Lewisham Council is working to lift its conditional land sale agreement over land around The Den with developer Renewal, following fresh calls from Millwall FC.

This follows months of “constructive” talks between the parties, after Lewisham’s plans to seize the club’s leasehold land around the stadium using a compulsory purchase order were dropped in January 2017.

Cancelling the conditional land sale agreement would mean a fresh compulsory purchase order was off the table, and show the club had a role in the future development, our local democracy reporter understands.

Millwall FC chairman John Berylson said excluding the club in plans for the land “threatened our long-term future in the borough” with the club drawing up its own plans for the land to fit alongside Renewal’s over the New Bermondsey site.

The three plots of land surrounding The Den were originally part of the New Bermondsey development.

“Millwall’s board of directors has approved considerable expenditure to achieve this progress because we retain a vision for the new community that can be created here with our football club at its heart.

“We have always been fans of the regeneration of this area and to play our part, we need to be properly involved – not just spectators on the touchline,” Mr Berylson said.

But a Lewisham Council spokesperson said the council had been working with the parties to “remove the conditional land sale agreement.”

“The council has received a request from Millwall FC to remove the conditional land sale agreement (CLSA). We are very encouraged by the joint work that is now taking place between the club, Renewal and council officers. This work includes an objective to remove the CLSA.

“We are giving careful consideration to the current request for an early withdrawal of the CLSA and we are in active dialogue with the club and Renewal. An announcement will be made in due course,” she said.