A MAJOR development has been put on hold for two years after crunch talks with the council.

The regeneration of Loampit Vale, Lewisham, including 800 homes, shops and a leisure centre, was originally due to be completed in 2010.

But Lewisham Council held talks with developers Barratt Homes following the economic downturn and the delay has now been revealed.

Lewisham Council cabinet member for regeneration Councillor Heidi Alexander said: “This assurance is the result of some tough negotiation but in order to make sure the pool can be built in a way that makes it financially viable, work will have to begin later than originally anticipated.

“The pool is now more likely to open in the summer of 2012.

“I know that some residents will be disappointed and I completely share that disappointment.

“We will have our pool and I am satisfied we have managed to negotiate the best deal possible given the circumstances.”

But Max Calo, secretary of the Save Ladywell Pool Campaign, which protested against the new pool ahead of a council decision last July, raised concerns about further delays.

He said: “Nobody can actually say when this will be built. How can Lewisham Council know what’s going to happen in the market?

“There’s been years of paying officers, developers and architects and to show for that we’ve got nothing.”

Ladywell Leisure Centre, Lewisham High Street, will be demolished after the new one is built.

The pool had originally been set to close in 2007 but this has been delayed until the new one opens following Mr Calo’s campaign.

He said in the meantime campaigners were trying to keep pressure on Lewisham Council to maintain the current pool at Ladywell, which he claims is in decline and where legionella bacteria was discovered earlier this year.

The 39-year-old said: “How can the council be expected to build a pool when they can’t even fix a shower?”