Is Abbey Wood’s town centre to be pulled down?
OK, I concede the headline is attention grabbing and this post is based on a bit of supposition, speculation and rumours but here we go.
In the middle of Abbey Wood’s sprawling 1950s estate is the heart of the area at Eynsham Drive. It comprises a shopping parade, homes, library, community centre tower block, many garages and a health centre.
It was the very last part of the estate to be built, and when it did architectural tastes had moved on.
Instead of low-rise brick buildings seen in the rest of the 3000 home estate there’s a high rise tower. Even the low rise section is a different style of design with less brick work and more panelling and concrete frames on show.
One building in this area is the former Health Centre, or Abbey Wood clinic. Global Guardians are now advertising for people to live there in the short term after it was vacated. That often happens before demolition.
In addition some credible rumours have emerged that the co-op located under the tower block is closing.
There’s many reasons why but with a tenant on a long lease out its easier to move forward. Any replacement shop could be on a short lease.
Maybe the current tower will remain and simply have minor alterations as part of any plans? It’d be the hardest part to do.
With Crossrail just round the corner a large scale redevelopment covering most of the area and garages to the rear would make Greenwich Council a fair few quid and utilise land much more effectively to provide badly needed homes.
If they were ambitious and used Meridian Homes they could build 5-10 times the number of current homes and a far more impressive town centre and still retain certain buildings.
The only ambition that Greenwich council has is to fill its coffers with s106 dividends. I’ll eat my non-existent hat if Greenwich comes through with any significant build via Meridian Homes.
And then not spend them!
I really hope that it happens. The area by the shop is just… shitty. There’s no other word for it. It would be great to see it redeveloped with more shops and housing while improving the aesthetics.
Great things could be done here but Greenwich won’t do it.
Too lazy. tired, inward looking and take local people for granted to improve estates.
Heard co-op shuts on 8th April 2018 with a new store opening after
The co op is closing to become Nisa Local. The co op has sold many of its former somerfield stores as they are loss making. The Co op in plumstead became a budgens and months later had closed down and is now a poundland.
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