Goldsmiths, University of London is to open a new campus in Catford and will move into Lewisham Council’s Old Town Hall in what has been dubbed a “landmark partnership agreement”.
The university’s Fine Art and Design courses will be relocated to the new venue, which is set to bring in more than 600 students to Catford’s town centre.
Goldsmiths is expected to enter a 10-year lease with Lewisham Council, while work to prepare the Old Town Hall for the university will begin later this year.
The council has said staff and services currently based there will be moving to alternative locations, including Laurence House.
Mayor of Lewisham Brenda Dacres, along with her Cabinet, are expected to formally approve of the plans on Wednesday, January 21.
The council hopes the move will revitalise the town centre and will boost the economy, increase footfall and create opportunities for businesses.
Goldsmiths had approached the council because it needed to find a space to replace its use of the former Lewisham College site in Deptford, which is earmarked for redevelopment and means that Goldsmiths needs to vacate the site by July 2027.
A Cabinet report states that Goldsmiths is keen to stay in the borough and believes Catford to be the only suitable location in Lewisham which can accommodate to its requirements.
As part of its requirements, Goldsmiths needs around 6,000sqm of space for its graduate design and fine arts department for a period of about 10 years from September 2027.
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Mayor Dacres said: “This is a powerful example of what long-term partnership can achieve. Bringing Goldsmiths into the heart of Catford is not just about a new campus – it’s about anchoring creativity, learning and opportunity in our town centre.
“By working together, we’re creating the conditions for Catford to thrive: supporting local businesses, attracting new visitors, and opening up opportunities for residents to connect with one of the UK’s leading creative universities. This is a major step forward in our vision for Catford as a vibrant place to live, work, study and spend time.”
The move is the latest regeneration project to come to Catford town centre, after the council opened a new pub called The Catford House at the end of last year.
This year will also see work commence on the construction of more than 100 affordable homes at Thomas’ Lane Yard, an underused car park site located north of Catford Broadway.
The major regeneration scheme will also see green public spaces, commercial and affordable workspace built on the same site.
