Plans for a significant development project around Millwall’s stadium look set to be approved by Lewisham Council this week.
Lewisham Council has signalled it will approve thousands of new homes, shops and an auditorium around Millwall’s Den at a planning committee meeting on Thursday.
The 1 billion pound development will affect land at Surrey Canal Road, Stockholm Road, Bolina Road and Rollins Street.
Yet a proportion of the 3,500 homes and revamp of the club’s football stadium promised under the decades-long scheme are still under consideration.
“The application is recommended for approval subject to planning conditions and completion of an s106 agreement,” the council’s agenda for Thursday’s meeting says.
Section 106 agreements are made between the developer and the local authority which seek to ensure the developer must reduce their impact on the community.
They are often subject to intense negotiation and may be modified or discharged.
The proposed scheme would be delivered in five phases, with the first bringing 600 new homes to the area, while roads, parking, business floorspace, cafes, pubs, restaurants and new overground station will come in the later stages.
The combined area of these flats will be 4000,000 sq m in three 32-storey tower blocks of 200 flats each, 200 of which will be deemed affordable housing.
Millwall, Lewisham Council and developers Renewal need to agree on a number of rental, transport and infrastructure issues before later phases can go ahead. London Mayor Sadiq Khan also needs to approve the scheme.
Renewal, who lodged the application in May 2021, began purchasing land around the Den more than fifteen years ago.
A spokesperson for Millwall FC said: “Millwall Football Club welcomes the news that the initial planning application for the New Bermondsey redevelopment has been recommended for approval. This is a significant step forward for what is a much-needed regeneration.
“The club hopes that Lewisham Council can now hasten the finalisation of the lease for land around The Den so that Millwall can be at the heart of these endeavours as promised.”
Several planning objections have been made to the council, surrounding potential impacts on the Hatcham Conservation Area, air quality and access to daylight and sunlight for neighbouring properties.
“The harm to these properties is considered to be outweighed by public benefit including over 1000 new affordable homes across the scheme, and provision of new transport infrastructure,” said the council.
If approved, work would also include the demolition of buildings at Oron Business Centre.
Guild House and part of Rollins House on Surrey Canal Road will be left as they are.
In the agenda, the council recommended that: “Lewisham Council be advised that the uses proposed are generally supported; however, the application does not currently comply with the London Plan.
“Where the associated concerns within this report are addressed, the application may become acceptable in strategic planning terms.”
Lewisham Council has been approached for comment.
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