SouthLondonWeekly. Community matters
PRINCE OF PECKHAM TO GET MBE
Issue 135 ∙ 50p ∙ January 9 2026 ∙ www.southlondon.co.uk
ZIP CAR OFFERED FREE PARKING TO STAY
THE CHANGING FACE OF SOUTH LONDON See pages 7
See page 5
PALACE FALL TO SET-PIECES See sport
Find out what developments are coming to your borough See pages 8-17
Even Prince William is developing here
2 NEWS Contents NEWS Pages 2-19 REVIEW OF THE YEAR Pages 8-15 CLASSIFIED Page 17 ARTS Pages 18-19 EVENTS Page 20 HISTORY Page 21 PUBLIC NOTICES Pages 25-27 SPORT Pages 29-32
Contact us if you have a story on 07973175511 or email hello@cm-media.co.uk
THE LACK OF SKILLED CONSTRUCTION WORKERS IN LONDON MAKES FOR UNCOMFORTABLE READING There are even calls for the Mayor to scrap ULEZ and congestion costs for tradespeople to make it more cost-effective to operate in the city By Kumail Jaffer Local Democracy Reporter THE EXTENT of how London’s construction skills shortage is slowing down building in the capital has been laid bare.
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New polling from Fix Radio’s 2025 National Construction Audit, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), shows that more than a tenth of Londoners have waited for a handyman or electrician for over a year. Other figures from the dataset show that less than five per cent of residents managed to get a roofer
SouthLondonWeekly. Community matters
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within a month, dropping to three per cent with bricklayers. The knock-on effect from this, especially on newbuilds, makes for uncomfortable reading; 13 per cent of respondents to the survey say they delayed moving into their proposed new home because construction was not completed on time due to a shortage of tradespeople. The same proportion chose to buy an older property instead of a new build because they were told the build would take significantly longer than planned. Meanwhile, a tenth were forced to withdraw from purchasing a home altogether
SouthLondonWeekly. Community matters
LAST CHANCE TO SEE PANTOS
Issue 134 ∙ 50p ∙ January 2 ∙ www.southlondon.co.uk
See page 11
CRACKDOWN SUCCESS
PALACE SUFFER GRAY DAY
ALL ABOARD IN 2026 See page 10
On site training at The Skills Centre (pre Covid)
See sport
What commuters can expect from Transport for London this year
See page 2
as building delays meant their mortgage offer expired. Clive Holland, of Fix Radio, told the LDRS: “The shortage of skilled trades in London is having a noticeable impact on the pace of building, repairs and maintenance across the capital. “Demand for work is consistently outstripping the number of people available to do it, and that gap has been widening over time. Many tradespeople tell me that working in London has become increasingly challenging. “Daily charges, higher operating costs, the risk of tool and van theft,
and general safety concerns all play a part. “A number of people I know have chosen to move to areas like the Midlands or Bristol, simply because the day-to-day pressures are easier to manage outside the capital.” The Mayor of London, who has been tasked with ensuring 88,000 homes are built in the capital every year for the next decade by ministers, oversaw just 11,600 new properties last year. In September his Deputy Mayor for Housing Tom Copley admitted there was a skills “crisis” in the sector and suggested he feared there were
neither enough trained workers nor teachers to tutor the next generation. Mr Holland said the lack of training has, overall, lowered the quality of any homes that do end up being built. “While efforts to bring more young people into the trades are positive, fast-track schemes can struggle to provide the depth of experience required in safety-critical roles such as electrical and gas work,” he said. “We’ve already seen a rise in snagging and remedial work over the last few years, which suggests quality is being affected. “London’s housing challenge isn’t only about the number of homes, it’s also about having the right workforce in place to build and maintain them. Supporting tradespeople and making it viable for them to stay in the city would make a real difference.” He called on the Mayor to scrap ULEZ and congestion costs for tradespeople to make it more costeffective to operate in the city, as well as strengthening enforcement around hunting down tool theft. “Anything that makes it easier, safer and more viable for tradespeople to operate in London is likely to speed up building and repairs, and that could have a meaningful impact on easing delays across the city’s housing system,” he concluded. Earlier this year a Government spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “Years of underinvestment in skills has created a dire shortage of construction workers – workers this country desperately needs if we are to meet our pledge to build 1.5million homes over the course of this parliament. “Through our Plan for Change we have taken decisive action to build up essential skills in the construction industry and are providing £625million of funding to create up to 60,000 more engineers, bricklayers, electricians, and joiners by 2029.”
The South London Weekly is an independent newspaper covering all of south London and beyond Community Matters Media has been running independent newspapers since 1987, and now boasts the weeklies: South London Weekly, Southwark News and Greenwich & Lewisham Weekender, as well as the lifestyle magazines The South Londoner and Bermondsey Biscuit & Rotherhithe Docker. You can view all our content on www.southlondon.co.uk and sign up to newsletters to stay informed about news, lifestyle & events, people, sport and history. We believe in community and in balanced, independent and responsible journalism. As a south London business, we also work to support fellow local businesses. A dedicated team of staff work tirelessly to cover as much of what is going on as possible and strive to ensure that community-led, independent newspapers can survive and excel in a market dominated by national and multinational media groups.
FOR ALL THE LATEST SOUTH LONDON NEWS AND SPORT: WWW.SOUTHLONDON.CO.UK Community Matters Media Ltd is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (which regulates the UK’s magazine and newspaper industry). We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. If you think that we have not met those standards and want to make a complaint, please contact 0207 231 5258. If we are unable to resolve your complaint, or if you would like more information about IPSO or the Editors’ Code, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit www.ipso.co.uk
NEWS 3 © Vagabond
LONDON’S BIGGEST URBAN WINERY OPENS UP IN CANADA WATER Despite global trends of fewer people drinking wine, the UK industry has flourished amid rising temperatures
By Matt Hasdell
LONDON’S LARGEST urban winery has opened in Canada Water amid a boom in the popularity of British wine.
The newly renovated Dock Shed is now home to Vagabond’s “Cathedral of Wine”, which is set to make up to 100,000 bottles of wine per year. Having opened on December 4, wine will be produced in the 6,000 square-foot winery from grapes grown at vineyards within two hours’ travel of London in areas such as Suffolk, Kent and Essex. Visitors can drink wine just metres from where it is made by attending a guided winery tour or a winemaking workshop, or using the self-pour machines which wine educator and general manager Ben Gubbins called “a pick-and-mix for grownups”. He said that in recent history, the climate has been an obstacle to wine being made in the UK. Mr Gubbins said wine was introduced to the country by the Romans 600 years ago, when the climate went through a warm period, but growing stopped during a subsequent cooling in the Middle Ages. The industry was affected again before the First World War as land was repurposed to grow crops, and it was not until the 1950s that UK winemaking was reborn. Mr Gubbins said the “sparkling wine frenzy” of the 1980s put the UK wine scene back on the map. “Some of the sparkling wine made in England can be compared to Champagne,
Winemaker Jose Quintana celebrating the opening of the winery
due to similar production, climate and the same variety of grapes,” he added. According to some of the wine experts at the opening of the new venue in Canada Water, the country’s industry has flourished amid rising temperatures and quality has been more widely recognised, despite global trends of fewer people drinking wine. A warm summer in 2025 created a bumper harvest for the country’s vineyards, and those involved are optimistic about the future. Jose Quintana, winemaker at Vagabond, said: “This is a very new industry in the UK. “The UK has become known for sparkling wines, but 90% of the wines we make are ‘still’ wines, and I think that’s where we can really push the boundaries here.” He said he hopes the new site’s capacity will enable him to age wine for longer, and
that producing more will lower the price over time, making British still wines more accessible. Mr Quintana said he knows the new facility, along with rising temperatures, will bring more scope for the business to support the country in expanding its market offering. “Whenever you are in a changing climate, you change the things you grow,” he said. Managing Director Christobell Giles said she is excited to be bringing winemaking to a city where it has been traded for centuries. She said she feels the winery will cater for both seasoned experts and regular enjoyers. “That’s always been what it’s been about, helping people explore wine,” she said. “This is now our new centre of the universe when it comes to that.”
Wine educator and General Manager Ben Gubbins sampling wine from the selfpour machine
CELEBRATE THE ‘FROST FAIR’ THIS JANUARY
This is an unique and historic Bankside tradition
In 2026, Borough yards is set to come alive with traditional games, roaming actors, puppeteers, free outdoor performances and art workshops for the whole family. Alongside the general entertainment, head to Arch 23 between 12:30 - 4pm for a series of drop in workshops: ● An immersive art installation led by artist Sammie Snow ● Rosie Brooks will be running a series of winter crown crafting sessions ● Make elephant masks with Alice Clarke
By Evie Flynn INSPIRED BY the days when the River Thames froze over and traders took to the ice, the 2026 revival of the ‘Frost Fair’ offers free performances, workshops, and music-filled pubs.
On Saturday 31st January, Better Bankside are brining the ‘Frost Fair’ back to London, from 11am - 3pm and an ‘After Hours’ celebration from 7pm onwards. The River Thames froze over an incredible 24 times between 1605 to 1814, bringing all river-based trade
From midday, Mr Londoner will be leading a Winter Walk, sharing the fascinating history of the Frost Fairs held in Bankside. After 7pm, Bankside’s pubs will be hosting a variety of folk musicians playing acoustic sets.
to a standstill. The people of Bankside (‘Banksiders’) created an impromptu solution: a ‘Frost Fair’ on the ice, which allowed them to continue
to make money with temporary markets, pubs, entertainment and revelry. The ice on the Thames was so thick, it was even rumoured that an
Elephant was marched across the ice near Blackfriars Bridge. Better Bankside first brought the reimagined Frost Fair back to the area in 2024.
Date: Saturday 31 January Time: 11am - 3pm and ‘After Hours’ from 7pm - late Location: Throughout Bankside, SE1 Tickets: Free, no ticket or booking required for any of the activities
4 NEWS EXCLUSIVE By Issy Clarke A TRAIN station in South London crammed into just half a railway arch with no lift and one flight of stairs has been described as ‘unsafe’ by local campaigners.
Lambeth’s Loughborough Junction station has just one flight of stairs leading up to a single island platform – meaning many elderly and disabled people can’t use the station at all. Nick Lewis, a local resident who set up the Lift up Loughborough Junction campaign a few years ago, said the station either needs to be extended or completely torn out and rebuilt. The station is too small to fit a lift inside, so it would need to be expanded into two empty railway arches next to the current entrance which are leased from Network Rail to the Arch Company. Network Rail would have the right to buy these back to expand the station under the terms of the lease agreement. Currently when you enter the station and get through the ticket barriers there is just one steep, long flight of stairs leading up to the platform. “It worries me because if someone at the top slipped they would just come cascading down,” said Nick, a retired engineer who has lived in the area for decades. Earlier this summer 1,800 people had to be evacuated via Loughborough Junction from trains via the station after a train fault brought several services in the area to a halt. “That was a wake-up call,” said Nick. “Fortunately it was a non-emergency evacuation so people could be helped out in a controlled way. But if the worst-case scenario situation occurred – such as a fire in the station during rush hour when you’ve got two packed trains pulling in each with 500 people, all trying to get out at the same time – it would be an absolute disaster.” Despite the safety concerns raised by campaigners, Loughborough Junction is not one of the stations which have been selected for Access for All funding; the government scheme which decides which stations to prioritise for stepfree upgrades. Money has been allocated from developments in the area to use on station improvements but so far no decision has been made on how this should be spent. However Nick argues there is a good case for Loughborough Junction to be prioritised, because he claims it is the only station in Lambeth to see an increase in footfall since the pandemic. His own analysis of figures from the Office of Rail and Road and data from train operating companies shows that Loughborough Junction saw an increase in footfall from 1.08 million in 2019–20 to 1.12 million in 2024-25; a 13.5 per cent rise. By contrast, his analysis shows that other stations in the borough experienced a 26 per cent drop in footfall on average during that same period. Loughborough Junction is part of the Thameslink service from Luton to Sutton. For much of the day it is quiet, but in the morning the rush hour services towards St Pancras can get extremely busy, and sometimes up to five trains are operating at near full capacity. “Before COVID the number of people using the station was falling off a cliff,” said Nick. “But several highrise car-free developments have been
CALLS FOR SOUTH LONDON STATION ‘CRAMMED INTO JUST HALF A RAILWAY ARCH TO BE REBUILT OR EXPANDED’
There is just one tiny ticket hall built around here recently. It means if those people are workers they will be commuters.” We recently reported that Peckham Rye, the busiest interchange in the country without step-free access, had a £40 million step-free upgrade scrapped by Network Rail due to a lack of funding. It has since agreed to inject an interim £9 million to address some of the issues raised by campaginers, although this will not be spent on putting lifts in. Nick questioned why Loughborough Junction had not been made a priority, adding that the funding boost received by Peckham Rye “suggests that the money is there”. In the five years to 2025, Network Rail underspent on step-free access upgrades by £65 million, according to an investigation by the Disability News Service. Helen Hayes, the MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, recently spoke in Parliament about the problems with Loughborough Junction Station. “A tiny
Nick Lewis, who founded the Lift up Loughborough Junction campaign station occupying just half a railway arch, Loughborough Junction has a particularly long, steep flight of stairs up to its two platforms,” she said. “The ownership of those sites is complex, with the Arch Company responsible for neighbouring arches, Network Rail responsible for the structural integrity of the arches, the train operating company responsible for the station, and private land ownership to the rear. “If we are to solve the problem of accessibility at the station, there must be a way of joining up those interests, undertaking feasibility work, creating partnerships that can bid for funding together and moving the project forward. “As residential development in the area continues to expand, a station that already feels unsafe at peak times due to the large number of passengers will become more and more dangerously overcrowded, and disabled residents, families with young children, and frail and elderly people will continue to be locked out of rail travel.”
When we asked Lambeth Council if they had looked into Lift up LBJ’s proposals to expand the station, a spokesperson said responsibility for the station upgrade was down to Network Rail but that there was money from local developments which they were looking at using to carry out a new feasibility study. The spokesperson said: “We have previously commissioned a feasibility study for step-free access to Loughborough Junction station, however the project was not successful in the latest round of Accessibility for All funding, which is the central government pot that would fund this. We have identified Section 106 funding that would be suitable for enhancing the previous study, including gathering further technical data on the structures, site visits, and more. “Whilst some S106 funding is available from local developments, further contributions for station improvements is being negotiated now and we are working with National
Rail to identify the scope and focus of a further feasibility study. “We will continue to press this issue with our partners and national government to finalise the works proposals and the funding.” A spokesperson for Network Rail said: “We understand and support the community’s aspirations for stepfree access at Loughborough Junction. Alongside Govia Thameslink Railway, we are working with the London Borough of Lambeth on opportunities for funding formal design and feasibility studies as part of the first stage of the process. “We have also approached local authorities for support with accessing funding from third party sources including developer contributions – levied from Community Infrastructure Levy and Section 106 payments for example – to fund these crucial early stages of development, and provide assurances for future stages of delivery of scheme viability including space requirements, user experience and the cost of delivering a scheme.”
NEWS 5 The imposing steps are the only way of getting to the platform
Southwark Council offers Zipcar free parking permits until 2027
By Issy Clarke
SOUTHWARK COUNCIL has offered to give Zipcar free parking permits until April 2027 if they keep operating in the borough.
The car club shocked customers when they announced early in December plans to halt operations in the UK after December 31. There are 138,000 Zipcar parking bays in Southwark and 60 “floating” bays shared with other car clubs. The council is seeking to waive the £350,000 cost of permit fees paid by Zipcar each year. Part of the rationale behind the offer is that 60 per cent of Southwark residents do not own a private car. Cllr James McAsh, Southwark Council’s Cabinet Member for Clean Air, Streets and Waste, said: “Zipcar’s recent announcement that it is ceasing operations in the UK is a disaster for our residents, for our Streets for People programme and for the climate. “That is why today I’m making a bold offer – Southwark will provide a concession to Zipcar
Box office 020 8463 0100 • blackheathhalls.com •
giving free parking permits for all their cars until April 2027 if they continue to operate in our borough, so that the thousands of Southwark residents and businesses who rely on Zipcar can continue to do so. “I’m also determined that if Zipcar go ahead with their plans to cease operating, Southwark Council will work to fill the gap they leave, by writing to other car club operators in the new year to offer them the same concession of free parking permits if they come and launch in Southwark. “This is a clear sign of our commitment to making Southwark the most attractive place in London for car clubs to operate in, as we work to deliver our ambitious Streets for People programme, and reduce reliance on private vehicle ownership. “I’m also calling on the Mayor of London, Transport for London, and other councils across London to join us in taking immediate steps to support providers, and to look at how we can create an environment across the capital in which car club providers can thrive, which is key to reducing levels of private car ownership and to create better streets for everyone.”
What's On 2026 Pražák Quartet
Sat 31 Jan - Sun 1 Feb
Sun 15 Feb
Mon 23 Feb
Courtney Pine with Zoe Rahman
Mon 16 Feb
Sat 14 Feb
1 Mar, 7.30pm Sun Sat 1 Mar, 11.30am & 2.30pm
6 NEWS
HEALTH SECRETARY WES STREETING OPENS NEW HOSPICE WARD AT ST CHRISTOPHER’S
By Issy Clarke
THE GOVERNMENT’S Health Secretary Wes Streeting visited St Christopher’s Hospice in Sydenham last month to re-open a newly refurbished ward.
