Lewisham is undergoing a transformation with a number of development sites popping up across the borough.

Reporters KELLY SMALE and NINA MASSEY find out more.

Speaking about the future of Lewisham, deputy mayor and cabinet member for regeneration, Alan Smith, said: “All the changes are fantastic and the borough is changing for the better.

“We need more of this to continue in the future as it benefits both those at the higher and lower ends of the economy.

“We are very much a residential area and we need people here spending money.”

Renaissance

News Shopper: Renaissance, Lewisham town centre Building work is well underway on the Renaissance development on Loampit Vale in Lewisham Town Centre.

The development includes a new leisure centre with a 25 metre swimming, 788 homes (146 will be affordable rent), a number of commercial units and community facilities including a new venue for the Lewisham Christian Centre.

Developer Barratt Homes began work in 2010 and will complete the project in phases until 2015.

The first set of apartments will be ready for people to occupy in June and the leisure centre is on target for completion in 2013.

Renaissance is situated next to Cornmill Gardens, which won Best New Public Space at the Mayor of London’s planning awards in 2009.

Deptford Town Centre

News Shopper: Deptford Lounge Tidemill School is currently being rebuilt and relocated to the Town Centre and work is expected to finish this year.

The Deptford Lounge is also set to be completed this year and will be integrated with the school.

It includes a new library, café and rooms to hire for community groups.

Other projects on track for completion this year include new homes and an art gallery on Resolution Way and the relandscaping of Griffin Square.

There will also be a new Deptford Station building with stair and lift access to platforms as well as a steel framework, glass facades and improved lighting.

The new station is expected to open in November with the work programme finished by next summer.

Convoys Wharf

News Shopper: Convoys Wharf Convoys Wharf is currently a largely unused brownfield site covering around 40 acres on the south bank of the Thames.

Site owners Hutchison Whampoa submitted plans for the development in Deptford to Lewisham Council last year.

Proposals include more than 3,000 new homes, a primary school, public transport improvements including a river bus service from the site and new diverted bus routes.

Plans also feature provisions for offices, shops, restaurants, a market and a hotel.

The site has a listed building which was previously used as Henry VIII’s boat yard.

Schools

News Shopper: Trinity School By 2013, all secondary schools in the borough, plus four primary schools and six special educational needs schools will have been rebuilt or refurbished.

One school which has already benefitted from the council’s £320m investment in the building schools for the future programme is, Trinity School in Taunton Road, Lee.

Deputy headmaster at the school which reopened in September last year, Matt Lillie, said: “We are really proud to be in this building and the students love being here. The school then, and the school now are two very different entities.”

Work is still underway on Deptford Green, Bonus Pastor, Addey and Stanhope, Predergast Hilly Fields and Predergast Vale College schools.