
Labour-run Lewisham Council had planned to use the Den as part of the New Bermondsey development, but critics warned
that forcing Millwall F.C off the land would meant the club would have needed to leave the borough.
The
council’s choice of developer, Renewal, had also been called into
question after links between the company and
the Lewisham Labour party were revealed. The CPO process was paused in
2017 to allow an investigation into some of the claims. During last
year’s mayoral election Conservative candidate, Ross Archer, pressed
Labour on several occasions to commit to axing the
CPO which they would not do. Prior to the election Lewisham
Conservatives supported the campaign to save Millwall F.C by writing to
the Mayor of London and the then Secretary of State for Local
Government, Sajid Javid MP, to ask for the decision to be called
in for review back in 2017.