Streeting, MP for Ilford North in north east London, visited the hospice just before Christmas to reopen Nuffield Ward which recently underwent a refurbishment. The three wards which make up the Inpatient Unit are all undergoing a £3.6 million upgrade, with £2 million being funded by the government out of an emergency hospices grant announced in December 2024. Streeting met with the hospice’s Chief Executive, Steve Smith, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Neil Goulden, and Ward Matron Katie Grace, alongside other clinical staff, as he was shown the refurbishment of the Inpatient Unit. He also met with patients Jennifer Morgan and Jayshri Patel, who were staying on Nuffield Ward. Liam Conlon MP, who represents the Beckenham and Penge constituency where St Christopher’s is located, also attended the visit. The refurbishments at St Christopher’s are largely focused on improving the look and feel of the Inpatient Unit, making rooms bigger and more homely, and addressing essential infrastructure issues on a building which is almost 60 years old. The work also includes enhancing staff areas for the dedicated teams and the installation of a hoist system so people can be moved more safely and comfortably, whilst also protecting staff. In total, the government gave out £100M of capital funding to adult hospices in England over two years.
Streeting said: “This has been a visit I will never forget. I met some amazing people here at St Christopher’s.“It was a privilege to meet some of the patients who are approaching end of life, who’ve been willing to share their experience of love and care and joy at what is inevitably a very difficult moment for them in their lives. “We took a decision not long after I came into government as Health and Social Care Secretary that we were going to deliver the biggest hospice funding in a generation, £100M over two years to help hospices like this one to build the new facilities, the new kit, the new technology to provide better and more hospice care, either
in great buildings like this or even in people’s homes.” He praised the new ward as “fantastic” and said it was “going to make a real difference to people.” “We know we need to do more as a government on hospices,” continued Streeting. “I just want to say a massive thank you to the public for all of their kindness, all of their donations. “Please keep giving to your local hospices if you can afford to do so, because it means that people at a very delicate stage in their lives will receive the love, the care, the support and the good death that everyone deserves.”
Steve Smith, CEO of St Christopher’s, said: “The hospice sector is really appreciative of this capital funding, which was announced last year, and the recognition shown by Mr Streeting and his department for the vital role hospices play in the healthcare sector.” Jennifer Morgan, a patient who lives in Deptford, south London and is currently staying on the new wards, met Mr Streeting during his visit. She said: “I knew I was going to get pain management, peace, stability, here and that’s what I have had. “It’s all the tiny, all the little tiny things sometimes people tend to forget sometimes. That’s what carried me, at St Christopher’s. It’s been
wellness, stillness, kindness, love, the caring. And that is for me, for St Christopher’s.” Liam Conlon, MP for Beckenham and Penge, said: “I’m delighted to have had our Health Secretary Wes Streeting here to open the newly refurbished wing, and to meet staff and volunteers at St Christopher’s.” “St Christopher’s means so much to our community, supporting thousands of patients and families each year, and everyone has a connection to them. I know the value they bring, providing a level of care that nobody else could provide, and that’s why I have been campaigning for sustainable funding for them.”
Old Salvation Army HQ in Elephant and Castle could become hotel and shared living development By Issy Clarke THE FORMER headquarters of the Salvation Army in Elephant and Castle have been purchased by a developer who plans to convert them into shared living homes and a hotel.
UAE-based developers Arada London are looking to redevelop the site at 99–101 Newington Causeway which is occupied by two buildings including a 10 storey block with a basement. It was home to the Salvation Army’s UK headquarters before they moved to Denmark Hill in 2023. The developer said the project offered “an exciting opportunity to deliver high-quality homes, amenities and jobs that will support the area’s continued growth and make a lasting contribution to the
neighbourhood’s vitality”. It is the second time that a developer has looked to convert the
site into a hotel. Developer Rockwell came forward with designs in 2022 for a 325-bed hotel in a 23-storey
building along with new office space and a public square. Arada already have a development underway in the borough on the Old Kent Road opposite Asylum Road called Devonshire Place, where they are creating more than 1,000 homes, 941 of which will be student flats, spread across two skyscrapers. They are also looking into redeveloping a site off Blackpool Road in Peckham into a mixture of student flats and affordable homes. Jonathan Seal, CEO of Arada London, said: “The former Salvation Army UK and Ireland headquarters presents a unique opportunity in a dynamic part of London. This acquisition marks a major step for Arada London, as we kick off our third project in Southwark and make our debut in the co living world. “With brand new homes and a hotel,
we are looking forward to helping shape a town centre at the heart of Southwark’s transformation.” Andrew Cox, director of Savills who advised the Salvation Army on the sale, said: “101 Newington Causeway is an outstanding site, which benefits from scale, transport and strong viability. “This is a great acquisition for Arada, and the deal allows The Salvation Army UK and Ireland Territory to dispose of a building that is no longer suitable for its needs and to use the proceeds to continue its work.” Peter Grant, territorial property director, The Salvation Army UK and Ireland, said: “The Salvation Army is pleased to see this site being sold for development. The provision of much needed homes alongside commercial use is a positive outcome for this site.”
NEWS 7
PRINCE OF PECKHAM LANDLORD AWARDED MBE FOR SERVICES TO HOSPITALITY
By Issy Clarke
THE PUBLICAN behind the Prince of Peckham has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to business and the hospitality industry.
Clement Ogbonnaya, the landlord behind the enormously popular Prince of Peckham on Clayton Road which opened in 2017, has been recognised in the King’s New Year’s Honours List for his outstanding contribution to the local community. In a video posted to his Instagram, Clement said he was “mad grateful and mad proud” to receive the honour. Clement said that when he first received the letter, he and his wife were so surprised that they initially thought it was a “joke”. “I’m at home, and this letter comes through the post and it says ‘His Majesty’s Service’. “And I’m thinking, am I being drafted into the army? I’m like 44 years old. Why am I being drafted into the army? “So I give it to my wife, she opens it and it says: ‘We’d like to award you an MBE.’ And my wife thinks it’s a joke. I think it’s a joke, but it’s not.” He added: “Just little old me from ends who just has a pub.. I’m just mad grateful and I’m mad proud. “These sorts of things are a catalyst to do
more, a catalyst for more change, a catalyst for more impetus. Be the change in the world you want to see. “I’ve always said the Prince of Peckham was a small slice of an ecosystem that I wanna exist in. “And if I can get an MBE by creating this… Take care of your community and the rest
will take care of itself and that is what it is all about.” Clement sees his pubs as about more than just booze. He aims to create an events-led space with activities programmed for every day of the week giving local creatives a chance to showcase their talent.
They run traditional pub activities like quizzes and comedy shows but have also been keen to put on art exhibitions, dance performances, wellbeing classes and panel discussions. The Prince of Peckham is also one of just a few public houses in Southwark which is used as a warm hub for those struggling to
pay their energy bills. During the pandemic in 2020 they gave out a free daily drink to NHS staff for a year to say thank you after the first lockdown ended in July 2020. Sadly Clement’s second pub in Tulse Hill which he opened in 2023 building on the success of Prince of Peckham was recently forced to close after he was unable to raise the funds to buy back the freehold which was purchased by Young’s Pubs in the summer. Clement also said rising business rates and staff costs had led him to make the decision to close the Queen of the South. He previously said he hoped to expand his pub empire telling us in 2023 that his goal was to build five pubs in as many years starting with Tulse Hill.
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8 NEWS
THE CHANGING FACE OF SOUTH LONDON
LEWISHAM
WILL IT BECOME A SHOPPERS’ PARADISE? Ruby Gregory Local Democracy Reporter LEWISHAM COUNCIL approved some major developments in 2025, from the regeneration of Lewisham Shopping Centre to the demolition and redevelopment of the Achilles Street Estate in New Cross.
While the revised plans for the redevelopment of Leegate Shopping Centre means we will see 620 new homes, a community centre, commercial floorspace and a pub built on the site. In 2025 the borough also saw a new community venue and pub open in Catford, which features a refurbished pub hall, a landscape garden, a newly installed lift and smaller spaces which can be used for workshops or smaller bookings. The Catford House, formerly the Catford Constitutional Club, opened on November 19 and can also be hired for private parties and will host popup events, fitness classes, workshops, exhibitions and more. It certainly was a busy 2025 for the South London borough, and 2026 has just as much going on. The LDRS has compiled a list of the biggest developments coming to the borough, including the reopening of a library and a popular street food market which closed in 2019.
LEWISHAM LIBRARY
Lewisham Library has been closed since 2023 to allow for a major refurbishment which will reopen with brand-new features including a business hub, performance spaces, meeting rooms and a café. Better lighting, CCTV, pedestrian crossings and cycle lanes are also part of the refurbishment. At the start of December, the council said construction is expected to be completed by autumn 2026.
REOPENING OF MODEL MARKET
Lewisham’s Model Market will be reopening in spring 2026, having been closed for the last few years The market was a popular food court which closed in 2019, but is being brought back into major use following the approval of the redevelopment of Lewisham Shopping Centre. Landsec, which owns the site and is in charge of redeveloping Lewisham Shopping Centre, has vowed to bring back the market as a hub for independent kitchens, local makers, and creative spaces. The market is set to take inspiration from its original 1950s market style, and will feature retro shopfronts and string lights. Street-food traders, independent chefs, drinks partners, bakers and artists who are keen in joining the new Model Market have until March 1, 2026 to apply
online. A spokesperson at Model Market, said: “With a nostalgic design inspired by midcentury shopfronts and a commitment to modern, sustainable values, the new Model Market will feel both timeless and completely new, a reimagined street market for a new generation. “We want to champion local talent, and whether you’re running a kitchen concept, a small shop, or planning community events, we’d love to hear from brands who want to help shape Lewisham’s next great social space.”
LEWISHAM SHOPPING CENTRE
Major plans to redevelop Lewisham Shopping Centre and build more than 1,700 homes on the site have been given the green light by the council. Developer Landsec’s £1.5billion plans will see the 1970s shopping centre and multi-storey car park demolished and replaced with tower blocks of up to 35 storeys high. Jon Watson, Development Director at Landsec, said: “We’re committed to ensuring the existing centre continues to thrive and these plans ensure it can stay open throughout the future transformation. “Our new investment will adapt it for the future, delivering much-needed homes, supporting local businesses, attracting new brands and creating greener, more welcoming spaces for everyone to enjoy.” The plans will deliver 1,744 new homes, as well as accommodation for 661 students and a co-living block containing 445 homes. Of these 1,744 homes, the amount of ‘affordable’ housing delivered amounts to just 20per cent, which goes against the council’s own target of 50per cent affordable homes in new developments. The 329 affordable homes will be split into 98 social rent homes and 231 homes that will be rented at discounted market rates aimed at key workers. The remainder of these homes will be private. The project has been split into six different phases and has a timeline spanning a decade. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands that the existing shopping centre will remain open for as long as possible before a new shopping centre is built, with the current shopping centre set to be demolished in phases. The number of car parking spaces will be reduced from 880 to just 60. The development aims to deliver improved walking and cycling routes as well as car club membership for residents. A small number of other buildings will be bulldozed to make way for the development. These include Riverdale Hall Leisure Box, 72-82 Lewisham High Street, land currently occupied by Boots, and the north eastern entrance to the shopping centre.
Artists impression of the new Model Market
As well as a new, permanent home for Model Market there will also be as a 500-capacity culture, music and arts venue. According to a planning report, some buildings along Lewisham High Street are set to be retained, while Lewisham House, which was previously used as office space for Citibank, will be converted into housing. Lewisham Council is set to receive £5million in Section 106 contributions that will go towards town centre improvements, while Lewisham Station is to receive £500,000 which will go towards accessibility and capacity improvements. The council is also expected to receive £16.9million in Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) money, a planning charge local authorities obtain from developers which can go towards funding new infrastructure in the borough. The council is currently consulting on a new Draft Charging Schedule (DCS), which sets out the proposed new charges for different types of development in the borough. If this is adopted in its current format, the overall CIL amount payable to Lewisham Council would be an estimated £28.4million. An additional £11.1million would go towards City Hall’s own Mayoral Community Infrastructure Levy (MCIL). During the consultation phase, the plans received 105 objections from the public, as well as 637 representations in support and 42 neutral comments.
WORK TO BEGIN ON FORMER HOMELESS HOSTEL SITE IN LEE GREEN
The delivery of 64 new flats on the site of a former homeless hostel in Lee Green is set to begin in early 2026. Planning permission was approved back in February 2024 for the demolition of Mayfield Hostel in Burnt Ash Hill to make way for 23 social rent homes and 41 Shared Ownership homes across three buildings. The hostel has since been demolished
CGI of Lewisham Shopping Centre redevelopment scheme.
Credit: Lewisham Planning Documents
and Lewisham Council has appointed The Hill Group as the main contractor for the redevelopment of the site. The homes will be a mixture of one, two and three-bedroom flats and the site will also include communal gardens, children’s play areas and landscaping that retains trees and will support future residents to grow their own food. Work to begin on New homes in Catford Work is set to begin in 2026 on building more than 100 affordable homes at Thomas’ Lane Yard, an under used car park site north of Catford Broadway. The major regeneration scheme will also see green public spaces, commercial and affordable workspace built on the same site. The affordable homes will consist of 39 social rent homes and 74 shared ownership flats in two separate blocks which will be eight and twelve storeys respectively. This scheme is being funded by Lewisham Council and is also being supported by £1.65million in funding from the Mayor of London’s Good
Growth Fund.
SEARCH CONTINUES FOR LADYWELL PLAYTOWER DEVELOPMENT PARTNER
In December Lewisham Council announced it was looking for a new partner to restore and secure the future of the Grade II listed Ladywell Playtower. In September, the council reversed previous planning approval to transform the abandoned swimming baths into a cinema and new homes after the developer failed to deliver, saying they can’t afford it. Ladywell Playtower was built in Lewisham in 1884 and is one of the country’s earliest public swimming pools. It has been vacant since 2004 when it stopped being used as a community centre. Potential development partners who are interested in working with the council and want to restore Ladywell Playtower can apply here and have until February 28 to do so.
NEWS 9
THE CHANGING FACE OF SOUTH LONDON
GREENWICH
THAMESMEAD IS CENTRAL TO LONDON’S PLANS TO DELIVER 30,000 NEW HOMES AND TO EXTEND THE DOCKLANDS LIGHT RAILWAY The proposed area for the Thamesmead Waterfront project. Peabody and Lendlease.
Harrison Galliven Local Democracy Reporter TRANSPORT FOR London says its latest DLR extension plans will unlock up to 30,000 new homes and create 10,000 jobs for Londoners – but where will these new homes be built?
The capital’s transport authority’s plans to extend the DLR and add stops in Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead received strong public support in its latest round of consultations. TfL first announced these plans in early 2024, but the DLR extension was given Government backing when Chancellor Rachel Reeves committed to help fund the project in the Autumn Budget. This effectively unlocks tens of thousands of new homes in what are known as Opportunity Areas, so the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) takes a look at where they’ll be built, and what stage of planning they are at. The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m really pleased that the Government is backing the DLR extension to Thamesmead, something I’ve long called for alongside London’s businesses and communities. The project is a win-win and a massive vote of confidence in London. “It will not only transform travel in a historically underserved part of the capital, but also unlock thousands of new jobs and homes, boosting the economy not just locally but nationally. I look forward to working hand-inhand with ministers to deliver this vital project as we continue building a more prosperous London for everyone.”
WHAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY AREA?
The Mayor’s London Plan identifies parts of the city known as Opportunity Areas (OAs). These are locations where a large number of homes or commercial units could be built – typically at least 2,500 homes or creating 5,000 jobs, or a combination of both. There are dozens of them in London, with a map on the GLA website showing where they are located. Infrastructure including transport is key to delivering an OA, which is why projects like the DLR extension can effectively unlock large-scale housebuilding. There are two OAs linked to the DLR extension.
BECKTON RIVERSIDE
TfL wants to extend the DLR from Gallions Reach and add a stop in Beckon Riverside which is in one of London’s Opportunity Areas. This area currently contains a retail park, a business park, the Beckton Sewage Treatment Works and the primary maintenance depot
for the DLR. Beckton Riverside is contained within the Royal Docks and Beckton Riverside Opportunity Area. Within the Mayor’s documents outlining the potential future for this area of London, it is hoped the new DLR stop will be the transport hub for a new town centre. The documents state: “The new town centre will build on the strengths of the established retail centre, riverside location, good road access, and continuous pedestrian and cyclist riverside access.” The station would be built just north of Armada Way, and much of the land currently taken up by the Gallions Reach Shopping Park would make way for residential tower blocks. The Mayor’s plan also includes plenty of retail space, new social and community infrastructure and green and open spaces throughout the new town centre. To the south of the DLR station, it is proposed that Beckton Waterfront
is developed into a mixed-use neighbourhood as well, with plenty of residential, commercial and cultural options and a potential Thames Clippers pier. There is also a proposal to build a new Beckton Riverside school. To combat potential smell problems caused by the sewage works, the Mayor wants the works to be upgraded so that odours can be managed. He also has aspirations that heat energy generated by the sewage works could potentially provide low carbon heating for new developments in the area. The first phase of the Beckton Riverside regeneration project was approved by Newham Council in October. The council approved a proposal from St William Homes LLP to build nearly 3,000 homes on the waterfront, but it will be left up to the Greater London Authority (GLA) to rubber stamp the residential development because of its significant scale.
