Plans for a 30-storey and 16-storey tower blocks with 242 new homes by Lewisham station have been approved by the council.

The towers at the Carpetright site are only 62 metres away from Lewisham DLR station on Loampit Vale and include plans for a potential new entrance to the station.

The existing buildings will be demolished to make way for the towers, including shops, restaurants, cafes, office space and a play area as well as the 242 new homes.

There will be 97 one-bedroom flats, 130 two-bedroom flats, and 15 three-bedroom flats.

Developers Threadneedle said: “The proposals will revitalise an under-utilised site which appears increasingly incongruous in the context of the major redevelopment completed and under construction within the surrounding area. Moreover, the site has been identified by the Council as a site in need of regeneration.”

The plans were approved by Lewisham Council planning committee last night (February 8).

The developers pointed to the Bakerloo Line extension as a point of consideration for the tower block plans, and included the layout for a new western station entrance for when the new line arrives.

Threadneedle said: “In the event that the extension does take place the new entrance can be used to serve the Bakerloo Line. If the extension does not take place, it could still be used by Network Rail to serve the existing and/or reconfigured Lewisham Interchange.

“Until such time as the potential new station entrance and Bakerloo Line is constructed, it is proposed that the safeguarded space would be used as a ‘meanwhile commercial use’.”