With around 6,000 public sector jobs based in the area, Catford is the borough’s civic heart and is home to an emerging cluster of creative businesses and affordable workspace. With a new masterplan for the area now in place, work is underway to deliver the Council’s vision for the future of Catford.
Catford Town Centre Framework
The Catford Town Centre Framework seeks to transform the town centre, supporting the delivery of 2,700 homes, additional business workspace and new retail opportunities. 60% of these potential new homes are planned on sites which are Council-controlled, allowing Lewisham Council to play an important enabling role in the development of the town centre. Catford already enjoys a growing night-time economy, boosted by the recent restoration and reopening of the Broadway Theatre, which provides a focal point for the borough’s cultural offer.
The re-routing of the South Circular road by Transport for London would create a largely car-free town centre and provide new areas of pedestrianised public space, unlocking Catford’s potential for development and improving walking, cycling and public transport connectivity. Catford is well-connected by train and bus, with two train stations and regular 10-minute services into Zone 1. The planning application has now been approved.
With a focus on sustainability throughout the framework plan and an ambition to create the greenest town centre in London, Catford also offers the opportunity to showcase innovative approaches to zero-carbon development and new strategies for increasing biodiversity in urban environments.
Thomas’ Lane Yard
Thomas’ Lane Yard, a significant affordable homes and mixed-use regeneration scheme, was approved by Planning Committee in April 2025. The project, along with the renovation of the former Catford Constitutional Club (CCC), is part of the first phase of the Catford Town Centre Framework (CTCF) adopted by the council in 2021.
The development aims to deliver:
- 100% affordable homes – a significant increase from 50% affordable homes previously reported
- 113 affordable units comprising of 39 new social rented homes (target rent) and 74 shared ownership flats – the homes will be in two separate blocks, Nelgarde House, 8 storeys and Doggett House, 12 storeys
- accessible homes – 10% of the homes provided will meet the M4(3) standard wheelchair user dwelling – the remainder will meet the M4(2) adaptable dwelling standard in accordance with the London Plan
- over 1,000sqm of new commercial and office space including a proportion of affordable workspace as required by the GLA Good Growth Grant – the space will be designed to achieve BREEAM Excellent certification and the commercial space is located on the ground floor of both buildings and the workspace is on the first floor of Nelgarde House, helping to boost the vibrancy and safety of the public space
- over 3,000sqm of enhanced public realm making it greener, cleaner and more accessible whilst also addressing community concerns regarding local anti-social behaviour
- a car-free development (with the exception of Blue Badge holders) to align with the Council’s aspirations to encourage walking, cycling and sustainable travel in the borough
Visualisations of Thomas’ Lane Yard development by Turner Works
Restoring the former Catford Constitutional Club
We are working to restore one of the oldest buildings in the town centre, the former Catford Constitutional Club, and bring it back into public use. The new venue will be known as the Catford House and run by GCDA (Greenwich Cooperative Development Agency). It is expected to open in late autumn 2025. Read the full story: Historic Catford venue to reopen as community hub under new operator
Works are underway to refurbish the former Catford Constitutional Club building and reopen it as a pub, with a community kitchen and space for performance, music and arts. The works are expected to be completed in 2025. The locally listed Victorian building was forced to close in August 2019 due to structural and safety issues. The adjoining Georgian farmhouse, the oldest building in Catford and the only remaining part of the original farm dating back to 1736, will also be brought back into use, having remained derelict for more than 20 years.
The project is being delivered by the Council supported by £1.8m in funding from the Mayor of London’s Good Growth Fund. Hayatsu Architects have designed proposals for the refurbished building, as part of a team led by Turner Works, and Claremont Refurbishment have been commissioned to carry out the works.