THAMESMEAD WATERFRONT
From the new Beckton Riverside DLR station, TfL wants to build a tunnel that goes underneath the Thames and establish a new station in Thamesmead. Thamesmead is notoriously underserved by public transport, with Abbey Wood, now on the Elizabeth line, being the only significant travel hub nearby. As well as the new DLR station, TfL wants to introduce a new Superloop service. A £23m Government grant will fund the SL11 which will link Woolwich town centre and Abbey Wood via Thamesmead. It is hoped the new bus service will launch in 2026. TfL has also not ruled out extending the DLR from Thamesmead in the future, with possible stops in Abbey Wood or Bexley. Just like Royal Docks and Beckton Riverside, Thamesmead and Abbey Wood have been identified as OAs by the Mayor, and it is hoped that with improved travel links, the riverside
area could provide over 15,000 new homes and 8,000 new jobs. As well as Sir Sadiq Khan’s approval, Thamesmead received Government backing earlier this year when it was named on its New Towns Taskforce shortlist. The Government hopes the 12 locations on the shortlist can collectively deliver up to 300,000 new homes over the coming decade. This new town of Thamesmead is being imagined as Thamesmead Waterfront, a joint venture from developer Lendlease and housing association Peabody. The 100-hectare development site is on the southern bank of the Thames and like Beckton Riverside, it is one of the few remaining undeveloped waterfront sites in London. More detailed plans for Thamesmead Waterfront are yet to be revealed, but Lendlease and Peabody have said the site has “the ability to deliver a new concept for waterfront living that is accessible, inclusive and productive”
10 NEWS
CROYDON Harrison Galliven
The Wellesley Road crossing project was a collaboration between Croydon Council, TfL and contractors FM Conway
Local Democracy Reporter
Credit: Harrison Galliven
2025 WAS a year of ups and downs for the London Borough of Croydon. The ever-looming shadow of the borough’s historic £1.4bn debt continues to play an outsized role in shaping the fortunes of the capital’s largest borough.
The past year was no exception, nor is 2026 expected to be. Alongside the decision to keep to a 5% rise in council tax, another headline moment for Croydon’s finances in 2025 was the government’s decision to send in commissioners in July. Since then, they have been tasked with ensuring the efficiency, economy and effectiveness of council services under the authority’s ‘best value’ duties. While Mayor Jason Perry initially opposed the decision, the council is now committed to working with the commissioners as part of a “short, sharp reset” aimed at securing longterm financial sustainability. The commissioners will remain in place until at least July 2027, with a review scheduled after one year. Elsewhere, councillors of all political stripes welcomed long-awaited confirmation that the government would overhaul the local government funding formula, which Croydon has long argued short-changed the borough. Under the new Fair Funding’ arrangements, Croydon Council will receive an additional £40 million per year for the next three years. Croydon also saw changes to its town centre. The opening of new shops along Allders Parade marked the welcome return of the former department store frontage after years of disuse. Meanwhile, the council began filling in several controversial subways, replacing them with improved pedestrian routes, including the newly opened Wellesley Road toucan crossing. Looking ahead, 2026 will be a significant year politically. In May, residents will go to the polls for both local council and mayoral elections. All 28 of Croydon’s electoral wards will be contested, with Mayor Perry’s administration facing its first electoral test. Alongside that, the coming year is expected to see some significant developments move forward. Here is a summary of the biggest changes and signs of progress to expect in Croydon in 2026.
WESTFIELD
Croydon’s ever-elusive plans for the Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (referred to as Westfield) town centre regeneration have spent another year in the pipeline. Extensive public consultation on the ‘masterplan’ for the town centre, which would see Westfield redevelop large parts of the town centre, Whitgift and Centrale shopping centres into retail, housing and community space, took place this year. However, despite repeated promises, a planning application has yet to be submitted to Croydon Council. This is now expected in 2026, but with no visible signs of work on site, many
Mayor of Croydon Jason Perry and the Regina Road complex which was built in the 1960s using the using the ‘then-innovative large panel system’ Credit: Harrison Galliven
SHAPED BY HISTORIC DEBT, THE CAPITAL’S LARGEST BOROUGH WILL SEE MAJOR CHANGES AND AN EXTRA £40M A YEAR would feel sceptical it’ll really reach that stage.
REGINA ROAD
The redevelopment of the Regina Road estate is Croydon’s flagship housing scheme, aiming to deliver up to 340 new homes, starting with 225 affordable homes in the first phase, with at least 215 for council social rent. The scheme will be delivered by developer Lovell in two phases, with the first supported by a £54million Greater London Authority (GLA) grant. The high-rise flats in South Norwood attracted national attention in 2021 following a widely publicised ITV report that exposed the squalid conditions faced by residents. These included severe damp and mould, alongside allegations of negligent repairs by Croydon’s former contractor, Axis. Demolition of 1–87 Regina Road
began in 2025, although progress has been slow due to the presence of asbestos within the blocks. In 2026, demolition is set to begin on 89–123 Regina Road, alongside the start of other initial construction works on the site from March.
OTHER HOUSING
Croydon is in the midst of a building boom, with the town’s skyline continuing to evolve. Alongside the surge in housebuilding, controversial HMO conversions are still spreading across the borough despite the council’s Article 4 direction meaning they now require full planning permission. At the same time, the authority is facing a raft of new responsibilities to tenants following the introduction of Awaab’s Law in October, which is intended to strengthen requirements around mould and damp repairs. The town centre is where the
majority of development is taking place, although, as mentioned above, there are also other developments which could make real progress in 2026. TAPESTRY – Developer Delta plans to deliver 676 homes across three towers rising 16, 29 and 42 storeys on land behind the College Green site, located between Croydon College and Fairfield Halls. Built on the site of a former multistorey car park, the approved Tapestry Croydon scheme will provide 676 new build-to-rent homes, with 20% offered as affordable housing at London Living Rent levels. LUNAR AND APOLLO HOUSE – These two iconic Brutalist buildings, familiar to many, are also lined up for what is believed to be one of the country’s largest office-to-residential permitted development schemes to date. The two buildings on Wellesley Road were
previously the headquarters for UK Visas and Immigration before they moved with other Home Office functions to the newly completed Ruskin House near East Croydon. The buildings were recently acquired by property developer and landlord Criterion Capital from previous owners Ho Bee Land, who had received approval from Croydon Council for 166 flats in the 22-storey Apollo House and 419 flats in the 20-storey Lunar House under permitted development rights. It is expected that Criterion will progress with their own application in 2026. A similar office-to-residential scheme is set to make progress at another of the town’s iconic buildings, No.1 Croydon, next year, providing 250 flats. WOBURN COURT AND BEDFORD COURT – The redevelopment of the ageing post-war estate would deliver
NEWS 11
THE CHANGING FACE OF SOUTH LONDON
The Purley Pool was closed to the public in 2020 Credit: Harrison Galliven
A CGI aerial image of the Selhurst Park redevelopment plans.
A CGI view of the Tapestry near East Croydon
Credit: Crystal Palace FC
Credit: Delta Properties
445 new homes, including 156 affordable units, helping to address housing need in the heart of the town centre. In recent years, the estate— just off Wellesley Road—has been associated with significant antisocial behaviour, including drug dealing and fly-tipping. The scheme would be delivered across four buildings rising to up to 32 storeys. Following demolition, the plans include public realm improvements such as a new public square, an east–west pedestrian link, landscaped communal and rooftop spaces, and children’s play areas. Sustainable transport is prioritised, with no residential parking, 14 disabled bays, 855 cycle spaces, and improved access from Wellesley Road. However, concerns have been raised about the loss of sunlight caused by the scale of the development, alongside calls for a greater provision of social housing and stronger assurances for existing residents, many of whom currently occupy some of the cheapest homes in the town centre. The project has not yet secured a registered social landlord for the site, and questions remain over the final allocation of affordable housing. The application was approved in December, with demolition work expected to begin on the site next year.
from the proposals initially put forward by Mayor Perry when he was first elected in 2022. In February this year, Croydon Council approved plans put forward by British Virgin Islands-based developer Polaska, which will see a new leisure centre—including a 25-metre, six-lane pool, a training pool, an 80-station gym, studios, a café, soft play area—a public square and over 200 later-living homes built on the site currently occupied by the former Sainsbury’s and town centre multi-storey car park. However, the scheme has sparked significant backlash over plans to remove hundreds of parking spaces from the town centre, which residents in surrounding areas rely upon. The 400-capacity car park will be replaced with 74 publicly available spaces, an increase from zero proposed in the initial scheme. In December, Croydon Council confirmed that the application had been formally referred to the Greater London Authority for its stage 2 planning review, the final step required before approval. Full planning consent and demolition works are expected in 2026, although the scheme could be subject to change following the May elections, given its strong backing from Mayor Perry and the Croydon Conservatives.
The Purley Pool project is another of Croydon Council’s key regeneration projects, although it is very different
As previously mentioned, Croydon Town Centre has undergone several
PURLEY POOL
CROYDON TOWN CENTRE AND TRANSPORT
visible changes over the past year. The reopening of the Allders frontage and the Wellesley Road Crossing form part of the council’s wider effort to “change the look and feel of the town”. Much of the funding for recent transport and pedestrian improvements comes from a provisional £18.5million award from the government’s Levelling Up Fund, allocated to the Reconnected Croydon programme. This funding supported the delivery of the Wellesley Road Crossing and will also finance improvements to Dingwall Road Roundabout and George Street, scheduled for completion in 2026. Elsewhere, the council is drawing on Growth Zone funding—raised through the retention of business rates— to deliver enhancements to public spaces. These include improvements to the historic frontage and grounds of Croydon Minster, due to be completed next year, as well as the redevelopment of College Green. The latter would see a currently unoccupied wasteland between Fairfield Halls and Croydon College turned into the first new public park created in Croydon since the redevelopment of Queens Gardens in 2022. This month, the LDRS also revealed that the long-anticipated East Croydon rail bridge is facing further delays. The new pedestrian connection—intended to provide access to station platforms from Ruskin Square and Cherry Orchard Road—is now not expected to open
until at least autumn 2026, with the final phase of construction scheduled for January 2027. East Croydon station, alongside Norwood Junction, was also due to benefit from the Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme (CARS) in 2025. First proposed in 2020, CARS aimed to ease the long-standing bottleneck in the Croydon area on the Brighton Main Line, a critical route between London and the South Coast that is frequently affected by delays and capacity constraints. Under the plans, East Croydon would gain two additional platforms and a significantly enlarged concourse, while Norwood Junction would receive a platform extension, a new footbridge and lift access. However, the scheme remains on hold, despite sustained campaigning by local MP Natasha Irons to revive it. With enough interest and support, 2026 could yet mark a turning point for the project.
SELHURST PARK
2025 will undoubtedly go down as the greatest year in the history of Crystal Palace, as the Croydon club bagged its first-ever silverware, winning the FA Cup in May and the Community Shield in August, whilst also playing in its inaugural European competition. Whilst the club hopes to continue its on-field success in 2026, it also aims to make progress with its offfield ambition, namely the expansion of Selhurst Park. Plans to expand the Main Stand from
5,200 to 13,500 seats have been in the pipeline for several years, although progress has been made to prepare the ground for the development. The Local Democracy Reporting Service has previously reported on the club’s decision to buy out council housing on neighbouring Wooderson Close, as well as its earlier purchase of land from Sainsbury’s to facilitate the expansion. However, long periods of radio silence from the club this year and reports that ballooning build costs have pushed the price tag to around £200million had cast doubts on the project. Speaking to TalkSport in December, the club’s Chairman Steve Parish revealed that construction work will begin on the Main Stand in January 2026. During the interview he said: “Fingers crossed they [the fans] will see some real physical progress in January. We’ve been a little bit delayed with things around buying the houses we’ve got to buy, and just some changes. “We’ve actually changed a lot of the construction from all concrete, mainly concrete, to mainly steel. That’s been a bit of a sea change, but it saved us a significant sum of money. So it was worth doing that work.” The update, along with the arrival of New York Jets owner Woody Johnson—who purchased the shares of former co-owner John Textor in June—offers fresh optimism for the project in the year ahead. Mayor Jason Perry, a lifelong Palace fan, has pledged to continue working with the club throughout the development.
12 NEWS
THE CHANGING FACE OF SOUTH LONDON
Local Democracy Reporter IF 2024 was a year in which the London Borough of Merton grabbed headlines, with the All England Lawn Tennis Club decision, and the Burn Bullock fire, then 2025 has been a more muted affair. That is not to say it passed without notable moments of progress.
Over the past year, the borough has pushed ahead with its programme to build 400 new council homes, described as “the first new Merton council homes in a generation”. Work began on the first 93 properties at Farm Road Church, Elm Nursery Car Park, Raleigh Gardens Car Park, and land at Canons, Madeira Road. The council has also advanced its ambitions to become the Borough of Sport, boosted by a £15million windfall from the Merton Legacy Fund. Meanwhile, the long-running Wimbledon tennis expansion saga continued, as Save Wimbledon Park campaigners confirmed they would take their fight against plans for 38 new tennis courts and an 8,000seat stadium on the former Wimbledon Park Golf Club site to the Court of Appeal. While 2025 offered relative political stability for Merton’s Labour administration, 2026 could bring a major shake-up with local elections looming in May. Although parties across the chamber agree on the need for new homes, a change in political leadership could reshape the council’s long-held ambitions. Here is a look ahead to the main development projects, landmarks, and events to expect in 2026.
MERTON’S CLARION ESTATE REGENERATION PROJECT
In 2025, Clarion Housing’s regeneration of Merton’s major estates — High Path, Eastfields, and Ravensbury — made visible progress but continued to face significant pressures. Construction advanced unevenly across the three sites, with demolition and preparatory works accelerating at High Path, the first new homes at Eastfields nearing completion, and Ravensbury progressing more slowly as designs were updated to meet stricter energy and overheating standards. Delays and compulsory buy-backs placed heavy strain on finances, adding an estimated £333,000 per month in costs. Even so, Clarion and Merton Council maintained that the regeneration remained on track to deliver more and better quality social homes, promising long-term gains for residents despite the challenges of the year. Work is expected to continue into 2026.
MERTON SOCIAL HOUSING
2026 could also see the completion of the 100 per cent affordable housing development at 42 Station Road in Colliers Wood. Delivered by Clarion in partnership with The Hill Group, the scheme is set to provide 98 energyefficient homes for social rent. The development comprises two buildings of 10 and 13 storeys and will offer a mix of one, two and three-bedroom flats, each with a private balcony. Plans include landscaped communal areas, a riverside park, children’s play spaces, and new commercial units. If completed in early 2026 as scheduled, the project would make a meaningful
A photo comparing the current Majestic Way site with a CGI rendering of the regeneration within Mitcham town centre
400 COUNCIL HOMES IN THIS SPORTING BOROUGH
contribution to the borough’s limited supply of social housing, with more than 10,500 households currently on the waiting list.
MITCHAM GASWORKS
Mitcham Gasworks has long been tipped as “the largest housing development in Mitcham for a generation”, but it made renewed headlines in early December after Merton Council approved developer St William’s third planning application — this time for 626 new homes with no affordable housing. The council had previously approved revised plans for 569 flats with 35 per cent affordable housing in July. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) reported that the developer justified the omission on the grounds of “financial viability”, arguing the scheme would not be profitable without central grant support. St William said it was in discussions with Merton Council and the Greater London Authority (GLA) to secure funding for at least 146 homes at social rent. This will not be confirmed until at least April 2026, when the next round of GLA funding becomes available. The 5.67-acre site will include a mix of homes, improved green and play spaces, and cycle parking.
MITCHAM MAJESTIC WAY
The Majestic Way scheme represents the other major housing development in Mitcham. The latest planning application, led by Clarion Housing, proposes replacing the shops along one side of Majestic Way and redeveloping the former Morrisons supermarket site and the disused multistorey car park. The plans include 249 affordable homes spread across several blocks, alongside new commercial units and community spaces. However, local groups have criticised the proposed height of the development, with the planned 11-storey building
Campaigners against the Wimbledon expansion plans outside the High Court on July 8.
© Charlotte Lillywhite/LDRS
Harrison Galliven
© Mitcham Cricket Green Community
MERTON
described by some as an “eyesore”. Shops along the existing Majestic Way parade have been closing one by one ahead of redevelopment, and a final decision on the scheme is expected in 2026.
COLLIERS WOOD TOWER
2026 is also likely to see the progression of plans for new towers in Colliers Wood, after a proposal for 26 and 16-storey towers were rejected in 2024. Developer Criterion Capital has now come back with plans for three towers, ranging from seven to 16 storeys, to be built behind the developer’s existing 19-storey tower Britannia Point. This month, the LDRS reported that local Labour councillors have criticised Criterion for putting forward the new plans, arguing that the developer still owes the council £3m to cover the cost of securing Britannia Point with scaffolding after a window pane fell from the tower’s 12th floor in 2022. A planning application for the revised proposals is expected to be submitted to Merton’s planning committee in 2026.
