The new regeneration scheme for Catford moves away from demolition and focuses more on a ‘retrofit-first approach’
The latest regeneration proposals for Catford town centre have been formally approved by Lewisham Council’s Cabinet.
The new Catford Town Centre Business Plan 2026-2030 is a shift from the 2021 framework, and will explore opportunities to retrofit and refurbish Catford Shopping Centre and Milford Towers, which had previously been earmarked for demolition.
The council is also planning a ‘retrofit-first approach’ for other Catford sites, including Laurence House, Canadian Avenue car park, and Holbeach Road car park.
Key projects within the revised scheme include A205/A21 improvements, better connections between Catford and Catford Bridge stations, as well as continuing with plans to deliver 113 affordable homes at Thomas’ Lane Yard.
There are also plans to restore the Catford Cat, while other town centre improvements in the short-term include better lighting, cleaner streets and market improvements.
Cllr Daniel Dream, Lewisham Council’s Cabinet Member for Inclusive Regeneration, Housing Delivery and Planning, described the updated programme as a “rescue plan for Catford”.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service ahead of the Cabinet giving its approval: “Hopefully with the new plan there’s going to be a lot more transparency in terms of what’s actually coming in the short, medium, and long-term.
“I think historically around Catford, for the people that live here, there’s often been a bit of confusion as to what’s actually happening and what’s not happening any more, and the aim of this [Cabinet] paper is to actually just be honest and open with the community.”
During last week’s meeting of Lewisham’s Green-led Cabinet, Cllr Dream told fellow Cabinet members that some debt – £1.2 million in rental and insurance arrears and £100,000 in unrecoverable service charge arrears – will need to be written off.
Additionally, Cabinet was asked to approve a new £500,000 loan agreement to support the Catford Regeneration Partnership Limited (CRPL), a council company which owns several important assets in Catford, including the shopping centre and other commercial and residential properties.
Cllr Dream said a full financial assessment and review of CRPL’s purpose and future role will also be carried out.
What else is planned in Catford?
The council and Transport for London (TfL) have together developed a revised package of improvements for the A205/A21 following the withdrawal of the opportunity for Government funding for the larger South Circular realignment in 2025.
Other proposed improvements include a new pedestrian crossing near Catford Bridge Tavern, better walking and cycling routes, cycle parking and public realm improvements around the Broadway Theatre.
Work on creating better Catford Station links is expected to take place between 2027 and 2028, while the Thomas’ Lane Yard scheme is expected to be completed by 2028.
Goldsmiths, University of London’s new campus is expected to open in Catford in late 2027, and will bring around 500 to 600 students and staff into the town centre. The new campus will be located at Lewisham Council’s Old Town Hall and will house the university’s Fine Art and Design courses.
Alongside major projects, the council says a refreshed Catford Town Centre Framework will be developed to shape the long-term future of the town centre.
At the meeting last Wednesday (September 9), Cllr Rudi Schmidt, Deputy Mayor of Lewisham and Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Economic Development, said: “Regeneration should not mean demolish and ‘build it high’, which quite often seems to be the mantra in regeneration in recent years.
“We know that that is carbon intensive and it’s now costly – those type of regenerations are proving unviable financially.”
He added: “We’ve got beautiful buildings and a shopping centre and Milford Towers are incredible architecture and they are people’s homes.
“It’s right that we are respecting it and not just saying that we will keep it, but we will improve the surrounding areas for people who have got their lives there.”
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