Developers open up on huge opportunity to transform South London retail park into thriving new neighbourhood

The plans, from developer Amro Partners, would see the site on Loampit Vale demolished to deliver 387 Build-to-Rent homes, 383 co-living studios and rooms for 682 students. Amro Partners submitted the plans on December 4 and the application is currently awaiting validation by Lewisham Council. The site spans 2.8acres and was acquired by Amro in 2024.

The £650million redevelopment proposals include five new buildings and almost 2,000 sqm of commercial space. Amro is reportedly in talks with specialist food hall operators to take 1,000 sqm of the commercial space.

The 387 Build-to-Rent homes range from one to three-bed flats which Amro say will be suitable for single residents and up to families of six. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands the ‘affordable’ housing offer has not yet been finalised with the council.

The plans also include two residential garden spaces and a central square which would include seating, children’s play areas, open lawns, footpaths, cycleways and almost 100 new trees. If the proposals eventually receive planning consent, Amro plan to start building on site in early 2027, while the project would open in phases during 2029/2030.

Raj Kotecha, CEO and Co-founder of Amro Partners, said the plans present a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to transform the site into a thriving and sustainable new neighbourhood for local people to live, work, visit and socialise.

They said: “This project means a great deal to us and to the people of Lewisham. We’ve been privileged to spend many months listening to local people and shaping our vision for a development that sets a new bar for placemaking and sustainability, as well as bringing forward urgently needed new rental housing.”

The site was previously owned by Legal & General, who gained planning consent back in 2018 for a residential development, however nothing was ever constructed.

If Amro’s plans are validated by Lewisham Council, the determination process would begin and the plans would be placed on the planning portal with an application reference number. After this the planning application would undergo a public consultation, before being considered by a planning offer or planning committee.

In total, the plans would deliver 1,452 units, which is just a few hundred fewer than Landsec’s £1.5billion redevelopment of Lewisham Shopping Centre – of which more than 1,700 homes are set to be constructed on site – which was approved in October.

The plans will deliver 1,744 new homes, as well as accommodation for 661 students and a co-living block containing 445 homes. A total of 329 homes will be ‘affordable’ and will be split into 98 social rent homes and 231 homes that will be rented out at discounted market rates aimed at key workers.

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