Head of Planning at Lewisham Council, John Miller, has stated at a recent local assembly meeting that the Lewisham Gateway Project is currently not financially viable, due to the economic situation.
Plans for the project involve removing the roundabout near Lewisham Station and replacing it with a number of high rise buildings containing up to 800 homes, shops and leisure facilities. Work on the development was due to commence in 2008, to be completed by 2014. Legal negotiations between the Council and the developer have been continuing since 2007, and the current economic situation has added to the complexity of these negotiations. It is now not clear when the project will begin.
There are also plans for a new leisure centre at the nearby Loampit Vale development site, due to be ready by 2013. Some local residents have expressed concerns about these development plans and the effect they will have on traffic congestion and overpopulation in the area.
