New Rescue and Rehoming Centre
Planning permission granted to build a new Celia Hammond Animal Trust Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Lewisham, South East London
The Plans
New Rescue and Rehoming Centre Building Project
Reaching our 40th anniversary milestone has only been possible thanks to our incredible supporters, and we now need your help again.
Each year we have to find homes for around 1,900 unwanted and abandoned animals, and to help cope with this problem we have begun building a new, dedicated rescue and rehoming centre, adjacent to our existing Lewisham veterinary clinic in South East London.
In October 2023, we were granted planning permission to redevelop the Friendly Street warehouse and former shop at the rear of our Lewisham site into a rescue and rehoming centre.
Phases 1 and 2A of this project have been funded by legacy gifts. Phase 1 of the building works has already been completed and phase 2A works are to commence shortly.
We are now fundraising to pay for phase 2B, the construction of the main two-storey building which will cost £495,749, and we really need your support in funding the next stage of this project.
Once operational, our new rescue and rehoming centre on Friendly Street will secure the future of our Lewisham hub for decades to come.
Why This Project Is So Important
We regularly respond to calls from local authorities, police, and the public, and collect strays as well as animals from backstreet breeders, multi-cat households, and welfare situations, and neuter the animals at our clinics.
Despite our best efforts, we continue to experience the devastating effects of an increasing unneutered cat population, and every year we need to find homes for around 1,900 unwanted and abandoned animals.
Our Lewisham centre opened in 1995 and is home to our first low-cost veterinary clinic and one of our busiest rescue and rehoming hubs. Animals in our care are well looked after and loved, but the current accommodation at Lewisham needs upgrading.
With no space to expand within our existing Lewisham site, redevelopment of the adjacent Friendly Street site has become essential if we are to remain at Lewisham long term and continue serving the local community.
What Our New Rescue and Rehoming Centre Will Offer
Our new, purpose-built rescue and rehoming centre will:
- Provide spacious, modern and easy-to-clean accommodation for animals awaiting new homes
- Allow us to care for up to 160 rescue animals on site at any given time
- Feature a built-in ventilation system to help combat the spread of airborne infections
- Include a welcoming reception area and allow us to open seven days a week for potential adopters
- Unlock space within our existing veterinary building, enabling us to expand our low-cost veterinary services for pets belonging to low-income owners
- Be capable of accommodating corporate volunteer, community and school groups
The new centre will meet the latest building standards and be highly insulated to remain cool in summer and warm in winter, helping to minimise long-term running costs and future-proof the centre for decades to come.
Please Help Us Build Our New Centre
Our new rescue and rehoming centre in Lewisham will cost approximately £1.5million to build.
Phases 1 and 2A of this project have been funded by legacy gifts, and we are now fundraising to pay for phase 2B, the construction of the main two-storey building which will cost £495,749.
Whether it is £10, £20, £30 or more, every donation brings us closer to completing the next phase of our rescue and rehoming centre building project.
By supporting our Lewisham rescue and rehoming centre funding appeal you are helping to:
- Increase the number of animals we can care for and rehome
- Improve welfare standards and future-proof our facilities
- Expand access to low-cost veterinary care
- Secure our presence in the Borough of Lewisham for decades to come
Thank you for being part of our 40-year journey. Please donate whatever you can afford, big or small, and help us continue caring for animals who need us most.
Background
Our Lewisham centre in South East London opened in 1995 and is home to our first low-cost veterinary clinic. Animal rescue and rehoming are also at the forefront of our activities at Lewisham.
In addition to the welfare work that we carry out in the local community, each year our team finds new homes for hundreds of unwanted animals and we work closely with a network of volunteer foster carers who provide additional temporary accommodation and support for the animals.
Our current Lewisham centre occupies a former veterinary hospital and two adjoining Victorian properties on Lewisham Way, on the main A20 into London, and facilities are a mix of outdoor and indoor accommodation as well as veterinary hospitalisation spaces.
Whilst the animals are well cared for and loved, our facilities now require upgrading to enable us to meet evolving welfare standards and ensure that our Lewisham operation remains fit for purpose for decades to come. Unfortunately, there is not sufficient space to do this within our existing building.
We considered moving our Lewisham operation to an alternative location but the logistics and cost of doing so in the local area is prohibitive. And moving to a site towards the perimeter of South East London or into North Kent would take us further away from the areas where we are already established and would be a loss to the Borough of Lewisham and the community we have worked with for more than 30 years.
We own the former shop and single-storey warehouse/workshop at No 1 Friendly Street, situated at the rear of our existing veterinary clinic and rescue centre, and have intended to redevelop these buildings to provide improved facilities for the animals in our care when funds permitted. In March 2021 we received a generous legacy gift which enabled us to begin this project.
Project Funding
It will cost approximately £1.5million to build our new rescue and rehoming centre in Lewisham, and we are intending to fund the project from legacy income and a variety of fundraising initiatives. The pace of progress will be reliant on having sufficient funding at each stage.
Phases 1 and 2A have been funded through generous legacy gifts. Phase 1 works have already been completed, and Phase 2A — demolition, groundworks, and foundations — will commence shortly.
We are now fundraising to pay for phase 2B, the construction of the main two-storey building, which will cost £495,749.
Please donate whatever you afford as every donation will brings us closer to completing our new rescue and rehoming centre building project.
