Architecture firms Levitt Bernstein and WR-AP have submitted comprehensive plans to Lewisham Council for a major housing redevelopment project that will transform the existing Achilles Street housing estate in New Cross. The ambitious scheme calls for demolishing the current 1950s-era buildings, including Azalea House, Fenton House, and Austin House, and replacing them with five new structures ranging from four to 16 stories in height.

The new development will feature 278 homes, with 60 percent designated as affordable housing units. This includes 122 council-owned properties for social rent, representing a significant increase from the current 87 units on the site. Additionally, the project will provide 44 homes for low-cost homeownership opportunities. The design prioritizes family accommodation, with one-third of all units specifically designed as family homes, and nearly all properties (98 percent) will feature double or triple-aspect layouts to maximize natural light and ventilation. The housing mix will also include 23 maisonettes.

Beyond residential spaces, the redevelopment will significantly enhance community amenities and public areas. The project will deliver 4,332 square meters of public open space and 671 square meters of dedicated play areas for children. Improved pedestrian and cycling connections to nearby Fordham Park are also planned as part of the infrastructure improvements.

The commercial component of the development includes 1,411 square meters of business space designed to support local economic activity. New retail shops will create a vibrant commercial parade along New Cross Road, while workshops on Pagnell Street and within a newly constructed makers' yard will provide flexible workspace for local businesses and entrepreneurs.

Community engagement has been a cornerstone of the planning process, with ZCD Architects serving as youth engagement specialists on the project. Extensive consultation efforts have been ongoing since 2016, incorporating input from a dedicated youth panel, a resident steering group, and local schools to ensure the development meets community needs and preferences.

James-J Walsh, Lewisham Council's cabinet member for inclusive regeneration and planning, emphasized the community-centered approach of the project. "This is regeneration done right: inclusive, creative and genuinely community-led," Walsh stated. "These plans put residents, young people and the wider New Cross community at the heart of decision-making and design. At a time when the housing crisis continues to price people out of our city, Achilles shows what is possible when we lead with our values. We are delivering 60 percent affordable homes, new public spaces and better links across our community while creating jobs and opportunities for local people."

Jo McCafferty, director at Levitt Bernstein, highlighted the comprehensive nature of the redevelopment's benefits. "The proposals not only create exemplary new housing, play space, shops and workspace but also will improve wider issues of community safety, connectivity with the park, slow car movement along Achilles Street and prioritize the independent movement of children and young people," McCafferty explained. "It has been the project of a lifetime and an extraordinary privilege to work so closely with our client and Achilles residents. We look forward to the delivery of the project and handing over new homes to the Achilles residents who have waited so long."

The redevelopment involves an extensive professional team including Levitt Bernstein as landscape architects, Silver DCC as project managers and cost consultants, DP9 as planning consultants, and Price and Myers handling structural and civil engineering. Max Fordham will provide mechanical, electrical, plumbing, acoustic, sustainability, BREEAM, and lighting consulting services, while additional specialists cover fire safety, transport, air quality, and environmental impact assessments.

The ambitious project will be implemented in phases, with construction expected to continue until 2033. This timeline allows for careful coordination of resident relocation and minimizes disruption to the existing community while the transformation takes place.