This will provide a valuable amenity for the surrounding community – new and old – as well as an engaging space for fans on match days. This is elevated over parking and service areas and accommodates retail, commercial and community use spaces along the street frontages. Complementing all of this will be flexible commercial space for events and conferencing, alongside residential developments that would drive additional funding to the surrounding site.
Part of the proposal is the creation of a vibrant new public plaza at the heart of New Bermondsey.
This diverse development mix will help to ensure the long-term success of The Den, the club and the Millwall Community Trust.
The Trust uses the power of sport to improve the lives of people in Lewisham, Southwark and the wider Millwall community. Through this funding stream, the Trust will gain much needed facility improvements and upgrades, including a new sports centre with a sports hall, changing rooms, a gym and a community café.
In addition, the Trust will have access to new multi-purpose spaces within a proposed West Stand extension for potential classrooms or fitness studios. Externally, a zone to the south of the stadium is proposed on non-match days as a multi-use games area.
"AFL has been very involved in stakeholder consultation and has fully considered the social,economic and environmental impacts of the proposals. It is fundamentally important to the club that their future in Lewisham - along with that of the Millwall Community Trust - is secure, and AFL's approach has demonstrated that they fully understand and share our values."
The development strategy is to retain as much of the existing stadium structure as possible.
A flexible phased uplift to both facilities and capacity over time will not only maintain the stadium in use for fans, but minimise demolition and construction waste.
The design approach is to create spaces that are adaptable, flexible and multi-use, encouraging activity within and around the stadium seven days a week to make optimal use of resources and create a sustainable future for the Club at the heart of New Bermondsey.
The design of the new proposals has been inspired by the history of Millwall FC and its surroundings.
The use of brickwork arches references the railway viaducts and industrial past that surround the current site, and also those at Millwall Park, which was home to the club on the Isle of Dogs over one hundred years ago, where the brick railway viaduct can be seen in the background of historic match photographs.
Internally, as much of the original stadium infrastructure as possible will be kept, to ensure the unique atmosphere of the Den is retained.
"AFL has engaged proactively and positively throughout their involvement on the project, collaborating successfully with stakeholders from both the local authority and private sector over development of the wider New Bermondsey masterplan area. Their approach has given us confidence that the redevelopment taking place on this site is truly for the benefit of everyone and is investing in the future of the wider Bermondsey community."
