NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR GALLIARD & THE LOWE GROUP TO PROVIDE GUARDIANSHIP HOMES TO KEYWORKERS

Leading developer Galliard Homes has partnered with The LOWE Group to deliver affordable guardianship opportunities at their development site, The Leegate Centre in Lee Green, London Borough of Lewisham. The new partnership will see keyworkers and local professionals moving into disused apartments above the shopping centre’s retail units ahead of the site’s redevelopment into new homes.

As the first time that Galliard has worked with LOWE, the new partnership has kicked off with five apartments now occupied by keyworkers, young professionals, and creatives. The homes, comprising three studios, one one-bedroom and one three-bedroom apartments, have been fully fitted out by LOWE, ensuring they are habitable, secure and fully compliant with health and safety standards.

Located at the corner of Burnt Ash Road and Eltham Road, The Leegate Centre was originally constructed in the 1960s comprising a shopping centre and two office blocks, with the current retail and residential units underused and in need of transformation.

Galliard purchased the site in April 2021 and is looking at redeveloping the site into new homes and amenities for the local community. Early proposals focus on a residential-led mixed use development of several hundred homes, with shops, office, community and leisure space. Initial public consultation for the new planning application has begun, with the guardianship partnership delivering keyworker accommodation as meanwhile use.

With a focus on finding the next up-and-coming areas, award-winning developer Galliard is a specialist in mixed-use regeneration projects offering new homes at competitive prices. The Lee Green area is in need of new housing, particularly for first-time buyers, with the shopping centre’s evolution set to help meet this demand.

LOWE offers innovative property solutions for managing vacant properties, with guardianship occupation a popular method for developers whilst sites go through the planning process. Using their keyworker prioritization program, the rooms are allocated to trustworthy guardians with many working as doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs and creatives.

Tim Lowe, Director of The LOWE Group says: “Lee Gate and the surrounding area has a large community of young professionals and creatives who want to remain in the area but the cost of renting is a barrier to many, with guardianship offering an affordable solution. We are proud to be working with Galliard to deliver guardianship at the shopping centre, helping keyworkers move into the disused space whilst the site’s redevelopment plans are progressed.”

Simon Welch, Head of Land & Affordable Housing at Galliard Homes says: “The Leegate Centre is a site in need of an uplift and we are looking forward to unlocking the development potential of this site into a vibrant new hub for the local community. Whilst our initial public consultation is underway, we are delighted to have partnered with The LOWE Group, who are experts at guardianship provision across London. The partnership means that local keyworkers can move into rooms at affordable prices, especially at a time when London’s rental market is so challenging for young professionals.”