Milestone At Lewisham Shared Ownership Development

Tom Copley, the Deputy Mayor of London for housing and residential development, took part in the first topping out for WhatHouse? Award-winning developer London Square’s affordable provider Square Roots, marking an important milestone in its plan to deliver 3,500 homes over the next five years to help address London’s housing shortage.

The centuries-old ceremony of celebrating the progress of a building nearing completion took part at Square Roots Lewisham in Silver Road, in the heart of Lewisham town centre, where 100% affordable homes are being built – 141 in total. Being build on the 1.2 acre former warehouse site, the first homes will be available from March 2024. Set in landscaped gardens, with play areas and a communal terrace, plus riverside public realm, there will also be 4,876 sq ft of commercial space.

Tom Copley helped to lay a topping out plaque on the roof of the 16-storey building, assisted by London Square Group’s chief executive Adam Lawrence and Square Roots managing director Barbara Richardson.

Square Roots has achieved Registered Provider status and although established by London Square, remains independent, with a separate board and governance in place. London Square is acting as developer, working in partnership with Square Roots and institutional investors. Square Roots aims to secure funding to deliver 3,500 new affordable homes over the next five years.

Square Roots Lewisham

Adam Lawrence, chief executive, London Square Group, said: “The speed and agility that Square Roots has demonstrated shows the appetite for this new model for delivering much-needed affordable housing, combining the integrity of an independent provider, backed by institutional investment and delivered by London Square, using our skills and experience to build exceptional homes for Shared Ownership and affordable rent.”

Barbara Richardson, managing director, Square Roots, said: “We are demonstrating how affordable homes can be of outstanding quality, backed by first-class customer care, in excellent, well connected locations where people who work in the capital will now have an opportunity to live. While remaining independent, our unique partnership with London Square means we are in an unrivalled position to deliver this.”

Roots developments are under way in Kingston, Lewisham, Barnet, Bexley and Waltham Forest. There are two schemes in Kingston, with 52 one-, two- and three-bedroom Shared Ownership and rented apartments in Crescent Road on a former riding school site close to Richmond Park, which launched this month, with the first residents moving in this summer. The second site near Kingston town centre will deliver 125 homes for Shared Ownership and rent in Hawks Road, on the site of a former health centre.

In the London Borough of Barnet in Hendon, 244 studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom homes are being built, near the Welsh Harp (Brent) Reservoir, park and nature reserve, close to Hendon and Colindale Tube stations. Other developments include 240 affordable homes at Crayford in the London Borough of Bexley and 231 homes at Lea Bridge in London Borough of Waltham Forest.

Find out more about current Square Roots developments.

Find out more about current London Square developments.

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