Revisiting Greenwich's new developments – part 2
The last post looked at sites around the Blackwall approach road. Today will cover the rest of the Peninsula and a bit of Greenwich town centre, after I last covered these areas about six months ago. Firstly, Bellway’s ‘Platinum Riverside’ development is now visible:
Of all the colours, they chose a pretty dreary shade of grey to clad the main block. Even on a beautiful day it wasn’t great. In contrast I’m quite fond of the white mid-rise with recessed bands of windows, and the low rise section with dark brick and yellow frames.
Just nor
th are Knight Dragons’s earlier stages of development. There is the first tower to rise at this part, which will be joined by others in coming years.
The park nearby looked wonderful on a beautiful autumn’s day. Many people were enjoying the space, eating on the patch of green closest to the o2, with a fair few also enjoying the park stretching down to the pilot inn.
The Now gallery building was also looking superb. This building is a great addition to the area, and it was good to see the public areas in the area brimming with life after a few barren years.
Here’s how the towers seen behind should eventually appear:
Further north and piling work is underway on further towers, which are a much more interesting design:
Around the other side of the dome is the Intercontinental hotel tower. Finishing touches are being applied. The thing is the epitome of bland. It was looking ok on such a beautiful day, with shimmering reflections on the facade, but it isn’t befitting such a prime location:
Over in Greenwich town centre a couple more developments have made swift progression recently. Opposite Wetherpoons, on either side of Up the Creek is a terrace of buildings. It’s a nice contemporary design that seems of decent density, and it retained good quality buildings:
Finally, just by the creek is a bit of a hidden development – Hilton & Caledonian Wharfs. Hopefully this should open up a path along the creek:
I was surprised about the quality of these. I expected bargain basement facades given renders, and it took a long time to start after approval. Family Mosaic are involved, who have put up some real dross by Lewisham station, but the brickwork had great detailing and the windows of good proportions.
The council estate over the road wasn’t in great shape. Some small investment and alterations could open up the estate and smarten it up. For example, on Norman Road an imposing, dark brick wall on the estate boundary seems to serve no purpose. Its demolition could open up the space, with a tree planted behind. Hopefully a small amount of developer contributions from all these developments improve the public areas.
Excellent overview. Re Hilton and Calendonian, I hope this west greenwich area past the station starts to build its own personality. With the new build next to deptford bridge, distillery crescent, se8, the toolworks some cafes and more pubs in the area would be welcome…
I agree, the Intercontinental is really dreary. I haven’t examined the details of the developments along the creek on the Greenwich side, so I don’t know how thorough Greenwich planners have been in insisting on public access to the waterside and creating a new footpath. Their efforts so far on this side of the creek have been poor, so I am not holding my breath.