Goldsmiths cancel plans for Catford campus in blow for area regeneration

Just two days after Landsec's announcement that it had backed out of its plans to redevelop Lewisham Shopping Centre, Lewisham council announced a second blow – Goldsmiths University has cancelled its plans to create a campus for 600 students in the Old Town Hall.

A spokesperson for Lewisham council said: "We worked with Goldsmiths in good faith for around a year to prepare the Old Town Hall to welcome students from September 2027, so we are surprised and frustrated by this decision".

The plan was first announced in January 2026 and the council were excited about the benefits to the Catford community from the new influx of students and staff.

James-J Walsh, who was cabinet member for inclusive regeneration and planning at the time, explained "this was a fast moving negotiation" and acknowledged that the announcement had "caused concern" to existing tenants.

The council said that the plan would boost the local economy, increase footfall and create opportunities for businesses.

But there was a marked absence of consideration of how the proposals would be received by staff and prospective students and the transport, housing and educational challenges that the plans would create for students separated from the main campus.

Goldsmiths seemed to confirm the plans in August, when the university renewed its Civic Agreement with local partners and referenced the development of the new campus as a shared goal with Lewisham council.

But Salamander reported in September that the lease between the council and the university had still not been signed and highlighted the risk to the campus plan, and risks to the whole borough, from Goldsmiths' ongoing financial crisis.

A spokesperson for Goldsmiths University has confirmed: "Following a review of our academic, estate and investment priorities, we concluded that bringing all of our provision together at New Cross will deliver the greatest long-term benefit for students, staff, and the wider University community.

"This includes our internationally renowned Art and Design provision, which is central to Goldsmiths’ identity and creative reputation."

The Art and Design Department is currently using the old Lewisham College site at Deptford Bridge. The university needs to move the department out by the end of 2027, due to planned development of the site which spans Lewisham and Greenwich.

This had led to the proposal to use the Old Town Hall; however, Goldsmiths now plan to enhance the New Cross campus instead.

“We are focused on creating a greener, more connected campus environment at New Cross that better serves students, staff, visitors, and neighbours, while strengthening Goldsmiths’ role as an anchor institution for Lewisham.

“Bringing our community together on a single campus will create greater opportunities for collaboration, creativity, and student experience."

Asked about recent Civic Agreement, the spokesperson said: "Our commitment to Lewisham is unchanged. As a key partner in the Civic University Agreement, we will continue to work with the council and local organisations to support opportunity, creativity and prosperity across the borough."

Lewisham council's spokesperson said: "We made significant investment into the building to facilitate the move and officers were working on plans for the move right up until we received the communication from Goldsmiths that they would not be proceeding".

After the council approved the plan in January, it went on to evict the artists and creatives that were using workspaces in the building.

It also cancelled its plans to move council staff from Laurence House into the Old Town Hall and to release the council controlled site for residential housing.

The release of this large council site may now provide an opportunity for the council to progress its new housing strategy which aims to accelerate social and affordable housing development in the borough.

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