Shardeloes Road rehab centre abandoned

The landlord of the old bank on Shardeloes Road, has decided to withdraw from the arrangement that would have led to the creation of a drug rehabilitation centre at that location. The decision means that the centre, which had been given permission to operate for a minimum of one year, will not now be built.

The planning committee had given the centre permission to operate on a one-year trial basis with scope to extend its licence to operate if the centre performed well. Treatment providers CRI appealed the decision, asking for a minimum of five years, suggesting that they were not confident that a review after one year would have produced a favourable verdict on the centre's performance. This appeal will not now take place and an alternative solution will be sought.

A statement from the Council reads:

Lewisham Council and NHS Lewisham are looking at fresh plans at how they can best deliver drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services in the north of the borough. 

A treatment centre was originally planned to be housed in the old bank on Shardeloes Road in Brockley for clients that live in Deptford, New Cross and Brockley areas. 

The service there will not now go ahead after the landlord who owns the building decided to withdraw its use due to the length of time it has taken to progress the deal. 

There has been a lengthy consultation and planning process for the proposed services to be delivered from Shardeloes Road. CRI New Direction, which delivers drug and alcohol support services in the borough on behalf of Lewisham Council, was due to run the proposed service at Shardeloes Road. 

Officers across the partnership will now be looking at a range of new ideas to see how and where it can deliver the much-needed treatment and recovery services in the north area. 

For information, help or confidential advice go to www.lewisham.gov.uk and search on ‘drugs and alcohol’ or call the Lewisham Drug and Alcohol Action Team on 020 8314 8226.

Cllrs Vicky Foxcroft and Adefiranye responded to the news, saying:

We are happy that this decision has taken place. We were never convinced that this was the best place for this service. We have felt it may be more appropriate for it to be placed in a health centre, where service users are not easily identifiable and where they can have access to other treatments. We do hope that a more suitable location is found, as we know how important this service is to its users.