Catford is changing!
Lewisham Council is leading work to transform Catford town centre. The south circular will be re-routed to free up more space for pedestrians and cyclists. Catford Shopping Centre will be redeveloped, providing new retail space and new homes will be built across the town centre. Pedestrian-friendly areas, open spaces, and new community facilities will also be created.
Moving the road will open up a large central site for regeneration – where Laurence House, the Old Town Hall, the Civic suite, the Catford Shopping centre, Milford Towers and the multi storey car park is currently located. The Broadway - Catford’s market and shopping street - as well as the theatre will remain in place and there will be an opportunity to consider how new town centre leisure, culture, and shopping uses as well as homes could complement these historic buildings in this central space.
The aim is to improve the quality of life in Catford Town Centre and meet the demands of a constantly growing and changing area. This means more homes in safe and welcoming places, with access to jobs and training.
It’s a long-term plan, but things are already changing. Regeneration is not just about physical change. Place-making and meanwhile use initiatives including the Catford Gin Festival, Catford Beer Festival, Catford Street Art Project, and new tenants in Council owned units are already revitalising the town centre.
Furthermore, with the Catford Arts Trail, artists’ studios in the Old Town Hall, Catford Free Film Festival, and Catford Food Market, the town centre is rapidly reclaiming its title as the cultural hub of the borough of south east London.
Additionally, set construction company Supersets have moved into a depot on Thomas Lane and are using their expertise to renovate and revive the building, creating a workshop that will be used to create film and TV sets. The depot will also act as a community hub, with plans for a beach, a skate park, drive-in movie nights, evening classes and apprenticeships.