Lewisham council is recommending rescinding planning permission for Guildmore’s proposed development and restoration of the Playtower “to unlock the building’s future”.
Guildmore was chosen as the Playtower developer in 2017 and planning permission was granted in 2022 “subject to the completion of an s106 agreement to securey the planning benefits of the scheme.”
The council says that Guildmore has been unable to proceed because of “viability challenges” caused by a sharp rise in costs in the wake of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
As a result it “has not made any meaningful progress to complete the s106 legal agreement.” The council says it is therefore recommending rescinding planning permission and starting the termination of its development agreement with Guildmore.
The council move comes as the local community steps up its campaign to save the Grade II listed Victorian bath house.
Almost 3,400 people have signed a community petition demanding the council consult with local people about the future of the site. They also want the council to explain how they will guarantee progress on a restoration of the Playtower.
The council said it would formally end the stalled agreement and then begin the process of identifying a new partner with a deliverable plan for restoring this landmark.
James-J Walsh, cabinet member for regeneration and planning, said the council would not allow this landmark building to remain in limbo.
He said he shared residents’ frustrations and was now acting decisively to break the deadlock. He said the council was committed to working with the local community to identify new opportunities for the building. xxxxxxxxxx
Save the Playtower public meeting with leading architect
The Ladywell Playtower Action Group is stepping up its campaign to save the Grade II listed Victorian bath-house, known as the Playtower, with a public meeting bringing together campaigners, architects and the council.
The event comes at a crucial moment in the long running campaign to protect and restore the historic building which has been left empty since 2004 and allowed to deteriorate.
More than 3,200 local people have signed a community petition organised by the Action Group demanding the council take action to “Save the Playtower”.
The action group was set up by the Ladywell Society as concern over the future of the much-loved building mounted after it became clear that developer Guildmore, chosen in 2017 to turn the building into a cinema and homes, was no longer able to proceed with the project because of rising costs.
Ladywell Playtower – after years of failing to restore the building, local residents are calling for a community centred approach. Read here
Dorothy Stein, Salamander
The public meeting will feature a presentation by architect and historian Benedict O’Looney, who lives in Peckham. He will discuss his work restoring a host of old south London buildings including Peckham Rye station, and Peckham mosque.
It will also showcase “Memories of Ladywell Baths”, a short film by David Stock which captures the stories of people who used the building throughout its long history from swimming baths to community centre.
The meeting will hear from councillors and officers who will share their latest thinking on how best to push forward the restoration of the historic building and talk about work that has already been undertaken.
The public meeting – A Future for the Playtower – will be held in St Mary’s Church, situated just behind the Playtower, and will form part of the church’s Heritage Week celebrations. The meeting will start at 7.30pm on Thursday September 25 2025.
SIGN THE PETITION.
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-ladywell-playtower
Council looks set to end agreement with Playtower developer Guildmore
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
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