Renewal Group’s 3,500-home Surrey Canal Triangle masterplan includes station originally set to be funded by the government

The developer behind plans to build 19 residential towers around Millwall FC’s home ground in Lewisham has been forced to cut the scheme’s share of affordable homes after being hit with a £25m bill to help pay for a railway station.

Renewal Group’s 3,500-home Surrey Canal Triangle masterplan, designed by Studio Egret West, was first given outline permission in 2022 and spans five development phases.

The first phase, consisting of three 32-storey towers, is currently under construction with later phases to include buildings up to 44 storeys.

SEW Lewisham 5

The scheme will take 15 years to build and include 3,500 homes

The site, which surrounds Millwall’s stadium The Den, also includes the planned new Surrey Canal overground station which is being developed by Transport for London (TfL).

Under the masterplan’s original 2022 consent, this station was to be funded mainly by the government through Housing Infrastructure Funding.

However, Lewisham council said “other competing priorities at TfL” had diverted the funding to other projects and the transport body has turned to Renewal to fill the gap with a “significant contribution”.

Renewal has now agreed to fork out £25m following talks with the council, TfL and the Greater London Authority, a sum which has required a reassessment of the viability of the wider scheme.

“In the context of a new and substantial station contribution, it has been necessary to review this position to ensure the scheme remains deliverable with the maximum level of a