A consultation on major plans to demolish a long-standing retail park in the centre of Catford, replacing it with 600 homes, is underway.

The site, known as Plassy or Catford Island, sits in the middle of a one-way system and is occupied by Lidl, JD Sports, a Mecca Bingo unit, Dreams and McDonald’s. There is also an extensive car park.

Developer Barratt, working with landowners the Church Commissioners, has tabled plans to build 600 homes across blocks up to 20 storeys high, and replace the large retail outlets with smaller businesses.

The consultation reads: "We want to replace the dominance of the ‘big-box’ retail on the site with a much friendlier, people-focused environment.

News Shopper: How a transformed Catford town centre could look (Barratt)How a transformed Catford town centre could look (Barratt)

"We want these spaces to be occupied by businesses that emerge from and support the local community, create jobs and provide the services that the local community need.

"Our early thinking proposes commercial, retail and food and beverage units of varying sizes. This will be complemented by a new community focused space for local residents to enjoy."

Catford Island is one of six sites that form part of the Catford town centre framework, a £500m redevelopment vision adopted by Lewisham Council in June 2021.

Up to 2,700 homes will be built in total over the next couple of decades under the plans, half of which are set to be affordable, with almost 1,000 new social homes for residents on the council’s housing register.

The South Circular could also be re-routed, as part of an effort to make the heart of Catford town centre largely car-free.

The Catford Centre, bought by the council more than a decade ago, and the Milford Towers estate, are expected to be redeveloped into housing and shops.

Construction is also set to start on the restoration of the former Catford Constitutional Club which will see the building reopened as a pub, thanks to Good Growth Funding from the Mayor of London.

A £7m refurbishment of Catford’s Broadway Theatre will be completed next year, helping the Grade II Listed building to play a major role in the Council’s plans for Borough of Culture 2022.

A planning application will also be submitted later this summer for improvements to the area around Catford and Catford Bridge stations, which could see works start next year.

You can view and respond to the consultation here until October 27.

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