A “masterplan” for the regeneration of Catford has taken a step forward ahead of it being given the green light.

Plans for a new town centre and more shops and homes have been updated ahead of the Lewisham Council’s Catford Regeneration Masterplan being approved by the Mayor and cabinet.

In the updated masterplan, Catford would benefit from increased investment into its high street, and the Broadway Theatre.

The council has already secured Little Nan’s Bar in the Broadway Theatre, and is looking for tenants for 17 and 18 Catford Broadway, the Brookdale Club and the depot in Thomas Lane.

The plans aim is to: “Improve the retail and leisure offer in Catford for the morning, daytime and evening experience of the town centre” and to “Improve the quality of the public realm with a particular focus on the interface between ground floor uses and new routes and open spaces.”

Consultation events are now being planned by Team Catford, a group of consultants, on behalf of the council.

A spokesman for Team Catford said: “Our town centre is on the brink of big and exciting change so we’re calling on everyone who lives, works, socialises, commutes or runs a business here to have their say as Catford goes through its biggest change in decades.

“Catford Shopping Centre will be redeveloped, providing new retail space, while Milford Towers will be replaced, providing several hundred new homes across the town centre.

"Pedestrian-friendly areas, open spaces and new community facilities will also be created.

“It’s a long-term plan, but things are already changing. Little Nan’s Bar has recently moved into the historic Broadway Theatre and we’re talking to some exciting tenants for vacant spaces including the Brookdale Club and units in the Catford shopping centre.”

Councillor Liam Curran, Chairman, sustainable development select committee on Lewisham Council said: "There were so many agencies responsible including the Council, the Mayor of London, the GLA, TfL and Network Rail as well as private business that they asked officers to commission a single team with one person at the head responsible for bringing together a masterplan for Catford with the involvement of local residents and business at its heart.

"We are impressed by the way that officers of the council have listened to these concerns and responded thoughtfully, carefully and with purpose.

"We now have a lot of confidence in how they are briefing, commissioning and appointing a masterplanner team. At the end of this we expect a document and a plan that residents, councillors, business, developers and the builders understand and want to implement. If this plan is carried out properly the future of Catford looks very promising indeed."

This was the final review of the masterplan which is not expected to be finalised until 2020 – with construction work not done until 2030.

Consultation events in Catford town centre will be held on Monday, February 5 at the Civic Suite from 7pm to 9pm, with more planned throughout February and March.