Providing 32 new social homes for homeless families and people with learning disabilities in Lewisham

Posted 01/08/2023

The site of a disused warehouse building in Sydenham has been replaced to provide 32 much needed new social homes for local residents, as part of Lewisham Council’s Building for Lewisham Programme.

26 of the two and three bedroom self-contained apartments have been used as temporary accommodation for homeless families in Lewisham, giving them their own private space and facilities, and helping to reduce the number of people having to stay in nightly-paid accommodation, such as hostels and B&Bs while the Council supports them to find a permanent home.

Six supported living apartments for young adults with learning disabilities and autism have also been included in the development. Working in partnership with NHS England through their Transforming Care programme, the supported living accommodation will help residents to live more independently in a safe, inclusive and integrated setting. They will be provided with 24/7 on-site care and support, as well as their own communal garden.

The scheme has been designed by Avanti Architects to fit in with the local surroundings, using high-quality materials and detailing, with balconies and full-height windows provided throughout the building.

As part of the social value for the development, Higgins has also worked closely with Lewisham Homes and award-winning graphic artist Rose Hill from Co-Creative Connection to create a large colourful mural on the hoarding. A series of workshops were set up with local residents, which they found enjoyable and empowering to allow them to shape the final design which took pride of place while the new homes were being built.