Lewisham council has shortlisted four development proposals for the Grade II listed Playtower, according to the recently elected Green Party ward councillors who spoke at a Ladywell Society organised event in St Mary’s church.
More details are set to be released in a few days, according to Cllr Daniel Dream, the cabinet member for Inclusive Regeneration, Planning and Housing Delivery in the new Green administration, who said a total of seven bids had been received.
Cllr Dream, speaking to 50 people at a screening of the film ‘Memories of Ladywell Baths‘ hosted by Ladywell Society as part of Brockley Max, said full details of all the bids would be given in the late summer/autumn when a commmunity consultation on the bidders would be held. A final decision would be made in December.
He said there had been more than 500 responses to a community consultation hosted by the previous Labour administration which had proved helpful to potential partners as they developed their proposals.
Cllr Dream said the new administration was committed to ensuring transparency throughout the process.
Local ward councillor Ed Sutton said the council was determined to bring the Playtower back to life and would ensure the future space allowed community access and uses.
Cllr Shireen Asaw, a local ward councillor and cabinet member for Workers, Business and Skills, said she thought this was the last chance to restore and “secure the future” of the Grade II listed Playtower after the efforts of the last bidder Guildmore stalled after rising costs.
The fabric and structure of the building has continued to deteriorate because of vandalism, flooding and fire. Bringing the Playtower back into use was a priority for the Green administration, Cllr Asaw added
One of the bidders, RUSS, the commuity land trust which is working with architect Benedict O’ Looney who has worked on renovating and restoring Victorian buildings, said the costs of restoration had risen sharply. Estimates now ranged upwards from £12m. The earlier estimated had been £7m.
RUSS said it would take at least five years to complete work on the Playtower once the council had taken a decision on the chosen bidder.
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