Cash injection for regeneration in borough

Deptford Market Pic:Praveen Sundaram

Lewisham’s regeneration programme will be boosted by over 3 million pounds from the Mayor’s Outer London Fund.

Earlier this month London Mayor Boris Johnson announced the award of nearly £32m of funding from the Outer London Fund to 18 boroughs, following the submission of over 80 bids in November last year.

A spokesperson for  Lewisham Council said: “Lewisham Council is in line to receive just over £3 million from the Mayor of London’s Outer London Fund – part of a major package of investment for London boroughs which aims to boost local high streets, deliver growth, new jobs and improve lives.”

The funds will be primarily used to fund two projects. £1.49 million will be used to upgrade Catford Broadway which the council hopes will provide a better environment for businesses, residents and shoppers. The remaining £1.51 million will go towards making physical improvements to Deptford High Street and will focus on Deptford market.

EastLondonLines asked shopkeepers near Deptford market what kind of improvements they would like to see in the high street and the market. Neither wanted to be named fully.

Äli, the owner of a butcher’s shop, highlighted the need for better security measures in the area: “We need more working CCTV cameras on Deptford High Street. The number of people creating trouble has just been rising and nothing gets recorded on the current CCTVs as they don’t function well. Plenty of drunken people misbehave and create a nuisance for the public here.”

Mr. Greenwoods, who works in a restaurant, wants the area to be modernised. He said: “We have too many old buildings in here. They need to be modernised and the infrastructure needs a lot of development.”

Funding is still subject to a contract being agreed, and to Lewisham Council formally agreeing to contribute around £1.2 million in matched funding (£600,000 per project).

The council’s contribution will largely come from its capital programme, which is due to be considered by the Mayor at a meeting of the Mayor and Cabinet in February.

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