New hopes for south-east London Overground station

Plans for a new London Overground station next to Millwall Stadium have been renewed after a cash injection.

A developer building thousands of homes in the area has pledged £17m for the project.

The giant five-phase scheme proposed for an area around Surrey Canal Road was originally approved by Lewisham Council in 2022.

But Renewal Group, which intends to construct about 3,500 homes in South Bermondsey, has cut the number of affordable flats in the second stage of the planned development by 100 in order to fund the Surrey Canal railway station.

Jordana Malik, from the firm, told a Lewisham strategic planning meeting on 31July that progress with the development had been slower than expected but said construction of the first phase should begin in 2026.

Overall, the project has committed to about 30% affordable housing, now with a reduction in the second phase.

Transport for London (TfL) originally intended to use the government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) to cover the costs of the planned station. But since then, TfL has diverted the money to other projects that have run over budget.

An auditorium, offices, restaurants and cafés would also be constructed. Later phases of the development, as agreed in planning, would include a new leisure centre, as well as green space, eateries and shops.

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