth Street until spring 2025.
The town’s clocktower is also to be renovated, and “tender documentation has been developed for the renovation works for the clock tower” which will be carried out alongside the market canopy.
Culture and Business Hub
This is the library revamp given a fancy name and is expected to complete by September 2026.
As covered in July this year, a rooftop bar has been scrapped.
Work is due to begin on site in 2025. The full report updating councillors can be read here.
I notice an inordinate amount of seating for eating out: this would work very well if carefully marshalled (have a look at the excellent Five Continents food place in Stratford mall) so that it isn’t used as an extension of the shops nearby or for the hundreds of shoppers wanting somewhere to sit down. Still, a welcome idea, particularly if they address the appalling paving that runs the gamut from trip to cripple.
The bus diversions are much better than the normal northbound route.
@Chris L: I disagree. It’s a fair old walk, especially with shopping, from what was stop V (Lewisham Centre), through the Centre and down Molesworth Street to where TfL has determined the bus stops be placed.