Lewisham Council names Higgins as main contractor for 100% affordable homes Ladywell Park Gardens development
Posted 29/10/2025
The Council announces Higgins as the preferred contractor partner to lead the delivery of 102 new affordable homes at Ladywell Park Gardens development.
This appointment marks a major milestone in providing high-quality, 100% affordable council homes for Lewisham residents on the housing register. Planning permission for the scheme was granted in October 2023.
The brand-new homes will be split over four blocks with 47 social rent homes for families on the housing waiting list and 55 shared ownership properties for residents looking to take their first step onto the property ladder.
Eleven of the homes will be wheelchair-accessible and set alongside a new public garden and a dedicated children’s play area.
Sustainability is a key focus of the development, which will feature secure cycle storage, green ‘living roofs’ to promote biodiversity, and sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) to reduce flood risk.
Located on the site of the former Ladywell Leisure Centre, the development is being delivered to address the borough’s urgent need for affordable housing.
Ladywell Park Gardens is a key project under the Council’s Building for Lewisham programme, which is committed to delivering local affordable housing by building, acquiring and delivering in partnership. Currently, the Building for Lewisham programme has 652 homes that are either on site or recently completed and 182 homes in design development or being prepared for planning submission.
The front portion of the site is currently occupied by PLACE/Ladywell. As Ladywell Park Gardens will be constructed to the rear of the site, the Council has worked closely with Higgins to ensure the continued operation of the PLACE/Ladywell building, as well as offering the Council’s Mayoral Charity, Lewisham Donation Hub, an extended lease ending in July 2026, to continue their important work. The Council has and will continue to support Lewisham Donation Hub to find a suitable new home. In addition, Higgins and the Council are working closely together to bring a new construction skills hub to the site in 2026.
Preliminary works have already begun on site with the project expected to complete by Spring 2028. Councillor James-J Walsh, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Regeneration and Planning for Lewisham Council said:
“This is what good local government looks like – not just words, but action to tackle the housing crisis. Every home at Ladywell Park Gardens will be genuinely affordable, built to a high standard, and rooted in our community.
“This development doesn’t just deliver new housing it means 102 more Lewisham families will have the security, dignity, and stability that everyone deserves. This is about building a fairer borough – where local people can afford to live, grow, and thrive.
“We’ve found in Higgins a partner that shares our values: a commitment to quality, sustainability and community. Together, we’re going to be creating more than housing – we’re building opportunity, creating jobs, apprenticeships, and a greener, more inclusive neighbourhood for the future.”
Declan Higgins, Chief Executive Officer for Higgins Group, comments,
“We are delighted to have been appointed by Lewisham Council to deliver 102 high-quality, affordable homes at Ladywell Park Gardens. This development represents an important opportunity to provide much-needed housing while working collaboratively with our partners and the local community. Alongside delivering new homes, we are committed to creating employment and training opportunities for local residents and supporting community organisations through volunteering and wider social value initiatives.”
Appointment is subject to contract clarifications.
