Lewisham council is edging closer to ending its agreement with developer Guildmore on restoring and developing the Playtower.
Responding to a public question at a council meeting, Cllr James-J Walsh, cabinet member for regeneration and planning, said the council hoped “to make a further announcement about our next steps in the coming months.”
He said the council had been working with the developer to bridge a funding gap to make the project viable. “But it has now become clear this developer is unable to move the project forward.”
Mr Walsh said the council was “committed to working with the local community to identify new opportunities to restore the building.” He said the council wanted to see the Playtower brought back into use and restored to a high standard
His response, to a question from prospective Green party candidate Edward Sutton, comes as the community petition launched by the Playtower Action Group, set up by the Ladywell Society, has gathered more than 2,000 signatures from residents in the neighbourhood.
The petition calls on Mayor Dacres and the council to consult urgently with the community about the future of the site and explain what action they will take to guarantee progress on refurbishing the building.
Guildmore, chosen as the site developer more than seven years ago, has failed to make progress on restoring and developing the Grade II listed building.
It has argued that rising costs since the pandemic meant the cinema and housing plan for the Playtower, which gained planning approval in 2022, was no longer viable.
Ending the agreement with Guildmore is likely to result in a re-run of the competitive process to identify a suitable organisation to take on the revival and restoration of Playtower. That takes time. Meanwhile the Playtower looks likely to deteriorate further.
Playtower Action Group launches community petition demanding decisive council action to save iconic building
The Ladywell Playtower Action Group has launched a community petition urging Lewisham council to act quickly to safeguard the Playtower, the grade II listed building which has stood empty for years.
The petition calls on Mayor Dacres and the council to consult urgently with the community about the future of the site and explain what action they will take to guarantee progress on refurbishing the building.
Frustration has been mounting in the local community over the lack of progress since 2017 when the council selected developer Guildmore to restore and develop the Playtower to provide housing and a local cinema.
The petition says the council has “failed to lead decisively on this project” and put local people at the heart of the process. “People want to see some progress.”
People are angry that the redevelopment of the Playtower has been allowed to drag on while the crumbling Victorian building, a former swimming baths, deteriorates further.
It has been apparent for some time that developers Guildmore have been delaying work on the Playtower because of rising costs in the current economic climate. Meanwhile negotiations between the council and Guildmore dragged on.
The council sought National Lottery funding to make up any shortfall but its initial inquiries were rebuffed.
The Ladywell Society, which set up the action group in response to mounting frustration in the local community, says negotiations have been “ongoing” for far too long.
“Local people deserve better. It’s NOW time for the community to act.” The petition will be the start of a determined campaign to force progress on this long neglected building.
The community petition can be signed by anyone who lives, works or studies in the Borough of Lewisham (even if under 18 years).
SIGN THE PETITION.
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-ladywell-playtower