BURN BULLOCK PUB
Mitcham’s historic Burn Bullock pub faced a devastating chapter when a fire severely damaged the building in April 2024. In December 2025, the LDRS reported fears that the rapidly deteriorating pub would not last the winter, renewing calls for Merton Council to use compulsory purchase powers. Although legal responsibility for making the premises safe lies with its owners the council has stepped in to ensure essential safety works are carried out. The future of the Grade II-listed pub — parts of the building date back to the 16th century — now effectively rests with the council, which confirmed to the LDRS that the building is currently subject to a dangerous structure notice. Officials say they are considering what further action may be required to prevent additional
deterioration.
ALL ENGLAND LAWN TENNIS CLUB EXPANSION
This year, plans to expand the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) on the former Wimbledon Park Golf Club continued to spark controversy. In September 2024, the Greater London Authority approved proposals for 38 tennis courts and an 8,000-seat stadium, despite opposition from Save Wimbledon Park (SWP). High Court challenges were dismissed in July, though SWP argued the decision ignored statutory trusts and historic covenants protecting the Grade II* listed site. The group called their fight a “David and Goliath struggle”, while AELTC said the plans would create 27 acres of new public parkland and a permanent home for the Wimbledon Qualifying Competition. In November, AELTC board member Lord O’Donnell urged the Government to “get a grip” and tackle a “legal shadow” that has stalled the plans, specifically calling for a change to current planning law which has allowed the statutory trust to remain an issue. Looking to 2026, the dispute moves to the Court of Appeal, with SWP’s arguments judged worthy of review. Separate proceedings over a possible statutory trust are scheduled for January. Both sides remain confident. SWP says the appeal shows the community cannot be “steam-rollered”, while AELTC expects the court to uphold planning permission. With hearing dates yet to be confirmed, the future of
Wimbledon Park is set to remain a major local story next year.
MORDEN TOWN CENTRE REGENERATION
After years of delays, 2025 saw Merton Council take a major step to revive Morden town centre with a £30million investment to accelerate the Remaking Morden programme. The funding, partly from the 2023 sale of CHAS 2013 Ltd, aims to support a town centre with independent and national shops, greener streets, improved public spaces, and a more attractive environment for residents and visitors. Smaller improvements this year included new benches, planting, signage, and proposals for a pickleball court behind the station. Looking ahead to 2026, the council intends to use the funding to appoint a private sector development partner to spearhead the wider regeneration. However, as previously reported by the LDRS this year, confidence in the longpromised transformation of the town centre remains low among residents, many of whom acknowledge both the scale of the project and the added complexity created by Transport for London’s ownership of much of the transport hub. Residents and business owners told us they are increasingly frustrated by chronic congestion, narrow pavements and a lack of retail choice, while political figures have warned that meaningful progress will depend on securing a confirmed development partner.
14 NEWS
LAMBETH Local Democracy Reporter A SITE in Streatham will be redeveloped to deliver 92 properties, including a number of ‘pocket’ homes measuring 38sqm and a pub which is set to reopen after being closed for eight years are among some of the major developments to look out for in Lambeth in 2026.
© tsaiproject / Flicker Kate and William
Ruby Gregory
The borough could also see a 288-home development in tower blocks up to 20 storeys tall built in Brixton, while land owned by Prince William in Kennington will be turned into dozens of new homes following planning approval from the council. There could also be some major changes to how Brockwell Park is used for music festivals this summer as part of a “new approach” which means the festival organisers now require full planning permission for it go ahead and must consult with local residents. Here’s everything Lambeth residents need to know about major changes which are coming to the borough in 2026, from recently-approved developments to planning applications which are currently being consulted on and will ultimately need to gain planning permission from the council at a later date.
CGI drawing showing the development to replace Blue Star on Stockwell Road, Brixton Credit: Lambeth Council documents
NEW HOTEL TO BE BUILT IN BRIXTON, BUT IT MEANS GOODBYE TO NANDO’S
LambethCouncil’sPlanningApplications Committee have unanimously approved plans to turn a 1960s office building in the heart of Brixton into a 341-room hotel and co-working office space. Blue Star House, an 11-storey building located at 234-244 Stockwell Road, will be refurbished with extra storeys to be added on top. At its tallest, the new building will be part-15 and part-16 storeys which means it will be even more noticeable along Brixton’s skyline. The current site is home to a wellknown Nando’s which has existed there for a number of years as well as an on-site gym however, both are set to be lost and won’t be replaced. The plans were approved on December 9, with works expected to begin in mid2027 with a completion date of late 2029
How 60 Sandcroft Street in Kennington will look once refurbished Credit: Lambeth Council documents
The Mawbey Arms, which is located between Nine Elms and Stockwell in Lambeth, will be redeveloped to become a pub again along with a new 28-bedroom hotel. The pub closed down eight years ago and since then has remained vacant. In 2016, it was locally listed and was placed on Lambeth’s Local Heritage List. The pub has been described as a “sole 19th century survivor” located in the middle of a 1970s housing estate. The plans were approved back in September 2025, though a reopening date is yet to be revealed. In November, Lambeth Council approved plans to turn a site in Streatham into 92 new properties which includes a number of pocket sized homes measuring 38sqm.
Developer, L&Q has been allowed to build a further 60 new homes to an already-approved housing scheme which is located to the east of Shakespeare Road
‘POCKET’ SIZED HOMES ARE COMING TO STREATHAM
Credit: Lambeth Council documents
EVEN PRINCE WILLIAM IS DEVELOPING HERE The site includes land at 35-37 Leigham Court Road, as well as some land located to the west and the back of 39-49 Leigham Court Road. The site also includes Leigham Court Road public car park and toilets and a synagogue which closed in 2021. Under the proposals, Pocket Living intends to build 15 social rented homes, along with 31 discount market rent homes and 46 homes that will be private. Nine homes are set to be wheelchair accessible. The discount market rent units, known as ‘Pocket Rent Homes’, are one-bed homes designed for a single person that measure 38sqm in size. The 46 private homes are called ‘Pocket Sharer’ homes which are larger and contain en-suite bathrooms. Tenants will share communal areas, such as a living room, kitchen and dining space. Construction is set to begin in early 2026, with the project expected to be completed by 2029.
PUB TO REOPEN AFTER EIGHT YEAR CLOSURE
A CGI of how the Mawbey Arms wil look
MORE HOMES ADDED TO SHAKESPEARE ROAD DEVELOPMENT
and near Herne Hill. The plans, which were approved in October, will see the number of homes increase from 218 to 278, with three of the blocks increasing by 1 storey, 2 storeys and 4 storeys respectively. The number of ‘affordable’ homes will increase from 67 to 85, and will deliver 35per cent affordable housing overall. In total, the affordable housing will consist of 52 social rent homes and 33 intermediate homes which will be shared ownership. At the time of planning approval, Lambeth planning officers said the proposals will deliver “a range of public benefits”, including a “significant” contribution towards housing and affordable housing on an affordable site. Stephen Murden, Head of Residential Development at L&G, said with the council’s support, building work can begin on site in early 2026
NEW HOMES COULD BE COMING TO BRIXTON
Plans for a redevelopment which could see 288 new flats built across two council-owned sites in Brixton have been submitted to Lambeth Council’s planning portal. Lambeth has partnered with developer London Square to bring forward plans for a new mixed-
use residential and commercial development at 49 Brixton Station Road and 6 Canterbury Crescent. Under the plans, London Square wants to build new flats, which includes 98 social rent homes, as well as space for new shops, dedicated storage facilities for Brixton’s market traders, an enterprise and community hub and new workspace for local businesses. The first site, located at 6 Canterbury Crescent, is currently home to International House, a red brick office building that was built in the 1980s as part of the Brixton Recreation Centre. International House was previously used as council offices but is currently used by 3Space, an affordable workspace provider, on a temporary lease. The building is 12 storeys tall, and a temporary restaurant and sauna are located on its roof. The plans would see International House retained and refurbished, with two extra storeys added on top to deliver 69 private sale homes. The second site is located at 49 Brixton Station Road and is currently home to Pop Brixton, a popular food and drinking spot complete with workspace units, which the council previously said was always meant to be a temporary use of the site.
The proposed blocks for this site would range between six and 20 storeys tall, with two blocks containing entirely social rent homes while a third block would be for private sale homes only. The plans are expected to be heard by the council in March 2026.
NEW HOMES TO BE BUILT ON LAND OWNED BY PRINCE WILLIAM
Lambeth Council approved plans in 2025 which will see land owned by Prince William in Kennington turned into new homes for young people who have experienced homelessness. More than a dozen homes on Duchy of Cornwall-owned land will be used to support people aged 18-25 who have been homeless, are at risk of homelessness, or have made the transition from supported housing and are in employment and are ready to live independently. The plans will see seven existing flats at 60 Sancroft Street refurbished and turned into 16 new homes, consisting of studios and one-bedroom flats. All of the homes at 60 Sancroft Street will be ‘affordable’, with rents set at one third of a tenant’s gross earnings. The first homes will be delivered by the end of 2026 and will be managed by homeless charity Centrepoint.
NEWS 15
THE CHANGING FACE OF SOUTH LONDON The plans form part of the Royal Foundation’s Homewards programme, which was set up with the aim to show it is possible to end homelessness. Homewards, which is led by Prince William, has committed to delivering Innovative Housing Projects across six locations across the UK, including Lambeth. The Duchy of Cornwall’s plans will also see a former health centre at 65 Sancroft Street demolished and a new, five-storey building consisting of 23 flats built in its place. Of the 23 flats, two of them will be intermediate, a type of ‘affordable’ housing offering discounted market rent. The remaining 21 flats will be private.
A ‘NEW APPROACH’ TO HOW BROCKWELL PARK IS USED FOR FESTIVALS
How the development could look replacing Pop Brixton Credit: Lambeth Council documents
There could be some major changes in how Brockwell Park is used for music festivals this summer, after Summer Events Ltd, the company which runs the Brockwell Live festival series which features events such as Mighty Hoopla, Cross the Tracks and Field Day, submitted its first ever planning application for its 2026 programme in December. For the first time local residents will be consulted on each event and will be able to submit comments in opposition or support. The public had until December
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31 to comment on the proposals for the park. Under its proposals, Summer Events has applied for temporary planning permission so it can use just over a quarter of the park for a maximum of 32 days. According to a planning document, the proposed event days would take place between May 9, 2026 and June 9, 2026 and include days for event set ups, show days, event de-rig and “wet weather buffer days”. It is the first time a planning application has been submitted for Brockwell Live, which previously operated under permitted development rights and is different to obtaining full planning permission, which involves the consultation and views of local residents. In 2025 a judge ruled in the favour of a group of campaigners who argued Lambeth Council did not have the correct planning permission for the festivals and found that parts of the park were being used beyond the permitted 28 days. The council has now decided not to appeal the ruling, which was due to be heard this month to avoid “unnecessary costs to the taxpayer” and says it has embarked on a “new approach” for the programme of events in Brockwell Park, which are now subject to full planning permission.
16 NEWS
THE CHANGING FACE OF SOUTH LONDON
These changes hope to accommodate an increasing number of people moving to the borough each year, as Sutton positions itself as the ideal location for young families and professionals looking for a home on the outskirts of the capital. However, the borough also faced a number of challenges in the past ten months. These included the closure of the Throwley Yard Cinema after operators Really Local Group went into administration, and more recently the pause of its plans to move the Civic Centre into the council-owned St Nicholas Centre. These challenges, together with the record of Sutton’s Liberal Democrat council, are expected to face heightened scrutiny ahead of the May 2026 local elections. All 20 of the borough’s wards will be contested, with the council currently composed of 29 Liberal Democrats, 21 Conservatives, three independents and two Labour councillors. However, outside of the election, 2026 has a lot more in store for Sutton. Here’s a list of the biggest developments and areas of focus to monitor:
How Elm Grove could look once it is completed.
Sutton Morrisons has been closed to the public since July 2024
Plans for a new development called Chalk Gardens on the site of B&Q in Sutton.
© Sutton Council.
SUTTON SAW some real changes in 2025, with progress on its landmark house building projects and the expansion of the London Cancer Hub.
19-storey Quadrant House is one of the biggest buildings in Sutton
© St George
Local Democracy Reporter
© Ethan Doyle White
Harrison Galliven
© Harrison Galliven
SUTTON
CHALK GARDENS (FORMER B&Q SITE)
Chalk Gardens, on the former B&Q site by Sutton station, is one of the borough’s largest housing developments and has remained behind construction hoardings since the store closed last year. A revised scheme, backed by the Greater London Authority and Sutton Council, will deliver 1,014 homes, up from 970, including 353 affordable units, following planning consent granted in December 2023. The council says the scheme meets its 35 per cent affordable housing target, with a mix of London Affordable Rent and shared ownership. Councillors and residents have raised concerns about the height and density of the eight blocks, rising to 21 storeys, and the potential impact on local services. St George says the site’s proximity to public transport and extensive cycle parking will help limit car use. New private homes are expected in 2026, with affordable homes for Sutton residents due in 2029.
ELM GROVE
Elm Grove is the council’s main social housing regeneration scheme, at the north-eastern end of Sutton High Street. Delivered in partnership with developer Lovell, it will replace 73 homes dating from the 1970s with 276 new, energyefficient properties, half of which will be council housing. The plans include public realm improvements, more green space and a new pedestrian link between Throwley Way and the High Street. The first homes at the Elm Grove site are expected in 2028.
BEECH TREE PLACE
At the south-western end of the High Street, Beech Tree Place on St Nicholas Way is delivering 92 affordable homes on the site of former 1950s housing for older residents. Council Leader Barry
POSITIONING ITSELF AS IDEAL FOR YOUNG FAMILIES
Lewis said this summer that the scheme is “really coming along”, with completion expected in 2026. The project was delayed after the original developer, Real LSE, entered administration in August 2023, stalling work for almost nine months and costing the council more than £730,000. Construction has since resumed, with completion now targeted for June 2026, alongside plans for safer pedestrian crossings on St Nicholas Way.
ST NICHOLAS HOUSE
Opposite Beech Tree Place sits St Nicholas House, a 1960s tower block formerly home to Riva Bingo. Plans have been approved for 281 shared-living homes on the now-vacant site. Demolition is expected in 2026, although progress to date has been slow. The development will provide new housing in a central location once complete.
QUADRANT HOUSE
Plans have been submitted to Sutton Council to redevelop the 19-storey Quadrant House, opposite Sutton station. The proposals would partially demolish and extend the 1980s office block to deliver 507 homes under the Press Works scheme, comprising 312 build-to-rent and 195 co-living units. Around 56 per cent of the existing structure would be retained, with new two and three-storey extensions added. The plans also include measures to improve pedestrian safety, such as
increased CCTV coverage near the station entrance and upgraded paving and street lighting around the site. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, subject to planning approval.
OTHER HOUSING
Sutton announced the completion of 30–32 Beddington Lane, delivering nine energy-efficient homes in the north of the borough. This coming year will also see the completion of the Pastures traveller site extension in Carshalton. The extension will provide 23 pitches, new amenity blocks, a community hall and additional parking by March. These smaller developments complement the borough’s larger housing schemes.
LONDON CANCER HUB
The London Cancer Hub, centred around the Royal Marsden Hospital and the Institute of Cancer Research in Belmont, will expand in 2026 as part of one of the capital’s largest regeneration projects. Aviva and developer Socius are redeveloping a five-hectare site next to the hospital, delivering around one million square feet of research, treatment and innovation space, alongside homes and local amenities. Transport improvements are planned at nearby Belmont station, including more frequent train services into London by 2027. The project is backed by a partnership led by Sutton Council and is due for completion by 2035. Four new padel courts opened on
previously unused land this year, with the aim of attracting more visitors in 2026. These are intended to make the site more accessible to the local community.
THE HIGH STREET
The regeneration of Sutton High Street is another key council project but has faced setbacks this year, including the closure of the Throwley Yard Cinema in November, despite being open for just over a year. The cinema’s owners, Really Local Group, closed the branch before going into liquidation. Sutton Council, which owns the site, is now seeking a cultural replacement. The council has also paused plans to relocate its Civic Centre offices from St Nicholas Way into the Debenhams building in the St Nicholas Centre, citing affordability issues. After a long period of silence, an update was given on the extended closure of the Morrisons supermarket at 31 High Street. The store closed in July 2024 for “essential maintenance work” and provided no updates between October 2024 and September 2025. Morrisons confirmed in September that the original store will not reopen, with a new store planned for the site. It is not yet clear whether parking will be reinstated. In May, it was announced that Lidl will open on the site of the former Wilko further down the High Street. Work is underway, with the store expected to open early next year.
SUTTON COLLEGE – NORTHERN GATEWAY PROJECT
Work will progress in 2026 on the relocation of Sutton College as part of the Northern Gateway project, scheduled for completion in 2026/27. The college, currently based in the Civic Centre, will move to the site of the Victorian Edward Terrace and Marshalls Court at the foot of the High Street. Some councillors raised concerns over the design, with one describing the proposals by architect RCKa as looking like “a fridge with windows”. The plans were approved in November, with funding from the Government’s Future High Streets Fund, the Mayor of London’s Skills for Londoners programme, and council investment.
BEDDINGTON FARMLANDS
Controversy over the completion of the Beddington Farmlands site continued in 2025. Following pressure from opposition councillors, Sutton Council confirmed it will take enforcement action against project owners Valencia over delays in delivering the 120-hectare site, which is comparable in size to Hyde Park. Originally proposed nearly 20 years ago as South London’s newest wetland habitat, the site was intended to provide space for both wildlife and the public. Much of the area remains inaccessible, with key biodiversity works still unfinished despite the original deadline passing and process slow.
