Lewisham Council has appointed The Hill Group as its long-term strategic development partner to accelerate the delivery of affordable homes, regeneration projects and investment across Lewisham.
The agreement, which will run for 10 years with the potential to extend for a further five years, can span up to £1.5bn of construction delivery in Lewisham.
Rather than appointing a different developer for every project, the council will work with Hill to bring forward new homes and projects more quickly and consistently, while retaining greater control over quality, affordability, sustainability and delivery timescales.
In some cases, the council will develop and own the affordable homes and in others, Hill will invest in the development, with the council given first choice to buy the affordable homes.
The first projects as part of the partnership are already underway and include Thomas’ Lane Yard in Catford and Achilles Street Estate Regeneration in New Cross.
Daniel Dream, cabinet member for inclusive regeneration, planning and housing delivery at Lewisham Council, said: “With more than 10,000 households on the housing register and nearly 2,500 families in temporary accommodation, we need to build the homes our community needs faster. This partnership cuts red tape and gives the council greater control over quality, affordability and delivery. We are looking forward to working with The Hill Group, an award-winning housebuilder with a proven track record, to deliver the homes, jobs and investment our community needs over the next decade.”
Andy Hill OBE, founder and chief executive of The Hill Group, added: “We are delighted to have been selected by Lewisham Council as its strategic development partner and look forward to working together to help deliver the borough’s ambitious housing and regeneration programme. What makes this partnership particularly important is the opportunity to combine our expertise in regeneration, placemaking and delivery with the council’s vision for the future of Lewisham.
“Long-term partnerships such as this create the certainty and alignment needed to unlock technically complex sites, enable more efficient delivery and ensure developments genuinely reflect the needs of local communities. Our track record has been built on successful partnerships with local authorities and housing providers across London and the South East, and we are excited to bring that experience to Lewisham as we begin work on Thomas’ Lane Yard, Achilles Street and future projects across the borough.”
