About Besson Street Trust
For more than 17 years, we've been working in New Cross, SE14 to build a connected community with better opportunities and improved health and wellbeing outcomes for local people. Formerly The New Cross Gate Trust, today we employ a core team of eight full-time and part-time people along with an amazing team of sessional workers. We support many other local organisations and interact with and impact directly more than 600 individual beneficiaries every year.
About
The Besson Street Trust works to provide positive opportunities to local people of all ages and backgrounds. We want to support our local community to lead happy, healthy, stable and fulfilled lives. We want to help build a community in New Cross Gate that is inclusive, confident and ambitious for themselves and for the area, supporting one another to achieve our full potential.
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We are based in the beautiful Besson Street Community Gardens – a real working, fruit-and-veg growing garden with a variety of exotic, ornamental and native species. This provides the setting for our community space, where many of our activities are delivered.
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We also support other local charities and community groups to deliver a wider range of community services elsewhere in New Cross Gate.
We also provide training and development support to local groups to strengthen their skills and capacity, to develop their services, and to build the strength of their organisations. We aim to work in partnership with other groups wherever possible to build the range and quality of services and support available to local people.
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History
Besson Street Trust traces its roots back to the New Deal for Communities (NDC) Programme, emerging as a legacy charity with a commitment to social regeneration.   ​
The New Cross Gate NDC was established in 2001 and ran until 2011, at which point its charitable successor body, the New Cross Gate Trust, was established. The Trust officially commenced operations in 2011, concentrating its efforts on revitalising the community of New Cross Gate.  
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As part of the NDC’s succession strategy, the Trust took ownership of the assets and property acquired by the NDC, securing a sustainable long-term rental income stream. Nestled within the peaceful Besson Street Community Garden, the trust initially operated with just two permanent staff members but has since expanded its team to include eight permanent staff and additional sessional workers.   ​
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Reflecting its evolution and the name most frequently used for the Trust, the organisation officially changed its name to the Besson Street Trust in 2024, underscoring its ongoing commitment to community development and social renewal in the New Cross Gate area.
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Our new brand identify was created by local designer Laura Purdy with photography by Jeremy Hilder.
Besson Street
Development Site/Healthy Living Centre
The current Besson Street Development Site was identified as a key part of the NDC’s plan to regenerate the New Cross Gate area.
In 2006-2007, Lewisham Council purchased a number of existing properties on the site as part of this plan, using NDC funding. The buildings on the land were then demolished in preparation for redevelopment, again using NDC funding, although the Council remains the freehold owner of the site.
During the period 2006 to 2010, two schemes to redevelop the land ultimately fell by the wayside, predominantly due to challenges with financial viability.
In 2015, the Council revived plans for the site, with a renewed commitment to delivering a new doctors surgery, pharmacy, community space and outdoor gym for the benefit of the local community as part of the scheme. The surgery, pharmacy and community space will be transferred to the Trust as the NDC’s successor body, in recognition of the funding originally provided for the land assembly and site preparation works.
These spaces will provide the Trust with a long-term income stream and improved facilities that will be used to benefit the New Cross Gate community. More broadly, the Council is also committed to delivering a high-quality development that local residents can enjoy, be part of and benefit from.
In early 2018, Grainger, the UK's largest listed residential landlord, partnered with the Council to develop the site adjacent to the Trust’s headquarters in Besson Street.
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The planning application for this new version of the scheme was submitted in November 2019 and approved on 30 July 2020. The development includes 324 residential units, flexible retail and commercial spaces, a pharmacy, a GP surgery (to replace the current Queens Road surgery) and new community space for Besson Street Trust.  
 
Notably, 35% of the new homes will be let at 'London Living Rent,' with rent increases aligned with inflation. The rental income from the homes will contribute to local authority services and the construction of new social homes.  
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While Besson Street Trust recognises the need for more social housing, it acknowledges the importance of providing high-quality, affordable housing for local working families. The Trust, although not owning the land, will benefit from leasing the GP surgery, pharmacy and community space, ensuring a sustainable financial model for vital community services. The development aims to maximise environmental opportunities, green spaces and energy efficiency.  
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The GP surgery, an enhanced replacement for the Queens Road surgery, will offer increased capacity and services.  
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The project aims to commence in Summer 2026 with completion expected in 2029. Register for our newsletter for regular updates.