NEWS 17
Local Democracy Reporter THE YEAR of 2026 is set to be a significant one for housing in Kensington and Chelsea. From a mammoth 4,000 home development in Earl’s Court to the deconstruction of Grenfell Tower, the borough has a lot going on.
Canal Way proposal, Kensington.
Earl’s Court development mock-up.
Grenfell Tower as seen from Latimer Road station.
Lots Road South mock-up.
© ECDC.
By Adrian Zorzut
© Ballymore.
KENSINGTON & CHELSEA
THE CHANGING FACE OF SOUTH LONDON
A major development scheme delivering 274 across three buildings by Chelsea Creek is expected to start construction in 2026. And a design team has been chosen to build a memorial to Grenfell Tower fire victims. Below the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has outlined the key developments to keep an eye on this coming year.
ANOTHER 2,500 NEW HOMES
A proposal to transform a former gasworks site into a 2,500-home development is likely to get under way in 2026. In November, Kensington and Chelsea’s Planning Committee approved the proposal jointly filed by developer Ballymore and Sainsbury’s despite significant push back from objectors. But this behemoth project on Canal Way will need the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s approval before spades can go in the ground. This is because the sheer size of the development requires his sign off. The application for the site on Canal Way, known as the Kensal Canalside Opportunity Area (KCOA), is to deliver office space, a healthcare facility, nursery or creche, restaurants, a leisure centre, a neighbourhood centre as well as a public park, plus the homes. Of the 2,519 planned 500 are to be ‘affordable’, split between 342 at social rent and 158 at the intermediate rate.
© Miller Hare.
Plans to build thousands of homes on land around Earl’s Court have taken a major step forward. The development, which straddles Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham, has been approved by both councils and now just needs GLA sign off to get going. Some 1,400 homes are expected to be built in Kensington and Chelsea and another 2,500 in Hammersmith and Fulham alongside a cinema, community centre, nursery, shops and restaurants. Formerly home to the Earl’s Court Exhibition Centres, the 40-acre brownfield site has sat largely unused since the buildings were demolished between 2015 and 2017. The applications have been filed on behalf of the Earl’s Court Development Company (ECDC), a joint venture between Delancey, APG and Places for London, Transport for London’s (TfL) property arm. The £10 billion redevelopment includes 2.5 million square feet of workspace and is expected to bring in 12,000 jobs. The application new heads to the Mayor of London at the GLA for final sign-off. A traffic management plan for the construction phase will also be submitted to Kensington and Chelsea Council at a later date. It’s hoped preliminary construction work could begin in 2026.
© Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon
4,000-HOME SCHEME SET TO PROGRESS
THOUSANDS TO GO UP WHILE GRENFELL COMES DOWN
A hybrid scheme, it consists of detailed development plans and an ‘outline’, which allows for decisions to be made on the general principles of how the site can be built up. The location is currently a disused gasworks site consisting of a Sainsbury’s, a petrol station, car park, community hub and 16 social homes, all of which will be demolished to make way for the development. Kensington and Chelsea Council is currently negotiating a Section 106 agreement – a legally binding document where a developer offers specific actions to counter the negative effects of a new development – with the application. Once complete, the application will be referred to City Hall. This is expected to take place in 2026.
POSH CHELSEA SET FOR 118 AFFORDABLE HOMES
A major new redevelopment scheme delivering 274 homes across three buildings by Chelsea Creek was recently given the green light by Kensington and Chelsea, with construction expected to start in 2026, once Hammersmith and Fulham and the Mayor of London also give it the thumbs up. Developer Mount Anvil in partnership with Kensington and Chelsea Council will redevelop the land, with
community spaces and public realm works also proposed. The Lots Road South scheme, as it has been named, sits next to Chelsea Creek, a waterway that flows into the Thames, however the development is separate from one nearby which is named Chelsea Creek. The development was approved by Kensington and Chelsea Council in December 2025. A separate but identical application is before Hammersmith and Fulham Council as the site straddles both boroughs. The Lots Road site sits in the southwest corner of Kensington and Chelsea with about a third of it over the borough boundary in neighbouring Hammersmith and Fulham. A total of 274 homes are proposed, split between 118 affordable and 156 at market rate. Of the affordable homes, 65 will be extra care properties while 53 will be ‘general needs’, all at social rent. The development includes 2,577sqm of open space including a green community square, a promenade along the creek, new public access routes through the site, widened footpaths on Lots Road, and active ground-floor frontages. Nearly 50 new trees will be included, as well as biodiverse roofs, a new creek wall and landscaping. The land is currently home to a mix
of businesses such as a self-storage facility. Space has been secured on Lots Road for the potential return of the Auction House, which moved off-site in March 2024 to enable the development to proceed. Under the council and Mount Anvil’s scheme the existing buildings would be demolished and replaced with the three buildings between five and 13 storeys tall. Due to its size, the development will need a final approval from the Mayor of London with that decision expected in 2026.
GRENFELL TOWER DECONSTRUCTION
In summer, the Government began deconstructing Grenfell Tower in what is expected to be a two-year operation. The Government pledged the deconstruction would be carried out “with great care and sensitivity” and said the plan “is designed to minimise noise and disruption” in the area. What is left of the tower has stood in place in the eight years since the disaster, with a covering on the building featuring a large green heart accompanied by the words “forever in our hearts”. The Government said a banner will remain on the building, being moved down as work progresses. Grenfell Tower is being lit up at night
as a “visible reminder” of the tragedy while it is slowly taken down. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said beams of lighting are being projected upwards from each corner of the tower during night time hours. The lights are being switched on no earlier than 5pm and turned off at 11pm every evening. MHCLG said 72 beams will turn green on important dates such as June 14, when the fire occurred, and on December 14 – the six month anniversary – to commemorate the 72 lives lost in the fire. In November, a design team to create a memorial to the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire was chosen. London and Oxfordshire-based Freehaus said they are honoured to take up the task and that it is “a responsibility that we do not take lightly”. It was chosen from a shortlist of five and will work with bereaved and survivor families as well as the local community to produce a final design which is expected to be announced in mid-2027. The Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission has been consulting on plans for a permanent memorial in the area of the tower, with previously reported recommendations including a “sacred space”, designed to be a “peaceful place for remembering and reflecting”.
18 ARTS
what’s on Coughlan is the brightest light in a slightly foggy production MANY WORKS of Irish playwrights have long successful runs in London; classics from Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw and Samuel Beckett appear season to season across the capital. A play that sparked a riot - one of the most controversial of its time - was John Millington Synge’s The Playboy of the Western World, which comes to The National Theatre in a production directed by Caitriona McLaughlin, writes Christopher Peacock.
The ‘playboy’ in question is Christy Mahon a runaway simpleton, played
boyishly by Éanna Hardwicke, who turns up at a rough rural County Mayo pub and regales his story of patricide to an enthralled crowd. The landlady, Pegeen Mike, played by Nicola Coughlan, takes to his charm and keeps him housed and fed and running errands as a potboy. A romantic interest builds that, for Pegeen, is a more exciting option than her current fiancé Shawn Keogh. News spreads and excites all the women of the village who pay a visit the following day. Christy’s unintentional charm raises his status in the village to that of a celebrity until, that is, his story
unravels with the appearance of his father. The play is written in HibernoEnglish that Synge picked up when staying in County Mayo and on the Aran Islands to give an authentic sound. This, to my English ears, took a while to get into. On top of keeping up with the language, the thick Western Irish brogue of some of the character actors, especially when playing drunk, meant that full concentration was needed to understand what was being said. The choices made from the design team and director felt somewhat mixed. The blends of traditional
costume with a more modern, but sparse, set design do not match up. In terms of tone The Playboy of the Western World is a comedic satire, but much of McLaughlin’s direction was looking for drama and sadness when there were laughs to be had. The performances were well pitched and many played for the laughs with success. Siobhan McSweeney leant in to the jealous plotting nature of Widow Quin to maximise the comedic potential of the role. The strongest performance, however, comes from Nicola Coughlan as Pegeen and this holds the show together.
For the National Theatre, the draw of having both Coughlan and McSweeney on stage will have the tickets selling out as both of their performances are a credit to their casting and, although there were great performances from other members of the cast, Coughlan is the brightest light in a slightly foggy production. National Theatre until 28th February 2026. Booking and full details: www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/ productions/the-playboy-of-thewestern-world/
‘An excavation of collective guilt, community fear, and the void left when justice fails’
WELCOME TO Skidmore — a tight-knit farming community in northwest Missouri. Like many small American towns, its younger generations have slipped away in search of better opportunities, leaving the place in slow decline. Kenrex brings the forensic thrill of true crime with the energy of a hardrock gig, attempting to unpack the events outside a bar on 10 July 1981. Where did they begin? Who is to blame?, writes Charlotte Lang
Our protagonist is Ken Rex McElroy, a felon with an explosive temper, the fifteenth child in a family of tenant farmers. He’s enacted his reign of terror on the town, indicted 21 times for accusations of assault, statutory rape, arson, cattle and hog rustling and burglary, but saved by his sly lawyer McFadin.
Ken flaunts his impunity with swagger as the town’s resentment reaches a fever pitch. But there are no easy answers. Kenrex resists easy narrative; we’re left with bureaucratic failures, fearful silence, and half-baked truths. Jack Holden co-wrote the play with Ed Stambollouian, who recently adapted Alan Hollinghurst’s The Line of Beauty, and before that wrote Cruise, about the Aids crisis. The script specifies that it should be performed with a large cast, but it’s a one-man show — Holden masterfully stands in for the whole town, deftly switching between characters with physical contortion. He seamlessly evokes the menagerie of Skidmore, at once the teenager wife, the pompous mayor, and the rattlesnake talking lawyer. The set is sparse, reminiscent of an interrogation room: a fluorescent
green floor, an LED-lit door frame, and a lone tape recorder. But composer John Patrick Elliott’s live score electrifies the space, sliding between hard-rock riffs and country twang, the score conjures a claustrophobic atmosphere in real time — haunting, violent, and pulsing with the immediacy of a mosh pit. Holden’s performance is nothing short of virtuoso. He commands the stage with razor-sharp precision, holding the audience through every shift. Kenrex is less a straightforward true-crime retelling than an excavation of collective guilt, community fear, and the void left when justice fails. The Other Palace Playhouse to 1 Feb, 2026. Booking and full details: theotherpalace.co.uk/kenrex/
HISTORY ARTS 19
History Arts
The Ghosts of War
Based on a true incident from 2003, the starving tiger is shot after mauling off one of the marine’s hands. A stubbornly resistant blood bag aside, which Hunter navigated with aplomb, this arresting opening scene sets the tone for Rajiv Joseph’s darkly comic and multi-layered confrontation of the absurdity and catastrophic toll of war. Hunter inhabits the role of the tiger with compelling magnetism, even more remarkable given she stepped into the role less than a week before the opening night due to David Threlfall’s illness and subsequent withdrawal from the production. Hunter’s tiger embodies both a comic narrator and roving witness to moral decay; ghosts multiply as the play goes on and become increasingly bound together in ways that none of them can fully reckon with or comprehend. Musa (Ammar Haj Ahmad) embodies this tragedy most strikingly; an Iraqi
©EllieKurttz
A FADED mural of Saddam Hussein looms large as the play opens on a scene of two US marines (Patrick Gibson and Arinzé Kene) taunting a Bengal tiger (Kathryn Hunter) as she prowls and curses from behind the railings of Baghdad Zoo, writes Frankie Jenner.
interpreter caught between his people and the demands of the occupying American forces. Consumed by the guilt of his past, he struggles to manage conflicting loyalties—”I am not the kind of person that does this,” he pleads, “I am an artist. I am a gardener.” As the programme notes remind us, most
interpreters were not professionally trained—they were taxi drivers, teachers, doctors and students. Hala Omran brought exceptional depth to her performance as an Iraqi woman/ leper, carving out a profound and arresting moment of stillness through an Arabic lament, her voice sharply cutting
©Barbican Twelfth Night production images
Review: Twelfth Night at Barbican
TWELFTH NIGHT is one of Shakespeare’s most performed comedies and when it comes to the back end of the year many turn to it as a seasonal offering, although the text makes no direct reference to Christmas. It depicts, however, a time for feasting and fun, writes Christopher Peacock...
The play, directed once again by Prasanna Puwanarajah after his sold-out run at Stratford-uponAvon, opens when Viola finds herself shipwrecked and washed ashore at Illyria. Unable to find her identical twin brother Sebastian, she assumes he has died in the storm. He didn’t. Disguising herself as an impoverished
through the echoes of the play’s ghosts. Now showing at the Young Vic sixteen years after its 2009 Broadway premiere, Rajiv Joseph’s play remains urgently relevant in its examination of humanity’s insatiable appetite for war and power, especially given the script’s omission of British complicity.
gentleman ‘Cesario’, she gets work in the court of Duke Orsino where she falls for the Duke but catches the eye of Countess Olivia! Comical chaos ensues until her brother Sebastian arrives. Are you keeping up? Separate to the love triangles and
crossdressing, there is mayhem among the household when perpetually drunk Sir Toby Belch, Sir Andrew Aguecheek and servants Fabian, Maria, and the clown Feste, plot against Countess Olivia’s haughty steward Malvolio to humiliate him and drive him insane. Things classically unravel but happily
resolve themselves. Phew! From last year’s production only the role of Orsino has changed hands and Daniel Monks picks this up with a strong air of pomposity that plays further into the comedy. Samuel West as Malvolio was the strongest performance from a real top-tier cast.
Directed by Omar Elerian.
Peter Forbes will be performing the role of the tiger from 13 December. Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo is at the Young Vic until 31 January. Booking and full details: www.youngvic.org
Without falling into any cartoonish extreme his descent via humiliation into madness is pitched perfectly. Another mention does have to go to Michael Grady-Hall’s Feste. The production plays into his role with new songs and visual gags aplenty. Even with the great performances it is the design that wins the day. James Cotterill’s set and costume design is at its core a simple black box production highlighted with the modern dress. The impressive staging features a 20ft wide light box suspended above the stage, only to ease away to reveal an impressive organ with all the hiding places and passages necessary to enliven the farcical nature of the play. There are moments where the cast yearn for a more responsive audience to aid the crowd work from Feste and his plentiful asides, but the pacing sometimes does not move at the same speed of the audience. Running rather long, this production still impresses. Puwanarajah draws more than comedy from the text by highlighting the sadness and depth in scenes, while rarely opting for the easy laugh. Barbican Theatre, Silk St, Barbican, EC2Y 8DS until 17th January. Booking and full details: www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/
20 EVENTS HISTORY
History Events
Tour of St Alfege Church’s hidden spaces and crypt:
Free cookery clubs across Greenwich:
A series of free five-week cookery sessions are coming to community centres across Greenwich, with the help of funding from Greenwich Council. Run by the Greenwich Co-operative Development Agency (GCDA), the classes aim to promote healthy eating in a simple and cost-free way. Participants will receive handson lessons from experienced tutors and a free cookery book upon completion. Each session is 2.5 hours with spaces for 9-12 participants and spaces are available for anyone who lives or works in Greenwich. To book, call 0800 470 4831 or email cookeryclubs@gcda.org.uk.
As part of the Heart of Greenwich Place and People Project there is a tour of the hidden spaces of the beautiful church of St Alfege. Descend into the crypt area, revealing the many stories of the people who have played their part in the history of Greenwich. Visit the galleries of the church for incredible views of the interiors and hear more stories about the cast of characters who worked and worshipped in the church. Please note that the tour
requires climbing steep stairs and involves some bending.
Date: Saturday 17 January Time: 11:45 - 12:45 Location: St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich, London, SE10 9BJ Tickets: £9 per ticket, Book here: www.st-alfege.org.uk/ Articles/682086/St_Alfege_Church_ Heritage.aspx
Locations: Where: Abbey Wood Community Centre, 4 Knee Hill, SE2 0YS When: Every Monday from 12th January - 9th February Time: 10.30am – 1.00pm
Where: Woolwich Common Community Centre, 17 Leslie Smith Square, Woolwich, SE18 4DW When: Every Wednesday from 14th January - 11th February Time: 10.30am – 1.00pm
Where: Trinity Methodist Church, 265 Burrage Road, Plumstead, SE18 7JW When: Every Thursday from 15th January - 12th February Time: 10.30am – 1.00pm Where: St. Richards Church Centre, 26 Swallowfield Road, Charlton, SE7 7NR When: Every Friday from 16th
January – 13th February Time: 10.30am – 1.00pm
Where: Clockhouse Community Centre, Defiance Walk, Woolwich Dockyard, SE18 5QL When: Every Saturday from 17th January – 14th February Time: 12.30pm – 3.00pm
Bring your own beverage pottery painting:
Pottery Studio LDN in North Greenwich are hosting an evening BYOB pottery painting session on 14 January. The two-hour session is a more grown-up approach to their regular pottery painting sessions. Bring your own drinks and snacks and they will provide the glasses and music. Fot an £8
booking fee, you can enjoy the studio, instructors, paints, glaze and firing. You purchase pottery at the studio with the items ranging from £10 for a square tile to £65 for a large serving bowl.
