The Ladywell Society is urging Brenda Dacres, the Labour candidate for mayor, to act quickly to save the Playtower and begin work on its redevelopment and restoration within weeks if elected Mayor of Lewisham.
The society, which speaks on behalf of a wide range of residents and businesses in the area, is angry at the way the redevelopment of the Playtower has been allowed to drag on while the Grade II listed building deteriorates.
“This important historical site is falling further into disrepair, and we worry that the current situation, if not acted on, could mean the loss of this Grade II listed building entirely,” says the society.
The council were told last year that developers Guildmore were unable to carry out the restoration work as planned without seeking additional sources of funding because of the sharp rise in prices and interest rates.
In an emailed letter from Robert Smith, the founder of the society, to the Labour candidate, the society asks what steps have been taken to find any additional funding.
“We know there are many funders, such as National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England, ACE and the Wolfson Foundation, who part fund restoration projects of precisely this nature.
“To secure this kind of funding, detailed grant applications would have to be completed and the turnaround for these ecisions can take time, so we would respectfully ask if any of these routes are currently being explored?”
The society says it is a shame that this grade II listed landmark has “bcome a matter of passive conservation”.
It goes on: “Substantial funding has been used to simply secure and maintain the site for a prolonged period when work could have commenced to make this a vibrant and well-used resource for the community.
“As it stands, the damage to the external facade increases month on month, windows are broken so the building is no longer watertight and we imagine the internal situation is even worse.
“The site itself, while secure, is overgrown, subject to extensive littering and antisocial behaviour and is generally an eyesore.”
Campaigners to preserve the building pointed out at the time Guildmore took on the project that its decision to turn its back on any grant funding could prove to be a mistake. See earlier posts
Instead of seeking a grant subsidy Guildmore put forward a scheme that required the maximum amount of private housing on the site to generate the necessary profit to fund the refurbishment of the Playtower. But extensive wrangling over a demand for affordable housing delayed work on the site.
The sheer scale of the Playtower site means it dominates the area close to St Mary’s church.
“The message it puts out is not in line with the reality of Ladywell being an up-and-coming area, attractive to new businesses and residents alike, says the society.
“With this in mind, we would like to enquire as to what ways the developer and the council are proactively working to move this project forward. It is apparent that work to conserve the site will not be able to save the Playtower if allowed to continue in the same way as it has in recent years.”
At its February meeting frustration at the delay to this project was overwhelming, with the meeting unanimously passing this resolution: “The Ladywell Society is disgusted at the way Lewisham Council has allowed the Playtower redevelopment to
drag on whilst the building continues to deteriorate.”
The society urges Brenda Dacres to push the project forward within weeks rather than years if elected as Lewisham mayor.
It says the Playtower “has been subject to national concern, a mammoth petition, TV and press coverage and the building being placed on the English Heritage at risk register.
“This is a long-standing issue of which both you, the Ladywell Society and voters in Lewisham have been fully aware … we ook forward to your early response, so that you can reassure voters you are the one who can be relied upon to best command
their confidence.”