Lewisham Gateway, London Borough of Lewisham for Muse with London Borough of Lewisham, Greater London Authority, Network Rail, Transport for London and Balfour Beatty

The £500 million, 20-year Lewisham Gateway development transformed a former traffic-dominated roundabout into a thriving neighborhood. Once hostile to pedestrians, the 6 hectare site now features over 1,000 new homes, shops, offices, a gym, and a multiplex cinema. A sustainable transport hub and urban greening programme uncovered two rivers, creating Confluence Park, an inviting public space with safe pedestrian routes. The project has revitalised the area, providing homes, jobs, and a vibrant community hub.

Who is on the project? 

London Borough of Lewisham

Greater London Authority

Network Rail

Transport for London

Balfour Beatty

Describe the social and environmental context of this project, its neighbourhood and people. What is the purpose of the building? How does this building make an impact in its community?

Lewisham Gateway has been one of the most ambitious urban regenerations in southeast London. The £500 million, 20-year development has transformed a former congested traffic island into a new neighborhood and destination. The 14-acre site was previously dominated by a large roundabout which cut the town centre off from Lewisham DLR and railway station. Designed when car was king, the site was hostile to pedestrians, intersected by immovable railways with major utilities and two rivers buried beneath. Over 20 years, Muse worked with local community to reimagine the site into the thriving destination and community it has become. We have created homes and jobs for the local community, built around a sustainable transport hub. Today, Lewisham Gateway now holds over 1,000 much-needed new homes, 25,000 sq ft of shops, cafes and restaurants, 15,000 sq ft of office space, a gym, a 9-screen multiplex cinema and expansive public realm. Lewisham Gateway has also benefited from an extensive urban greening programme, with the two previously buried rivers uncovered and flowing freely through the heart of a new urban park – Confluence Park. Combined with new public realm, this has created an attractive environment for people to dwell with safe and secure new pedestrian routes. Now a defining entrance into Lewisham, this is a vibrant place that is serving the local community, both new and old. It is attracting new visitors, increasing trade for local businesses, and generating new opportunities in the town centre, particularly in the nighttime economy.

What makes this place thrive? How does the community come together? What makes this a great place to live, work, play, visit or learn?

We recognised that delivering a plan for meeting the ambitions of Lewisham could only be achieved by working closely with local people. In response, we held consultation sessions and outreach initiatives to engage with 5,000 people during the design process for the masterplan. As a result, we received a tangible understanding of how this project could reflect the Lewisham community and delivered corresponding objectives to meet these wishes. For example, we signed up to the Greater London Authority’s ‘Londoners First’ pledge to give priority to the local population to ensure this was an inclusive place for the community. Lewisham Gateway now holds quality new shopping, restaurant and entertainment spaces to complement and enhance the existing town centre – creating jobs for local people. The new neighbourhood attracts people from across the community with a blend of affordable homes, private for sale, co-living, and build-to-rent. It’s a place where people live, work, come together, and socialise. We have also created new and dynamic pedestrian routes to effortlessly connect to the town centre and High Street. This is now an environment where thousands of passengers are being effortlessly directed along a new boulevard towards Lewisham’s established shops and businesses, unlocking greater economic activity across the town. In addition, we have created a new public square – St Stephen’s Square. This new square is named after the beautiful St Stephen Church, with the new buildings framing this local asset for the community to interact, socialise and enjoy.

Please share any data or evidence about the social, economic and environmental performance of this place, or any relevant figures such as footfall, visitors, engagement metrics, residents, etc. 

Lewisham Gateway has adapted not only to the significant social and economic challenges we’ve experienced over the last 20 years, but also continues to adapt to ensure it is a truly enriching environment. During its construction, we faced unprecedented challenges including the 2008 global recession, the UK leaving the EU and the COVID-19 pandemic. In these times of upheaval, the delivery of Lewisham Gateway had adapted to stay on track. For example, when facing the challenges of a pandemic, including significant labour shortages, we uncovered safe, innovative solutions to help restart work on site. Having overcome these challenges, we have also worked hard to ensure that Lewisham Gateway is fit to serve generations to come. This includes leveraging the neighbourhood to introduce build-to-rent homes for the first time in Lewisham. This new residential offer for the Borough means that residents are benefitting from a fresh approach to high quality living. Lewisham Gateway is also more than just new homes, but a new destination. Leveraging the sustainable transport hub right on its doorstep, Lewisham Gateway is a car free scheme which has the potential to attract thousands of people from across the area to meet and spend time. Over 15,000 sq ft of flexible office space will ensure that new and existing businesses have an opportunity to grow and adapt to changing office environments. This will also ensure that local people have access to high-quality office spaces within easy reach, helping to encourage greater job creation in Lewisham.