Date: Wednesday 14 January Time: 6pm - 8pm
Location: Pottery Studio LDN, Unit 1.3, Building A4 10 Monro Way, Greenwich Peninsula, London, SE10 0EJ Tickets: £8 booking fee with additional cost of pottery. Book here: pottery-studio.co.uk/products/eveningpottery-painting
IFS Cable Cars ‘Purple Week’: IFS Cable Car has teamed up with local businesses in Greenwich to host ‘Purple Week’ from 19 to 23 January to fight the new year blues. The series of free events include Reformer pilates at Sunday Studio, pottery painting, wellbeing walks, and gym sessions. The full programme of events will be
released on the IFS Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite. co.uk/o/transport-for-london-ifscloud-cable-car-74674879523
Dates: 19 to 23 January Time: Various times: Tickets: Free but advance booking is recommended.
HISTORY 21
History
The Black walnut tree. Copyright Sarah Vaughan 2025
The planting of the tree. Michael Robertson on left and Cllrs Rachel Bentley and Kath Whittam with Sarah, Pat Kingwell and David Fisher. Copyright Michael Robertson 2025
Rotherhithe’s Lord of the Manor who helped create Southwark Park By Debra Gosling RECENTLY A new tree was planted in Southwark Park to commemorate Sir William Maynard Gomm. Pat Kingwell, a founder member of the Southwark Park Association 1869, attended the planting ceremony along with his band of merry people. Sadly I couldn’t join them but he gave me this information about Sir William and what a great chap he’d been; alongside a very colourful and distinguished career he did so much for the people of Rotherhithe.
Born into a military family Gomm lost both his parents when very young. He was brought up by his aunt Miss Jane Gomm, and her friend Miss Martha Caroline Goldsworthy, who had both been governesses to the daughters of King George III. In recognition of his father’s services, Gomm received his first commission in the Army at ten years of age. In a long career he served in the
French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, including at Waterloo. He later became Chief Commander in Jamaica, Governor of Mauritius, Commander in Chief of India, Field Marshal of the Coldstream Guards and Constable of the Tower of London. On his death in 1875 he had been in the Army for 80 years, the longest service on record. His connection with Rotherhithe came through his aunt Jane Gomm. On her death in 1822 he succeeded to her large property holdings in the area and became Lord of the Manor of Rotherhithe, a position he held for 53 years until his own passing. He married twice – first to Sophia Penn, granddaughter of William Penn of Pennsylvania, who died in 1827; and secondly, in 1830, to Elizabeth Kerr. He had no children by either of these marriages. Gomm, a Christian, was the staunch friend of the Reverend Edward Blick, Rector of Rotherhithe and his successor Rev Edward Josselyn Beck. He supported many church schemes. In 1839 the new church of Christ Church
was built on land given by him near what is today BOSCO and King’s Stairs Gardens. In 1840 All Saints Church in Lower Road was built on land donated by Gomm – today the site is King George’s Field. The site for St Mary’s National Schools in the Lower Road was his gift and he laid the first stone of new schools in Paradise Street. All the Rotherhithe schools were generously aided by his yearly subscriptions. In 1872 he gave largely towards the erection of St Barnabas Church in Plough Road, and to the Gomm Schools in the same district. The Gomm connection with Southwark Park is a very direct one. In 1866 Sir William sold some sixty acres of market-garden ground to the Metropolitan Board of Works to form the park, for which he received £56,200 in payment. An entrance was named after the nearby road which had borne his name since at least 1850. The Christ Church entrance is named after the church he helped establish.
Sir William Maynard Gomm. Public Domain.
Maynard Road was also named after him, later submerged within the 1970s Osprey Estate, Lower Road. On his death on March 15 1875, aged 91, Sir William bequeathed his estates to his widow Elizabeth, who became Lady of the Manor of Rotherhithe. Lady Gomm survived her husband for two years, passing on November 30, 1877. She was buried beside her husband at Christ Church. When this church was demolished in 1979 the Gomms’ remains were reinterred at Nunhead Cemetery, the lid of the sarcophagus was made into a seat at the home of Richard Carr Gomm in Frome, Somerset. That’s extreme recycling for you! Lady Gomm founded a charity for Rotherhithe pensioners and left £5000 for the benefit of the parish, with which her trustees erected the Lady Elizabeth Memorial Mission Hall and Accident Hospital in Hawkstone Road right next to Southwark Park. Opened in 1885 the former hospital building survived as Lady Gomm House, and is today used by Cavendish
School. Lady Gomm bequeathed the Manor to her niece, Emily Blanche Carr, wife of Francis Culling Carr. Emily and her husband and children assumed the name of Gomm after their name of Carr. The Carr-Gomms carried on benevolent work in Rotherhithe, including in 1885 the sale of a house on the border of Southwark Park for £120, which was demolished to create the Dilston Grove entrance. In 1887 the family gave the land to build the Rotherhithe Public Baths and Washhouses in Lower Road. This site later became the Seven Islands Leisure Centre. In 1897 the family gave land to build Rotherhithe Town Hall. The Caryatides from the Town Hall were relocated to Southwark Park in 2011. Today the site contains Neptune Street Park. The commemorative tree is a Black Walnut which will grow into a huge and beautiful specimen. It is a piece of living history which will be appreciated by so many generations to come. Very fitting for a man so decorated!
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Friday, January 9th 2026
Notice of application for a Premises Licence. Notice is hereby given that LIVE FAST BREWERY LTD has applied to Wandsworth Council for a new premises licence at Arch 79, Queens Circus, Queenstown Road, London, SW11 8NE for sale by retail of alcohol (on & off premises) (Mon - Thu: 12:00 – 23:00, Fri: 12:00 – 02:00, Sat: 11:00 – 02:00, Sun: 11:00 – 23:00), recorded music (during opening hours, as above) and live music (Thu: 18:00 – 22:00, Fri: 18:00 – 23:00, Sat: 14:00 – 23:00, Sun 14:00 – 22:00). Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing by 26th January 2026 stating the grounds for making said representation to: Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX or by email: licensing@merton.gov.uk The record of this application may be inspected Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) by prior appointment at the offices of Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX between the hours of 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. Information on all new and variation applications received by the Licensing Authority can be viewed on the Council’s website www.wandsworth.gov.uk It is an offence, under section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in or in connection with an application, punishable upon conviction by an unlimited fine. LICENSING ACT 2003 APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF PREMISES LICENCE Take notice that I/we: Ansar Hussain Shah have made an application to Lewisham Council acting as the Licensing Authority, for a New Premises Licence in respect of: Cheekos, 115 New Cross Road, SE14 5DJ The details of the application are as follows: • Provision of Late-Night Refreshment (Indoor) 23:00 – 03:00 Monday - Sunday The application and the Licensing Authority’s public register can be inspected at: Lewisham Council, Safer Communities Service, Licensing Authority, 4th Floor Laurence House, 1 Catford Road, SE6 4RU by appointment between Monday to Friday (except on public holidays) and between the hours of 9.00 am to 4.00 pm; or at www.lewisham.gov.uk. The last date by which responsible authorities or other persons may make representations to the Licensing Authority in relation to this application is: 30th January 2026 Any representations must be made in writing to the above address or by emailing licensing@lewisham.gov.uk It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction is unlimited. LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 SECTION 123(2A) NOTICE OF PROPOSED DISPOSAL OF SCHOOL PLAYING FIELDS AT WHITEFOOT LANE, DOWNHAM, BR1 5SQ TO ST BENEDICT CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN in accordance with Section 123(2A) of the Local Government Act 1972 that London Borough of Lewisham (the “Council”) intends to dispose of Education Land known as Whitefoot Lane School Playing Fields to Bonus Pastor School (part of St Benedict’s Catholic Academy Trust) via a long-term lease. A 125-year lease of the site will be granted to the school, to enable them to continue to deliver their PE curriculum and manage community use on behalf of the Local Authority. Copies of the plans showing the approximate position of the affected land may be inspected by making an email request to fiona.gavin@lewisham.gov.uk Requirements for the disposal of open space land by local authorities are contained in Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972. Sub section 2A of that Act requires notice of any proposal to dispose of land consisting of an open space to be published in a local newspaper for two consecutive weeks so that any person wishing to raise an objection to the disposal may do so. Any objection or representations regarding the proposed disposal should be made in writing to Fiona Gavin, Lewisham Council, 2nd Floor Laurence House, Catford, SE6 4RU or by email to fiona.gavin@lewisham.gov.uk by no later than midday on 23nd of January 2026. You should quote the reference Whitefoot School PF 2025. The Council will consider any objections to the proposed disposal as may be made to it. Dated the 9th of January 2026. London Borough of Lewisham, Laurence House, 1 Catford Road, SE6 4RU.
PUBLIC NOTICES 25
Notice of Application to apply for a Premises Licence made under the Licensing Act 2003 Please take notice that Name of Applicant: Mr. Ghanshyam Harmanbhai Patel have made application to the London Borough of Merton to apply for a New Premises Licence in respect of: Full name postal address of the premises: Kishan News, 39 High Street Collier's Wood, Colliers Wood, SW19 2JE. The application is as follows: Supply of Alcohol – Off the premises Monday to Sunday to Thursday – 08.00 hours to 23.00 hours A register of all applications made with the London Borough of Merton is maintained by: LICENSING SECTION, LONDON BOROUGH OF MERTON, 2ND FLOOR, CIVIC CENTRE, LONDON ROAD, MORDEN, SURREY, SM4 5DX A record of this application may be inspected by appointment at Merton Civic Centre. Please email licensing@merton.gov.uk or telephone 020 8545 3969. It is open to any interested party to make representations about the likely effect of the application on the promotion of the licensing objectives. Representations must be made in writing to the Licensing Section at the office or email address above and be received by the Merton’s Licensing Section within a period of 28 days starting the day after the date shown below. Note: It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application. A person guilty of such offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine. Date application given to the Council: 02/01/2026 LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT ORDER The Lewisham (Free Parking Places, Loading Places and Waiting, Loading and Stopping Restrictions) (Consolidation) (Amendment No *) Order 202* The Lewisham (Charged for Parking Places) (Consolidation) (Amendment No *) Order 202* The Lewisham (Off Street) (Restricted Street) (No.*) Order 202* Campshill Place, SE13 and Canada Gardens, SE13 The Council of the London Borough of Lewisham proposes to make the above Traffic Regulation Orders under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (as amended). PTO 1101 1. (The effect of this proposal is to:(a) prohibit waiting by vehicles at any time in that length of Campshill Place which extends between the northern property boundary line of No.62 Campshill Road southwards to the southern property boundary line of No.38 Campshill Road (only insofar as it relates to entire length of the public highway). The existing single yellow line restriction on the same length of road will be revoked; (b) prohibit the waiting by vehicles at any time in the entire length of Canada Gardens, SE13. Exemptions apply to vehicles parked within designated parking bays within the above length of road. 2. Copies of the draft Order and Statement of the Council’s Reasons for proposing to make the Order may be obtained by emailing a request to trafficorders@lewisham.gov.uk quoting reference ‘PTO-1101’. 3. Comments on the proposals for or against, together with the reasons for which they are made should be sent in writing to trafficorders@lewisham.gov.uk or Lewisham Transport Policy & Development, Laurence House, 1 Catford Road, London SE6 4RU, quoting reference ‘PTO-1101’ to arrive by 30 January 2026. All written representations received concerning Traffic Regulation Orders are public documents that may be inspected by any person on demand. Dated 9th January 2026. Zahur Khan, Director Public Realm, Laurence House, 1 Catford Road, London SE6 4RU.
LICENSING ACT 2003
LICENSING ACT 2003
LICENSING ACT 2003
APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF PREMISES LICENCE
APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF PREMISES LICENCE
Take notice that Dalina Pizzeria Ltd. have made an application to Lewisham Council acting as the Licensing Authority, for a
Go Local – Streatham Ltd has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth for the grant of a Premises Licence, in respect of the following premises: Go Local – Streatham Ltd, 30 The High Parade, Streatham High Road, SW16 1EX which would authorise the following licensable activities: SALE BY RETAIL OF ALCOHOL (off the premises) MONDAY TO SUNDAY FROM 06:00 TO 23:00
New Premises Licence in respect of 8 Sydenham Road, London, SE26 5QW. The details of the application are as follows: Sale of Alcohol for consumption ON the premises Monday – Sunday 10:00 – 23:00 and a seasonal variation for Alcohol, Late Night Refreshment and Regulated Entertainment 23:00 – 01:00 on New Year’s eve into New Year’s Day. The application and the Licensing Authority’s public register can be inspected at: Lewisham Council, Safer Communities Service, 4th Floor Laurence House, 1 Catford Road, London, SE6 4RU by appointment Monday to Friday (except on public holidays) and between the hours of 9.00 am to 4.00 pm; or at www.lewisham.gov.uk. The last date by which responsible authorities or other persons may make representations to the Licensing Authority in relation to this application is: 30th January 2026. Any representations must be made in writing to the above address or by emailing licensing@lewisham.gov.uk It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction is unlimited.
STAY INFORMED ABOUT LICENSING PLANS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. Visit: publicnoticeportal.uk
The record of this application may be inspected during normal office hours by an appointment at the Licensing Section, London Borough of Lambeth Town Hall, Basement Room B08 & B09, 1 Brixton Hill, London, SW2 1RW, or via the licensing authority’s website, at www.lambeth.gov.uk/licensing A responsible authority or any other person may make representation to the licensing authority in respect of this application. Representations must be made in writing, either by post to the above address, or by email to licensing@lambeth.gov.uk and must be received no later than 27/01/2026 It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with a licensing application, and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction for that offence shall not exceed level 5 on the standard scale (£5,000).
To place a public notice in this paper and online, email hello@cm‐media.co.uk or call 020 7232 1639. Deadline is 3pm Wednesday
LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH
Notice Under The Town and Country Planning Acts
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Council is considering applications as set out below under the following categories; FUL – Full Applications LB – Listed Building ADV – Advertisement VOC - Variation of Condition P3G - E-uses/Betting/Payday to Mixed Written representations should be made within three weeks of the date of this advertisement to the Director of Planning, PO Box 734, Winchester SO23 5DG. Any comments made are open to inspection by the public and in the event of an appeal may be referred to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Confidential comments cannot be taken into account in determining an application. Application plans can be viewed online at www.lambeth.gov.uk/searchplanningapps – search using the reference number at the end of each application listing. 73 Westow Hill London SE19 1TX Change of use of the first floor from restaurant (Use Class E) to a self-contained residential flat (Use Class C3), together with alterations to the restaurant shop front/entrance. (Ground floor) 25/03912/FUL 21 Fontaine Road London SW16 3PB Erection of roof extension together with the installation of 2 rooflights to the front roof slope and 2 rooflights to the rear roof slope. 25/03553/FUL 87 Baldry Gardens London SW16 3DR Replacement of rear ground floor window and door with new window and replacement of French doors together with the erection of raised terrace decking. 25/03766/FUL 21 Cardigan Street London SE11 5PE Replace the existing single-glazed timber windows throughout with new slimline heritage timber windows to match the style, profile, character, and aesthetic of the existing. (Please note: The reference number for this Listed Building Consent application is 25/03801/LB but there is also an associated application for Full Planning Permission related to these works with reference number: 25/03800/FUL) 25/03801/LB 170 Rosendale Road London Lambeth SE21 8LG Installation of a new front wall and fencing to the property's boundary. Existing vehicular and pedestrian access points are maintained. 25/03962/FUL 32 Brixton Road London Lambeth SW9 6BU Application for Prior Approval for the change of use of part first floor and second floor from Commercial, Business and Service use (Use Class E) to 2 self-contained residential units (Use Class C3). 25/03938/P3G Footway Adjacent To 92 Streatham High Road London SW16 1BS Installation of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure comprising one charging terminal on the footway adjacent 92 Streatham High Road 25/03916/FUL Plot Adjacent 29 Sternhold Avenue London Variation of Conditions: 2 (approved plans) and 7 (cycle parking) of planning permission 18/04036/FUL (Erection of a 4 storeys mixed use building to provide 2 retail units (Use Class A1) to the ground floor and 8 self contained flats (Use Class C3) to the upper floors, together with provision of waste storage and cycle storage plus communal roof garden terrace.) Granted on 12/09/2023. Amendment sought: Condition 2 - Proposed Plans Condition 7 - Cycle parking 25/03996/VOC
Application for a Sex Establishment Licence
10 Francis Bentley Mews London Lambeth SW4 0EG Erection of a three storey side extension with undercroft parking to provide a residential annexe and the provision of bike store. 25/03839/FUL
HNR Ltd TIA Skin Two & Honour has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth for the renewal of a Sex Establishment Licence, in respect of the following premises: 85/86 Lower Marsh, Waterloo, London, SE1 7AB. Authorisation is sought to utilise the premises as Sex Shop. Further details about this application may be inspected at the Licensing Section, London Borough of Lambeth, 3rd Floor, Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill SW2 IEG, or via the authority's website at www.lambeth.gov.uk/licensing. Any person wishing to object to this application must give notice in writing of their objection, stating in general terms the grounds of the objection. Objections may be sent to the above address or by email to licensing@lambeth.gov.uk and must be received no later than 31/01/2026. For further information, please contact the Licensing Section on 020 7926 6108 orby email to licensing@lambeth.gov.uk
458 - 460 Brixton Road London SW9 8EA Display of 1 x internally illuminated fascia, 1 x new store address and Est. year vinyl, 3 x new external vinyl lettering and 1 x internally illuminated projecting sign. 25/03982/ADV 452-456 Brixton Road London Lambeth SW9 8EA Variation of Conditions 3 (Demolition plans) and 5 (Basement impact assessment) of planning permission 21/01127/FUL (Demolition and redevelopment of 1 - 9 Dorrell Place together with change of use of upper floors of 452 - 456 Brixton Road and basement and first floors of 11 Dorrell Place with restoration and repair works to retained facades and two storey side extension to 11 Dorrell Place to provide a 96 bedroom hotel in a part two, part three, part five storey building (Use Class C1), retention of front facade and refurbishment of existing retail unit (Use Class E(a)) at basement and ground floor levels at 452 - 456 Brixton Road and installation of new shopfronts at ground floor level, retention of existing public house (sui generis)) at basement and ground floor levels at 11 Dorrell Place and associated cycle parking, plant, refuse store and landscaping works.) Granted on 03.01.2024 Amendment sought: Condition 3 - Demolition plans Condition 5 - Basement impact assessment 25/03931/VOC 64 Braxted Park London SW16 3AU Erection of a single storey ground floor rear extension with rear terrace together with the replacement of glazing. 25/03798/FUL 5 Lambeth Walk London SE11 6SP Change of use of ground floor from GP surgery (Use Class E(e)) to education (Use Class F1(a)) and associated external alterations 25/03954/FUL Dated this Friday 09 January 2026
Rob Bristow Director - Planning, Transport & Sustainability Climate and Inclusive Growth Directorate
26 PUBLIC NOTICES LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS, CROXTED ROAD 1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable Centurion Traffic Management to carry out bridge investigation works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth has made an Order the effect of which will be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from entering or proceeding in Croxted Road from its junction with Norwood Road eastward for a distance of 60 metres. 2. Alternative routes for affected vehicles will be available via South Croxted Road, Dulwich Wood Park, Collage Road, Crystal Palace Parade, Westwood Hill, Kirklade, Dartmouth Road, London Road, Lorship Lane, Grove Vale, Grove Lane, Champion Park, Denmark Hill, Herne Hill Norwood Road and vice versa.
