Long-awaited plans to remove Catford’s one-way system have been unveiled by Transport for London.
The South Circular Road would be rerouted and a new public space created outside the Broadway Theatre under the proposals, which tie in with Lewisham Council’s plans to redevelop much of the centre of Catford.
At present the South Circular runs in front of the Broadway Theatre, where a gyratory at Rushey Green takes it onto Brownhill Road.
The new plans would have a new section of Catford Road built south of the council’s offices at Laurence House, connecting with Sangley Road, which would become two-way. The two-way South Circular would then turn left into Plassy Road and right into Brownhill Road.
New pedestrian crossings would be introduced, including outside Catford Bridge station.
There would also be a two-way segregated cycle lane on the new section of Catford Road and new segregated lanes built on Rushey Green – however, there would be no other segregated lanes beyond this.
Bus stops would also be relocated as part of the plans.
Lewisham Council has long wanted the South Circular rerouted behind Laurence House, which has been left as a car park since the offices were built in the early 1990s. Two years ago it said it wanted to create a “civic space” in the area outside the theatre.
The council’s long-term plans for the area include replacing the Catford Centre and demolishing the 1970s Milford Towers tower block above it.
Housing would replace the retail parks opposite Catford Bridge station while, in an echo of what is happening in nearby Lewisham, tall towers would be built where the shopping centre is now.
However, plans to extend the Bakerloo Line to the area – which would follow an extension to Lewisham – are on ice because of the financial problems at TfL.
Louise Krupski, Lewisham’s cabinet member for the environment, said: “These proposals will have a transformative impact on Catford and make it much easier for people to walk, cycle and use public transport. The rerouting of the South Circular will help create a largely car-free town centre and is a vital part of the council’s ambition to make Catford the greenest town centre in London, as well as supporting our wider vision for regeneration in Catford.”
A consultation into the Catford plans, which contains detailed plans and maps, has opened at haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/catford-town-centre.
Help 853 continue reporting on public interest issues in Greenwich and southeast London – we are the only outlet regularly producing original journalism in the borough, and we can only do it with your funding.
Please join over 100 donors who use Steady, PressPatron or Patreon to give a little towards our costs every month. The money pays the bills, a wage for the editor and pays others to write for the site.
You can also buy the editor a coffee at ko-fi.com. Thank you.