How a shopping centre once described as ‘Westfield of the 60s’ will be reduced to rubble

It’s been a focal point of a south east London community for decades.

But the Leegate centre in Lewisham, once described as the ‘Westfield of the 1960s’, is making way for a high rise flat development with 500 homes.

For generations, it served the needs of the community with former high street giants like Woolworths and Boots attracting tens of thousands shoppers every week.

Lewisham natives spoke with fondness of the Leegate which was seen as a community hub in an area seen as poor relation to the nearby affluent Blackheath.

It was officially opened in 1963 to fanfare and was seen as modern for its time with extensive car parking and cafes alongside shops selling everything a family could need.

However, by the 2000s, the centre was a pale shadow of its former self. The building was crumbling and retail units were empty.

The bulldozers have now moved in and the only remnant of the Leegate is the car park sign.

The rumble of heavy machinery fills the air where there used to be the hum of the hustle and bustle of an often busy shopping centre at the heart of the community in Lee.

However in recent years the site has fallen into disrepair after the remaining few shops closed.

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The future is a mixed use development by London Square with 500 homes and a 17-storey tower with commercial space and a new public square.

There will also be a health centre and a supermarket.

People in Lee told Metro that the centre in its heyday had been a fixture in their lives but since its ‘golden era’ it had become a pale shadow of its former self.

They compared the centre when it opened to Westfield, the current destination shopping malls based in Stratford to the east and Shepherd’s Bush in the west.

‘We’re relieved the area is getting a lift’

Peter Elliott, 75,who has run a garage in Lee for more than 30 years, said the Leegate had been the heart beat of the community until it became outdated and scruffy.

He told Metro: ‘When it opened it was gleaming and had everything, there was Woolworths, Boots, the lot. In a way it was the Westfield shopping centre of its day.

‘You could park your car and have a lovely afternoon shopping. It really was a great experience.

‘Even in later times when the Wetherspoon opened there it was lively and locals had somewhere to go. In all honesty in later years it did start to get tired.

‘It’s such a shame but times change and hopefully this new development will give the area a lift. The businesses around here are struggling and it’s a bit downtrodden.

‘It’s a strange feeling. It’s upsetting the Leegate is no more but we are relieved the area is getting a lift.’

‘I remember buying my first CD in Woolworths‘

Karen Howlett, 44, a mum-of-two, said: ‘The Leegate was part of life here. I remember buying my first CD in Woolworths. We were always in there it was a big part of our life.

‘As kids we would hang out there we really miss it. I just hope that what replaces it has some heart and soul because the old Leegate had bags of it.’

Carmen Estebao, 51, said: ‘The Leegate had everything we needed. There was a Boots a Woolworths and an Iceland for a cheap food shop in the days before people were critical of frozen foods.

‘I always bumped into neighbours and friends there. There really was a community spirit. But the new development looks good and we have to move on. The worst thing has been having the site empty and dragging the life out of the area. Hopefully it’s onwards and upwards.

‘It’s an eyesore but new people moving in will boost the local economy’

Tom Cronin, 28, said: ‘I’m too young to remember the shopping centre but the site has been an eyesore. We have a great little area here with quick trains into the centre of London.

‘This development may mean gentrification but that shouldn’t be a dirty word. The local cafes and pubs struggle, all these new people moving in will boost the local economy.’

The developer London Square has promised to transform the site into a ‘vibrant town centre’ using its excellent train links to central London to attract commuters.

Chief executive Adam Lawrence said: ‘The Leegate centre site has long been a symbol of missed opportunity, but this scheme will be a real turning point for Lee Green.

‘Our development will transform a run down, derelict site into a vibrant local centre, delivering homes, significant affordable housing and new community infrastructure.

‘Just as importantly, it will restore activity, confidence and investment to an area that has been overlooked too long.’

The previous owner of the site St Mowden applied to develop the site in 2012 but the plans hit the buffers due to market conditions leaving the Leegate in limbo.

London Square has increased the percentage of social housing in the scheme from 36 and 46. The company has received planning permission from Lewisham Council for the news scheme.

Lawrence added: ‘This is exactly the kind of stalled site London Square has a strong record of unlocking. We are now ready to start work on the site.’

Park Mall in Ashford, Kent, is also facing a similar fate.

Diggers have moved in as part of a major residential redevelopment in the heart of the town.

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