Friday, January 9th 2026
STAY INFORMED ABOUT TRAFFIC PLANS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. Find out who is applying to DIG UP THE ROAD and where. Visit: publicnoticeportal.uk
3. The Order will come into force on 14 January 2026 and will continue for a maximum duration of 1 month or until the works have been completed, whichever is the sooner. In practice, it is anticipated that the works will take 1 day to complete. If the works cannot be carried out or completed during this time, then the Order may have effect on subsequent dates within the maximum period of 1 month. Dated 9 January 2026
Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager
LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984, SECTION 14 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC AND PARKING RESTRICTIONS, HARPENDEN ROAD 1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable Thames Water to carry out zonal metering and survey works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth intends to make an Order the effect of which would be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from entering or proceeding, parking or waiting, including waiting for the purpose of loading and unloading a vehicle in that length of Harpenden Road which lies between its junction with Norwood Road and No. 252 Norwood Road. 2. Alternative routes for vehicles affected by the prohibitions would be available via Ulverstone Road, Ullswater Road and Norwood Road. 3. The Order would come into force on 28 January 2026 and continue in force for a maximum duration of 1 month to allow for contingencies or until the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. In practice, it is anticipated that the works would take place overnight on 28 January 2026. Dated 9 January 2026
Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager
LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS – WORGAN STREET 1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable Thames Water to carry out water mains replacement works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth intends to make an Order, the effect of which would be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from entering or proceeding or parking or waiting, including waiting for the purpose of loading and unloading a vehicle in that length of Worgan Street which lies between its junction with Jonathan Street and its junction with Glasshouse Walk. 2. Alternative routes for affected vehicles would be available via (a) Jonathan Street, Vauxhall Walk and Glasshouse Walk; or (b) Glasshouse Walk, Tyers Street and Jonathan Street. 3. The Order would come into force on 19 January 2026 and continue in force for a maximum duration of 6 months, to allow for contingencies, or until the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. In practice, it is anticipated that the works will take 4 weeks to complete. Dated 9 January 2026
Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager
LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984, SECTION 14 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC AND PARKING RESTRICTIONS, HAWARDEN GROVE AND GUERNSEY GROVE 1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable Thames Water to carry out water mains replacement works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth intends to make an Order the effect of which would be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from entering or proceeding, parking or waiting, including waiting for the purpose of loading and unloading a vehicle in the following lengths of Hawarden Grove and Guernsey Grove: (a) Phase one: Hawarden Grove, between its junction with Rosendale Road and No. 47 Hawarden Grove. (b) Phase two: Guernsey Grove, between its junction with Croxted Road and No. 1 Guernsey Grove. (c) Phase three: Hawarden Grove, between its junction with Croxted Road and No. 10 Hawarden Grove. 2. Alternative routes for affected vehicles would be available for each phase of works via: (a) Phase one: Croxted Road, Guernsey Grove and Rosendale Road and vice versa. (b) Phase two: Rosendale Road, Hawarden Grove and Croxted Road and vice versa. (c) Phase three: Croxted Road, Guernsey Grove and Rosendale Road and vice versa. 3. The Order would come into force on 2 February 2026 and continue for a maxim duration of 3 months or until the works have been completed, whichever is the sooner. In practice, it is anticipated that the works would take 3 weeks to complete. If the works cannot be carried out or completed during that time, then the Order may have effect on subsequent dates within the maximum period of 3 months. Dated 9 January 2026
Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager
LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS – ROSENDALE ROAD 1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable Southern Gas Networks to carry out gas pressure inspections and Cathodic Protection works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth intends to make an Order, the effect of which would be to temporarily prohibit vehicles travelling in Rosendale Road in a southbound direction between its junction with Thurlow Park Road and No. 168 Rosendale Road. 2. Alternative routes for affected vehicles would be available via a. Thurlow Park Road, Alleyn Park and Park Hall Road; or b. Croxted Road and Park Hall Road. 3. The Order would come into force on 26 January 2026 and continue in force for a maximum duration of 3 months or until the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. In practice, it is anticipated that the works will take 5 weeks to complete.
Transport for London Public Notice ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 THE A2213 GLA ROAD (KIDBROOKE PARK ROAD, ROYAL BOROUGH OF GREENWICH) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF STOPPING AND SUSPENSION OF BUS LANE) ORDER 2026 1. Transport for London hereby gives notice that it has made the above named Trafc Order under section 14(1) of the Road Trafc Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose specied in paragraph 2. The effect of the Order is summarised in paragraph 3. 2. The purpose of the Order is to enable highway signage installation works to take place at Kidbrooke Park Road. 3. The effect of the Order will be to prohibit any vehicle from stopping on Kidbrooke Park Road between its junctions with Old Post Ofce Lane and Eltham Road. The Order will also allow all vehicles to use the Bus Lanes on Kidbrooke Park Road between its junctions with Old Post Ofce Lane and Eltham Road. The Order will be effective at certain times between 12th January 2026 and 11th July 2026 every night from 9.00 PM until 5.00 AM or when the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. The prohibition will apply only during such times and to such extent as shall from time to time be indicated by trafc signs. 4. The prohibitions will not apply in respect of: (1) any vehicle being used for the purposes of those works or for re brigade, ambulance or police purposes; (2) anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or a person authorised by Transport for London. Dated this 9th day of January 2025 Matt Standell Performance and Planning Manager , Transport for London Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ
Dated 9 January 2026
Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager
LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS – NORWOOD ROAD 1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable Thames Water to carry out zonal metering works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth intends to make an Order, the effect of which would be to temporarily: a. prohibit vehicles from entering or proceeding in the slip road between Norwood Road and Dulwich Road; b. suspend the prohibited left turn from Norwood Road into Dulwich Road. 2. Alternative routes for affected vehicles would be available via Norwood Road and Dulwich Road. 3. The Order would come into force on 28 January 2026 and continue in force for a maximum duration of 2 days or until the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. In practice, it is anticipated that the works will take place overnight. Dated 9 January 2026
Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager
LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS – FITZALAN STREET 1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable Thames Water to carry out water mains replacement works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth intends to make an Order, the effect of which would be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from entering or proceeding, waiting, including waiting for the purpose of loading and unloading a vehicle or parking in that length of Fitzalan Street which lies between its junction with Kennington Road and its junction with Lambeth Walk. 2. Alternative routes for affected vehicles would be available via Kennington Road, Lambeth Road and Lambeth Walk and vice versa. 3. The Order would come into force on 26 January 2026 and continue in force for a maximum duration of 6 months, to allow for contingencies, or until the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. In practice, it is anticipated that the works will take 3 weeks to complete. Dated 9 January 2026
Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager
LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS – JEFFREYS ROAD 1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable Thames Water to carry out repair and maintenance works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth has made an Order the effect of which will be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from: (a) entering Jeffreys Road at its junction with Clapham Road; (b) travelling in Jeffreys Road other than in a south easterly direction between its junction with Clapham Road and the common boundary of Nos. 3 and 5 Jeffreys Road. 2. The Order will come into force on 17 January 2026 and continue for a maximum duration of 1 month or until the works have been completed, whichever is the sooner. Dated 9 January 2026
Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager
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JENNIFER HULL Deceased Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 anyone with a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the deceased, late of 25 Groveland Avenue, London, SW16 3BG, who died on 11/10/2024, must send written details to the address below by 10/03/2026, after which the Estate will be distributed with regard only to claims and interests notified. Agnieszka Sibbald, Grainne Feeney, Arthur Colvin Williams c/o Anthony Gold, 5th Floor, South-West, Cottons Centre Hays Lane, London, SE1 2QG. Ref: WIL0016-00001 GILES POLLOCK HAVERGAL Deceased Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 anyone with a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the deceased, late of 40 Broadhinton Road, London, SW4 0LT, who died on 23/08/2025, must send written details to the address below by 10/03/2026, after which the Estate will be distributed with regard only to claims and interests notified. Anna Freeland c/o Tanners Solicitors LLP, Lancaster House, Thomas Street, Cirencester, GL7 2AX. Ref: ASF/H6480.1 ROBERT MINTER Deceased Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 anyone with a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the deceased, late of Queenscroft Unit Meadows House, 95 Tudway Road, Blackheath, London, SE3 9YG, who died on 31/03/2017, must send written details to the address below by 10/03/2026, after which the Estate will be distributed with regard only to claims and interests notified. Kingsguard Legal, 33 New Road, Stourbridge, DY8 1PA. Ref: JH/1626/Minter JEAN WINIFRED RICHARDS Deceased Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 anyone with a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the deceased, late of 87 Fernbrook Road, London, SE13 5NQ, who died on 05/09/2025, must send written details to the address below by 10/03/2026, after which the Estate will be distributed with regard only to claims and interests notified. Peter Taylor c/o Judge & Priestley LLP, Justin House, 6 West Street, Bromley, BR1 1JN. Ref: ROGE054/0001
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SPORT 29
WIKTORIA CLAIMS BRONZE IN POLAND By John Kelly BERMONDSEY NATIVE Wiktoria Michalik returned with a superb bronze medal from the Polish National Elite Championships before Christmas.
Michalik, who is trained by George and Andrew Wadman, faced Katarzyna Gabrychowicz in the quarter-finals. Gabrychowicz is a Polish national champion in karate but Michalik emphatically won 4-1 to go through to the last four. In the semi-final she faced fivetime national champion Klaudia Budasz, who is also a European Bronze medalist. Budasz defeated Michalik before winning the final. Michalik went to Poland having claimed a silver medal in the Elite Warehouse Box Cup in Wales after losing the final to Carmen Lynch. “The first fight [in Poland] was more intense than the second but during the first fight my opponent was tired in round two and three already so I could do my work,”
Wiktoria Michalik with coach George Wadman
Michalik said. “The second fight was slower as she was a counterpuncher, so feints and traps and lateral movement, but I felt good. “She is five-times Polish national champ and European bronze medalist but I set up some traps and she took it, which pleased me. “I also want to say thanks so much to my great coaches George and Andrew Wadman. Since I’ve trained with them I feel anything is possible.” George Wadman said: “How proud we are of Victoria for swimming in the deep end. The two national elite champions in her last few fights, the British number one Carmen Lynch and the Polish fivetimes national champion - now six - and European bronze medalist. They’ve probably had 100 wins between them. All this in the last three weeks and three different countries. Andrew added: “We rolled the dice in Wales and got a silver with 48 hours notice against Carmen Lynch. Lynch is brilliant, there’s no more you can say.”
Fish denied late on after penalty drama By John Kelly FISHER DREW 1-1 against Kennington in their SCEFL Premier Division clash at a brutally cold Ashford last weekend.
Tom Jones gave Ajay Ashanike’s visors a 30th-minute lead. Fisher were moments away from claiming the three points only to concede a penalty which Ryan Philpott
scored four minutes into stoppagetime at the end of the game. Fish goalkeeper Isaac Ogunseri denied Philpott early on as the hosts made the brighter start. That changed after half an hour when Don Macaulay played the ball down the left where Lorenzo Duncan and Alex Kozak combined to find Rafael Garcia and he cut the ball back to Jones to finish from six yards.
Jones fired another effort just wide and then saw an attempt cleared off the line as the Fish pressed for a second. Fisher suffered a major blow on 53 minutes when Tyron Mbuenimo was shown a straight red card for lashing out at an opponent. Kennington had a goal ruled out for offside with fifteen minutes left. Kennington then bombarded Fisher
with balls into the box and got their reward when the referee spotted a handball. Philpott sent Ogunseri the wrong way from the spot. Fisher have moved up to seventh in the table and have games in hand on five of the six sides above them. Ashanike’s side travel to the G.I. Landscapes Stadium (Kent ME6 5DP) to face Snodland Town in the league this Saturday at 3pm.
Hamlet chair wants Champion Hill ‘fortress’ By John Kelly
DULWICH HAMLET chairman Ben Clasper said the side need to work out how to make Champion Hill a “fortress” as he reflected on a “mixed bag” in the first half of the season.
Mark Dacey’s side haven’t won any of their last five Isthmian Premier League games at home since November, and sit ninth in the table, ten points off the playoff spots. Clasper acknowledged that securing a mid-table position after last season’s relegation battle was the priority in 202526, though the start to the campaign fed belief there could be a promotion challenge. Dulwich won their first four league
games of the season without conceding a goal, but have since won only three games in their last 20 since then, drawing ten. The Hamlet were due to play Whitehawk last weekend but the game was postponed shortly before kick-off. The referee had passed the pitch at 2pm before deeming it unplayable as the players warmed up. Clasper addressed supporters in his programme notes. “The first half of the season was a mixed bag, it delivered quickly on many of the goals we set but life has become increasingly tough as the season has gone on,” Clasper said “We are harder to beat than previous seasons but we’re struggling to put teams away, traits that have produced a punishingly high
number of draws. Statistically speaking our goals against column is play-off form, but we are bottom half when you look at the goals for column and most regular observers agree we start games strongly but fail to capitalise and too often we end up paying the price. “After stumbling into relegation trouble last season our goal was to rebuild and secure a more stable mid-table position to act as a foundation for next season. Whilst it looked initially like we might be able to aim higher sooner, the reality is that going straight from a relegation battle into a promotion chase is a leap usually only reserved for financially doped sides. Based on resources or experience there are few surprises in the top half of the table but we need to
be mindful that the ten teams between us and the relegation zone will all have expected to be higher up the table. It’s a very strong and tight league and so it’s important we improve quickly on the weaknesses we have identified. “We still hear a lot about clubs treating Champion Hill as their cup final and raising their game accordingly which contributes to there being no difference between our home and away results. We still need to work out how to turn the Hill into more of a fortress with performances that match your support which has been amazing throughout a tough 2025.” Dulwich face Potters Bar Town at Lantern Stadium in the league this Saturday (3pm).
Surrey ‘saddened’ by Long death
By Sports Reporter
SURREY SAID they were “saddened” after the death of their former wicketkeeper Arnold Long at the age of 85.
Long claimed 1,135 catches and 158 stumpings in firstclass and limited-overs cricket during a 20-year playing career. After making his debut for Surrey in 1960, he was part of their County Championship winning side in 1971 after they pipped Warwickshire to the title due to having two more wins when the teams finished level on points. Long was a member of their B&H Cup-winning team in 1974 before leaving The Oval for Sussex two years later. He captained them for three seasons, leading them to victory over Somerset by five wickets in the 1978 Gillette Cup final at Lord's. He retired in 1980 and took over from Jimmy Fulford as chairman of Surrey’s cricket committee in 1991. Long built up his own business as an insurance broker and had three children with wife Barbara. He was a season ticket holder at Chelsea. Surrey said: “We are saddened to share the news of the passing of former Surrey wicket-keeper Arnold Long at the age of 85. “Affectionately known as "Ob", Long played 479 times for the Three Feathers before leaving for Sussex.”
Dubois targets spring return By John Kelly DANIEL DUBOIS is targeting a return in April or May, his manager Sam Jones has said.
