Lewisham is one of south east London’s fastest-changing boroughs, with major regeneration under way in Lewisham town centre and Catford and a well-established creative cluster in Deptford and New Cross, home to Goldsmiths, University of London and the Trinity Laban conservatoire. Office space here is generally more affordable than in central London, which makes the borough attractive to small businesses, creative studios, professional practices and community organisations looking for good-value workspace with fast links to the City and Canary Wharf.
Lewisham station is the southern terminus of the DLR, with direct trains to Canary Wharf and Bank, alongside Southeastern services to Charing Cross, Cannon Street and Victoria. New Cross and New Cross Gate are on the Windrush line of the London Overground, which also calls at Brockley, Honor Oak Park, Forest Hill and Sydenham on its way towards Crystal Palace and West Croydon. Catford has two neighbouring stations: Catford Bridge, with Southeastern trains on the Hayes line towards Charing Cross, and Catford, where Thameslink trains on the Catford loop run to Blackfriars and on through central London. The borough has no Underground stations, but between the DLR, the Overground and frequent National Rail services, every one of its commercial areas has a direct route into central London.
Office Refurbishment Costs in Lewisham
Office refurbishment in Lewisham typically costs between £35 and £65 per square foot, competitive rates for inner south east London. These ranges cover a standard refurbishment including flooring, ceilings, lighting, decoration and basic mechanical and electrical upgrades. Full fit outs with bespoke joinery, AV systems and specialist finishes will sit at the higher end or above these ranges.
Costs vary with the building as much as the borough: a straightforward refresh of a modern floor in Lewisham town centre is priced very differently from opening up a former industrial unit in Deptford and installing new services throughout. That is why we always start with a site survey and provide a detailed, itemised quotation, so you know exactly what is included before any work begins.
Why Choose Lewisham for Your Business
Lewisham offers a rare combination of affordability and connectivity: DLR trains from Lewisham station reach Canary Wharf and Bank directly, and significant public and private investment is flowing into the borough. The Lewisham Gateway development beside the station, one of the largest regeneration schemes in south east London, has replaced the old road layout with new homes, shops and public space. In Catford, the council’s Catford Town Centre Framework, adopted in 2021, sets out long-term plans for the town centre, and the Thomas’ Lane Yard scheme approved in April 2025 will add commercial and affordable workspace alongside new homes. Deptford and New Cross form one of the Mayor of London’s first Creative Enterprise Zones, anchored by Goldsmiths and Trinity Laban, which keeps a steady flow of creative talent in the borough.
The office stock reflects that mix. Lewisham town centre has the borough’s larger office buildings, while much of the remaining space is in smaller commercial buildings, high street premises and converted properties. Deptford and New Cross offer characterful workspace in converted industrial buildings, including the Cockpit maker studios on Creekside and the artist studios at Deptford Foundry, and Catford, Forest Hill and Sydenham provide affordable suburban offices for local firms.
Types of Office Refurbishment We Deliver in Lewisham
We deliver three broad types of project in Lewisham. In the town centre we modernise office floors that have not been touched for years: new ceilings, lighting, flooring and decoration, better meeting rooms and upgraded heating and cooling. In Deptford and New Cross we refurbish and convert former industrial and retail space for creative use, retaining brickwork, exposed structure and high ceilings while installing the power, data and ventilation a modern studio or agency needs. In Catford, Forest Hill and Sydenham we deliver practical, budget-conscious refurbishments of suburban offices and premises above shops.
Across all of these, the most common requests are improved energy efficiency, open plan layouts with proper breakout and meeting space, and technology infrastructure brought up to current standards. Whatever the building, the process is the same: survey, design, itemised quotation, then a managed programme through to handover.
Planning and Building Considerations in Lewisham
Lewisham has a substantial number of conservation areas, including Blackheath, Brockley, Telegraph Hill, Sydenham Park, St John’s, Brookmill Road and Deptford High Street and St Paul’s Church. Internal refurbishment work does not normally require planning permission, even in a conservation area, but external alterations, new signage and window replacements often do, and listed buildings need listed building consent for internal as well as external changes. Deptford’s older commercial buildings in particular deserve early checks before work is priced.
Most Lewisham offices are leased, so landlord consent matters as much as planning. We prepare the drawings and specifications needed for a licence to alter, flag any consents required at survey stage, and manage building control approval and fire safety compliance throughout the project. If you are bringing a former shop, workshop or warehouse into office use, we will advise early on whether change-of-use consent is needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an office refurbishment cost in Catford?
Standard refurbishments of existing office space in Catford typically cost £30 to £60 per square foot, with lighter cosmetic upgrades at the lower end and projects that include full mechanical and electrical work sitting within our borough-wide £35 to £65 range. Catford remains one of the more affordable commercial areas in inner south east London, and we provide an itemised quotation after a site survey so you can see exactly what is included.
Can you convert industrial or former warehouse space into offices in Deptford?
Yes. Deptford and New Cross sit within one of London’s first Creative Enterprise Zones, and much of the local workspace is converted industrial stock. We deliver conversions that retain character features such as brickwork and exposed structure while installing the heating, cooling, power and data infrastructure a modern business needs, and we manage building control and fire safety compliance throughout.
Do I need planning permission to refurbish an office in a Lewisham conservation area?
Internal refurbishment work does not normally need planning permission, even in conservation areas such as Blackheath, Brockley or Deptford High Street and St Paul’s Church. External alterations, new signage and window replacements often do need consent, and listed buildings require listed building consent for internal as well as external changes. We identify any consents needed at survey stage and prepare the paperwork for your landlord’s licence to alter where the premises are leased.
How long does an office refurbishment take in Lewisham?
Most projects in Lewisham take 4 to 10 weeks depending on scope. Conversions from non-office use take longer, typically 8 to 14 weeks, because of the additional mechanical, electrical and building control requirements. We provide a detailed programme before starting work so you know what to expect at each stage.
Areas We Cover in Lewisham
We deliver office refurbishment projects across the whole borough, including:
Bell Green, Bellingham, Blackheath, Brockley, Catford, Crofton Park, Deptford, Downham, Forest Hill, Grove Park, Hither Green, Honor Oak Park, Ladywell, Lee, Lewisham town centre, New Cross, New Cross Gate, St Johns, Sydenham and Telegraph Hill.
Our Services
We offer a full range of office refurbishment and fit out services across Lewisham:
- Office Refurbishment: complete workspace transformation from survey to handover
- Office Fit Out: full design and build for new or existing spaces
- Office Design: creative, functional workspace design that reflects your brand
- Space Planning: optimise your floor plan for productivity and hybrid working
- Office Renovation: modernise and refresh tired workspaces cost-effectively
Other London Areas
We cover all of Greater London. Explore our area hub pages:
Get Your Free Quote
Ready to transform your Lewisham office? Whether you need a complete refurbishment, a targeted renovation, or expert design advice, we would love to hear about your project. Our team will visit your site, understand your requirements, and provide a detailed, no-obligation quotation.
Get in touch today to book your free consultation, or call us to discuss your project with one of our refurbishment specialists.