Landsec has submitted ambitious plans to redevelop 1970s-built Lewisham shopping centre in south London into a new town centre district around an urban meadow.

The 17-acre masterplan will retain parts of the shopping centre while allowing room for 1,700 new homes alongside 445 co-living flats in a 23-storey building and up to 660 student beds in a 15-storey building.

The new district will be built around eight-acres of green space and public realm, including an urban meadow above a central podium building connecting much of the wider scheme consisting of around 14 major building projects.

Masterplan to redevelop 1970s-built shopping complex will be a decade-long build

Landsec’s masterplan, designed by SEW, includes a detailed application for the first two residential buildings, designed by Mae Architects, Studio MULTI and Archio.

On top of a reimagined shopping centre will be a pedestrianised high street lined with restaurants, cafes and bars.

A 500-capacity live music venue will act as a focus for the area’s cultural scene.

Urban meadow on top of new podium linking high rise residential buildings

Mike Hood, CEO of Landsec U+I said: “This submission marks an important milestone to create a new green centre for Lewisham.

“For the last 20 years our team has been embedded within the community and I’m delighted that we were able to create this vision with thousands of people in Lewisham through one of our most extensive public engagement programmes.”

Demolition of the current shopping centre and the construction of the new one will start in 2026 to be delivered in phases over around 10 years.

LandsecU+I’s planning application will be considered by Lewisham council’s strategic planning committee next year.

New shopping centre below elevated meadow and public realm