Dubois hasn’t fought since suffering a fifth-round knockout against Oleksandr Usyk at Wembley has July. Dubois’ camp want Fabio Wardley, who won the WBO interim heavyweight title when he shocked Joseph Parker in October. “April, latest May. Fabio Wardley is the champion, so it would be a voluntary defence,” Jones said. “But outside of AJ [Anthony Joshua], Tyson Fury, Usyk – Dubois is the biggest name for Fabio Wardley to fight, which would therefore generate the most money. “If Fabio Wardley gets the Usyk fight then all credit to him, he deserves that opportunity. But, if he wants to make that fight, we can make it very, very quickly.”
30 SPORT
PALACE FALL TO SET-PIECES
Oliver Glasner has bemoaned his side’s setpiece frailties
By John Kelly OLIVER GLASNER highlighted Crystal Palace’s set-piece frailties after their 2-0 Premier League defeat to Newcastle United at St James’ Park last weekend stretched their winless run to seven games in all competitions.
Bruno Guimaraes and Malick Thiaw scored in the second half as the Magpies went above the fourteenth-place Eagles into ninth. Outside the relegation zone, Palace have the third-worst record of goals scored from set-pieces minus goals conceded. “A disappointing defeat, disappointing result,” Glasner said. “The most disappointing part for me is conceding another two goals from set-plays – five of our last six defeats, we just conceded goals from set-plays, and then you can’t win
games. This is what we have to get sorted. “It's my responsibility, together with my staff, to give the players better solutions, that they feel more comfortable and can defend this in a better way. “It's always a second phase where we are not really structured and then conceding goals, because there's many parts of the game I was really pleased today. I think we played really well. [Apart from] maybe the last five or six, seven minutes, when we went all in to get our goal – before that, we didn't give them chances from open play. We defended really well. “On the other side, we created a few good situations, with a big chance straight before half-time. “With all the circumstances, you know, making a concussion sub in the first-half, making another substitution straight after half-time due to injury problems with
[Nathaniel] Clyney, and then showing a performance where I think a point was possible… “But we have to solve the problem of conceding goals from set-plays so often.” "There are a few explainable reasons. Maybe with Chris Richards [injured], we don't have one of our best headers in the box available. With Ismaïla Sarr [at AFCON], who plays a key role on the near post and is also quite tall. “He's not here, and [injured] Dani Muñoz was a good presence with his physicality… and then losing one of our best headers in the first-half with Jeff Lerma because, for example, when he got injured, it was the same ball where we conceded a goal in the second-half, and he just cleared it because he's really great in these situations. We don't have so many headers like this. “On the other side, this won't change
and then secured a point for the hosts by sweeping home a low cross from Lewis Miller thirteen minutes from time. The result leaves Charlton in nineteenth place in the Championship, a point above Blackburn. “I’m disappointed,” Kelman said. “The positive is that we didn’t lose and that it is another point gained but we’re disappointed as a group. We pride ourselves on clean sheets and defending and concede two goals today. The second goal [for Blackburn], if I can just keep it in the corner or win a corner but it nicks [off] them and it goes to the keeper and they run 80 yards and score. Sometimes that’s just football. We’re a disappointed group but we’re going to dust ourselves down and kick on.”
Kelman, 24, joined Charlton from Queens Park Rangers two weeks before the start of the season and then missed a month-and-a-half after picking up an injury at the start of November. He has scored three goals in five games since his return. “Not having a pre-season was tough,” he said. “But I think having that injury was a blessing in disguise. It gave me that chance to work on things and I feel like myself again and I think it is reflective on the pitch. Causing problems, being strong and physical and quick. That’s what I pride myself on, and taking chances. It felt nice and hopefully I can kick on now.” Charlton now turn their attentions to the FA Cup and a huge third-round fixture against Chelsea at a sold-out Valley this Saturday (8pm).
until Wednesday. This won't change until Macclesfield [next week], and it's my job to find better solutions.” Brennan Johnson made his Palace debut after his £35million move from Tottenham Hotspur. “I was pleased with his debut. He showed what he would bring to the team,” Glasner said. “Of course, I could see in a few situations that his understanding with his teammates was not here after one day of training, when he's trained with [just] half of the group, but he will definitely help us in the games. “I was pleased with his debut and performance today.” Midfielder Adam Wharton was asked about Palace’s recent form. “It’s obviously not what we want. It's frustrating and disappointing,” Wharton
said. “We're going through a tough period and all the teams go through that at some point in the season. We're obviously pretty short on players at the minute, with a few injuries and people away, so that's difficult as well. “We've had a lot of games in a short period of time, so I think we've got two more within three days of each other or something like that, and then I think it goes a bit back to weekly. “We’re just trying to graft through and get through the tough moment that we're in. Because with the football side of it, we're not actually playing terrible, I don't think it's as worrying as it may seem.” Palace were in action against Aston Villa in midweek before travelling to play Macclesfield in the third round of the FA Cup this Saturday (12.15pm).
Kelman brings out iconic celebration after brace but Rovers come back to draw
By John Kelly
CHARLIE KELMAN explained his goal celebrations after his brace in the 2-2 draw against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park last weekend.
Kelman put Nathan Jones’s side 2-0 up in the first half and celebrated in the style of Charlton icon Clive Mendonca. “I was scrolling on TikTok this morning and I saw a Blackburn fan saying, ‘we’ve got to beat Charlton, it’s only Charlton’, and then in the comments there was a photo of me clipped on Clive’s head, so it felt like I had to bring his celebration out today,” Kelman said. The Addicks were in a commanding position until Moussa Baradji scored three minutes after Kelman’s second
© Keith Gillard
Eagles ship two more goals from dead balls as winless run goes on
Charlie Kelman celebrates
SPORT 31
FROM SUNDAY LEAGUE TO CALMONT
EXCLUSIVE By Will Scott BY THE time he reached his teenage years, Harry Taylor already doubted his future lay in professional football.
Taylor was enjoying playing Sunday league with his friends, and stints playing for Kent suggested he clearly had talent, but he was not part of an academy set-up and thought perhaps it was not meant to be. He was starting to step back when nature intervened. “I probably had my first growth spurt when I was about fourteen,” Taylor told NewsAtDen. “I looked at myself and thought, ‘If I take this seriously, I could probably go somewhere with it.’ Ever since then, I’ve taken it seriously.” Within two years, the centre-back had been scouted by Maidstone United, only a 20-minute drive from where he grew up in Sittingbourne. Two weeks later, Millwall swooped in and offered him a 20-week trial to train with their under-sixteens. “The first week I was really nervous because it’s a big step,” he said. “Going from Sunday league straight into a professional environment, it’s a big step, and I quickly realised it’s really hard. Even training sessions are ridiculously hard. “I had to have a couple of weeks to get into it, but I knew trial periods can end within an instant, so I had to hit the ground running quickly and just show the people at Millwall what I’m capable of. Luckily, after eight weeks, they extended it. “Then eventually, I think it was week twelve, they sat down with me and said, ‘We’re going to keep you on contract until the end of the season.’ It was just a bonus, really, because I had an extra eight weeks to prove myself in games and training and just show the coaches that I’ve got what it takes.” Taylor impressed enough in three appearances stepping up for the undereighteens, that he earned a two-year scholarship and went straight into that age group. He also had to contend with relative inexperience at his position - he had only switched to centre-back three years prior. “I was playing for Kent at the time, I think I was thirteen,” he said. “It’s a funny story actually. I was a striker, and one of our centre-backs got sent off, and the coach was like, ‘Who wants to go back to centreback?’ “I was like, ‘You know what, I’ll give it a go.’ Ever since then, I’ve really enjoyed centre-back. I switched from that day onwards, and I’m lucky I did that.” Taylor thinks the position better suits his skill set. “When I play, I don’t know what it is, but I see the game, not differently, but I kind of
Under-21s defender Harry Taylor reflects on his late journey to football, changing positions - and invaluable advice from Hutch
Harry Taylor (right) in action against Charlton Athletic under-21s take a snapshot of everything around me,” he said. “When you’re a striker, you’re not really looking at much; you’re just looking at the defender and what’s in front of you. “But as a defender, you can see the whole pitch and a good skill of mine is taking a snapshot of what’s in front of me. Because at the back, if you make a mistake, the striker is one-on-one with the goalkeeper, so you have to be aware. “I’ve had that skill not all my life, but ever since I’ve moved to centre-back.” Taylor’s first year did not go entirely as planned. He suffered an injury that ruled him out for six months, but credited the Lions’ fitness staff for supporting him during the period. The second year followed the script more closely.
He played regularly for the under-18s and earned his first under-21s call-up in October, before moving up to that level fulltime in December. It was not all smooth sailing, as Taylor initially found the level challenging. “When I stepped up, it was a bit of a challenge, because obviously you’re going from under-18s football straight to pretty much men’s football,” he said. “For seventeen-year-old me, it was kind of tricky at first, but like I say, once you understand how they play and you understand the physical side of the game, how it works, I took it all in stride, and I didn’t let any little setback pull me down. “I kept my confidence up, and all the boys were supportive. There’s no, because you’re younger, you get taken the mick out of and stuff like that. They take you in, and
Dons flattened by Chairboys By John Kelly AFC WIMBLEDON couldn’t follow up their New Year’s Day win as they lost 2-0 to Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park last weekend.
After earning their first League One victory since October when they won 3-1 at Leyton Orient to open 2026 on a positive note, goals from Junior Quitirna and Niall Huggins in either half clinched the points for the Chairboys. Johnnie Jackson’s Dons are thirteenth, four points above the relegation zone. “We should have probably got
something from the game, by the way it panned out,” Jackson said. “But we've given up two soft goals and if you defend like that in those moments, then it makes it really, really hard. I don't think there's been a lot in the game at all. “They started better, got a goal in that period. We came into the game, we end the half on top. And then they get the second out of nothing, really. “Two big moments. We have a few of our own – the Matty Stevens one you’d expect him to score - and don't take them. So, yes, I think fine margins and small moments, or big moments,
really, where they've been better. “And that's cost us because, certainly, we had enough of that game and enough momentum in the game to have got something. “If you get played off the park here by a team with good players and big resources and stuff like that, you sort of hold your hand up. But I didn't feel that was the case. I think they caused us some problems at times, but we've caused them massive problems as well.” Wimbledon are not back in league action until January 17 when Doncaster Rovers visit Plough Lane.
they help you out a lot. “It does help you, because when you step up, you kind of go into your shell, but they made sure that I was alright and played the football I play.” He also benefited from playing alongside first-team pros stepping down to build up their fitness with the under-21s, with Shaun Hutchinson in particular a helpful presence. “It’s a different game when you’ve got experienced players like Shaun next to you,” he said. “They see the game differently. They make it look so easy to play. Especially when you’re next to them, you’ve pretty much got a coach right next to you that’s played God knows how many games he’s played at the professional level. “The way he sees the game, the way he
talks to me, is different to anyone that’s spoken to me in the back four. “He’s experienced, he’s good on the ball, he’s aggressive, he wins headers and he’s just a good role model. When you look next to someone and they’re doing everything you should be doing, you think, ‘Right, I want to match this. I want to play at the level he’s playing at.’ “I played with him, I played with Wes Harding, I played with Murray Wallace once. All these experienced players that I was with, they enlighten you on how the game should be played.” The Lions’ former captain imparted a host of information and advice to the young defender, but one pearl of wisdom particularly stood out to Taylor. “It was Bournemouth away, my first under-21s game, and I was playing next to Shaun,” he said. “There were a few times where the game kind of caught up to me. I wasn’t focused, I was losing the ball. “I remember I went down with an injury and I spoke to Shaun one-on-one, and it’s the best bit of advice I ever got, really. He just told me to just settle down and he said, ‘Know your worth. You’re here for a reason. It’s not like you don’t deserve to be or else the coaches wouldn’t play you. Just let your skill do the talking and don’t get embroiled in the game.’ That’s stuck with me.” Taylor kicked on from his initial struggles in the autumn of 2024 to become a regular member of Kevin Nugent’s side, and with a contract decision looming at the end of the season, he made Millwall’s decision easier. “There was one game against Ipswich away for the under-21s under the lights,” he said. “I said to myself, towards the end of the season, ‘If I have a good set of games, I’ve got a real good chance.’ That’s probably the best game I’ve ever played in my life. So, ever since that moment, I thought that I had a good chance. “But then again, I never got too ahead of myself because I’ve come from small backgrounds. I played Sunday league, so I don’t take anything for granted. I make sure that I play every game to my maximum until the last game before my contract, just to make sure.” His prediction rang true. He was part of a bumper crop of six under-eighteens who signed professional deals and officially moved up to the under-21s over the summer, all now eyeing up achieving their dreams of first-team football. Taylor is no different. “I want to represent this club at a firstteam level,” he said. “I want to take my dream all the way to the max and just be steady in the first team. Even scoring my first under-21s goal the other week, that’s been a goal of mine ever since I stepped up.” Four years on from nearly surrendering that dream, Taylor stands closer than ever.
Ravens reel off sixth win By John Kelly BROMLEY WON a sixth League Two game in a row when they beat Newport County 2-1 at Hayes Lane on New Year’s Day to maintain their two-point lead over Swindon Town at the top of the table.
Andy Woodman’s side went 2-0 up after Courtney Baker-Richardson’s own goal three minutes into firsthalf added-time followed by Nicke
Kabamba’s 74th-minute goal. Nathan Opoku scored three minutes from time but the hosts saw out the game. Woodman’s side have won ten of their last eleven league games since October. Bromley’s scheduled league game against Oldham Athletic last weekend was postponed. The Ravens travel to Tranmere Rovers, who are seventeenth, this Saturday (3pm).
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Wiktoria claims bronze in Poland
PAGE 29
BLUES COME UP SMELLING OF ROSE
Coops is a keeper By Will Scott MILLWALL SKIPPER Jake Cooper has signed a new contract, extending his stay until 2027.
Cooper, 30, is the longest-serving member of the squad and has been a mainstay since signing in January 2017, reaching 400 appearances for the club in early November – only the sixth player in Millwall’s history to do so. He now sits just one match behind Alan McLeary, who ranks fifth on Millwall’s all-time appearances list. Over the course of his nine years at the club, Cooper’s rigorous fitness routine has enabled him to make at least 35 league appearances in each full season he has played. Remarkably, between August 2018 and December 2020, he played every minute of 136 consecutive Championship games, even playing through a dislocated shoulder away against Birmingham City. The centre-back continues to be an essential part of the first team, starting every league match when available and missing just one through suspension as Millwall compete for the top six. Millwall director of football Steve Gallen said: “Everyone at the club is really pleased that Jake has decided to extend his contract. “It was a pretty easy deal to do, to be honest. We wanted him to stay and Jake wanted to stay – so when both parties are thinking the same thing, it makes it a lot easier. Jake is our club captain and a fantastic presence on and off the pitch. Everyone really respects him – staff, players, fans and so on. “He recently reached 400 games for the club, which is very rare in modern football. His longevity is brilliant and it looks as though he is getting better with age. It’s a good day for the club.”
Chelsea appoint 41-year-old to take over from Enzo Maresca
By John Kelly
Rosenior, 41, has left the French Ligue 1 side to take over from Enzo Maresca, after the Blues announced they had “parted company” with the Italian last week. Former Fulham and Brighton defender Rosenior started his coaching career with an interim spell at Derby County before he took over another of this former clubs, Hull City, in 2022. He was sacked in 2024 despite leading them to a seventh-place finish in the Championship. Rosenior was hired by Strasbourg to replace Patrick Vieira in the summer of 2024 after the former Arsenal midfielder had left following a thirteenth-place finish. Rosenior guided the side to seventh and a place in the Uefa Conference League. Strasbourg are owned by BlueCo, the consortium led by Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly. Maresca led the Blues to the Conference League and Club World Cup titles last season but hinted at problems behind the scenes when he said he had experienced “the worst 48 hours” at the club before a 2-0 win over Everton in mid-December. “I am extremely humbled and honoured to be appointed head coach of Chelsea Football Club,” Rosenior said. “This is a club with a unique spirit and
© Brian Tonks/Millwall FC
© Shaun Brooks/Action Plus
LIAM ROSENIOR said he couldn't turn down Chelsea as he explained his decision to Strasbourg fans after being appointed the Blues' new head coach on a contract until 2032.
a proud history of winning trophies. “My job is to protect that identity and create a team that reflects these values in every game we play as we continue winning trophies. Earlier on Tuesday before his appointment was confirmed, Rosenior held a press conference at Strasbourg to explain his decision. "I cannot turn down this opportunity to join an incredible club, incredible squad who are Club World Cup champions," Rosenior said. "The last eighteen months have been a joy and the best of my professional career. "I'm here because I care about [Strasbourg] and I felt it was right to answer your questions physically here today before I move on. "I will love this club for the rest of my life, but I cannot turn down Chelsea. "I would not have accepted the Chelsea job if I was not ready. "There are clubs you just cannot turn down. I hope the Strasbourg fans can see that and be proud of that. "I have had interest from many clubs, including Champions League clubs, which I have always been open with to [Strasbourg president] Marc [Keller] and our ownership." Strasbourg first-team coach Kalifa Cisse, assistant head coach Justin Walker and head of analysis Ben Warner will join Rosenior at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea were in action against Fulham in midweek. Rosenior’s first match in charge will be against Charlton Athletic in the third round of the FA Cup at The Valley on Saturday.
Jake Cooper clears against Ipswich Town THE RECYCLED PAPER CONTENT OF UK NEWSPAPERS IN 2014 WAS 83.5%
Liam Rosenior has managed in England with Hull City