Lee Green in Lewisham is home to Britain’s most unsuccessful shopping district, according to new research released today.
The research in the nation’s changing high streets, commissioned by the BBC, found that in Lee Green, 32.34% of shops are vacant; higher than anywhere else in the country. This is compared to an average of 11.2% of shops vacant across the Greater London area.
Fawwaz Javaad, who works in the family run Bambinos children’s wear shop said: “Our shop has only been open for two months, but even in that time we’ve noticed more places closing down. There used to be a lot of big shops along this road like Woolworths and Kwik Save.
“Other business owners have told me that Lee Green used to be a good place for parents to meet up and chat while they did their shopping. Now it is just a dead environment and we are definitely suffering.”
The research showed that off-licences had suffered the worst over the past year, with 19% fewer across the country since 2009.
John Alex, who runs an off-licence on Lee High Road, said: “It’s worrying, because the area is definitely getting more empty. There has not been much business here lately, and it makes things much harder for a small shop like us.”
Charles Batchelor, chairman of the Lee Manor Society, a local community group, said: “I think the outcome of this survey has been a little skewed because an important local shopping destination, the Leegate Shopping Centre is due to be closed for redevelopment. As such the present owners are running down lots of their lets so that this redevelopment can take place.
“The Lee Manor Society have been liaising with the council and the developer to have some input on the new centre, with the hope that it will include a good mix of shops, public spaces, and potentially subsidies for smaller retailers so that it isn’t all chain shops.”
The plans for the redevelopment of the Leegate Shopping Centre, owned by St. Modwen, are currently under consideration by Lewisham Council.
Sarah Manningly, a florist from Lee, said that she felt the large Sainsbury’s in Lee town centre was drawing business away from the rest of the high street.
“It’s a real shame that a lot of the unique shops in the area are disappearing, because these huge companies can come in and take away most of their customers too easily. I’d like to see the council taking more care to consider local businesses before they let these supermarkets change the character of a community.”
I read with interest about the meeting detailed in the News Shopper dated 4 April 2012 for view March30 and 31st re The Black Hole in Leegate -too late for anybody to attend.
Would Mr Batchelor please contact me with the results or is there another date for discussion.
Many thanks
There ate very tight regulations on parking in the whole of Lewisham borough. Lee unfortunately is in the middle of a very busy popular road which leads to motorways. The red route which has been implemented means you can not stop even if you wanted to. Also bus services are poor between horn park estate and surrounding estates which should be using lee. If I want anything I generally go to eltham as even the sainsburys in lee rarely have all I need. Even in eltham shopping is very restricted I would rather go to Lewisham but refuse to pay parking fees and when I want large items can not get near the shops because they are in a shopping centre. I find shopping ver frustrating most of the time. Horn park estate is known as the forgotton estate with only 2 bus services an urgent medical centre which closes by 4.30 most of the time I work between 8.30am£5pm travel up town so don’t get home until 6.15 there is one shop one chip shop and only this year have we had a cash point to gain access to money. I have never lived any where like it before very rural I have lived here for 11 yrs and learnt to drive because was isolated from the rest of my family although I am still quite isolated as they cannot reach me. What. Century do we live in?
Lee Green is a beautiful area no doubt about that, but the authority needs to improve the shopping street of this area very soon. Sometimes it is pathetic here.
Seven years later and still no new development, a ghost town.
Lee Green is a dump. The scruffy shopping centre is typical of St Modwens’ developments – ugly and cold, and utterly 70s. I understand the centre is being redeveloped….God, it needs to be!
Then there’s that post-apocalyptic car park, the trash-strewn alleyways, vile flats and the disgusting car wash run by seeming people traffickers from some former Soviet sinkhole.
Lee Green needs investment and commitment but the People’s Republic of Lewisham, the laughable local authority, do not possess an iota of business savvy or concern for the borough beyond the tatty confines of Catford.