First units at PLACE/Ladywell installed

The development will provide 24 homes for local people in housing need and eight ground-floor non-residential units for community and business use. It will be in place for four years.

The two units that were installed form part of the ground floor. Six more units will be put in place over the next week and it is expected that this level will be completed by 4 December. It will provide space for Lewisham’s vibrant small business community to work, collaborate and grow; host one of the borough’s three enterprise hubs that will provide high quality spaces for rent to local entrepreneurs and businesses in the main town centres; a café and community space.

The entire development should reach completion in March 2016, with tenants moving in soon after.

The housing development was devised in collaboration with renowned architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, with construction undertaken by SIG Building Systems Ltd. The units were built off-site using modern methods of construction quicker and cheaper than traditional methods. The completed building will be fully demountable and can be used over a number of years in different areas across borough.

Ivan Harbour, Partner, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners said ‘This volumetric, off site manufactured, solution offers well-designed, flexible and sustainable accommodation using a quick and cost-effective technology. By deploying 24 homes for those in dire housing need, as well as start-up studios for community use, on this vacant site today, Lewisham Council is creating a new community around which the future development will be centred.’