New blocks at Greenwich Peninsula site revealed
Consultation on altering already approved 2017 plans and build 476 new homes on the Greenwich Peninsula have been revealed.
L&Q have begun an event highlighting plans for the site directly beside St Mary Magdalene school topping out at 30-storeys.
Amusingly they refer to speeding up plans, yet 2015 plans approved in early 2017 have not been advanced and this new application delays building yet further.
The number of “affordable” housing is set at 60% which is higher than most, though crucially what “affordable” means is not clarified apart from half of those are shared-ownership (that old wheeze whereby you must pay rent, service charges and sometimes ground rent as well as the mortgage) and half “affordable” rent.
If that’s at 80% market rate, given how much landlords charge in the area don’t expect many on less than £80k to be able to afford it.
Consultation material makes reference to buses (many routes recently cut though there are plans for new routes – however they are coming from Kidbrooke where thousands of new homes are being built ) and the Jubilee Line (new train order axed) yet declines to mention Southeastern’s Greenwich line to the south.
As is the norm, also no mention of improving pedestrian and cycling links to Greenwich and nearby shops and amenities. Enjoy these walks:
It’s all decent enough yet not as good as what was approved years ago. For me the design is a step back from the pastel colours and elegant proportions that contrasted nicely with existing builds, while some of the most glaring issues in the area are not mentioned.
With the local Labour party getting a scare in the area at last week’s election (Peninsula ward polled the lowest for Labour in the borough at 17%) will the authority wake up when it comes to public realm and better links as this scheme advances?
Of course the EU elections are quite different to others, yet Silvertown is a contentious issue locally and if the authority do not increase spending and improve the local area using tens of millions obtained via local new-builds, frustration will only increase. Not to mention the health of local people.
- Support the site by donating here via Paypal or Ko-Fi.
- Or become a monthly Patron here.
- I also have a Facebook page for news in your feed.
The 60% affordable homes on this development are still out of the reach of many residents in the Borough of Greenwich. You would probably need to earn another £40,000 to £50,000 a year on top of the average full time salary of £ 30,000 to £35,000 in Greenwich to be able to afford one. Having looked again at the development plans I personally think the 2017 scheme looks better than the current plans and would fit better with the local area.
With regard to public transport in the area we have seen cuts to bus services and cuts to services on the Greenwich Line. With the St Mary Magdalene school set to have around 1000 pupils attending the school and some homes on the Greenwich Peninsula with no direct bus services to local shops and amenities including nearby Charlton Retail Parks,
The public transport infrastructure needs improving on and around the Greenwich Peninsula as soon as possible. A new route 335 between KIdbrooke Village and North Greenwich Station is planned but feel more bus routes will still be needed as they have always encouraged developments on the Greenwich Peninsula to be car free as much as possible.
So i am also surprised there seems to be no plans to improve pedestrian walkways and cycling routes for the same reasons,
Went to look at the shiny new models yesterday and was very surprised to see two tall towers on the site next to the new school. These overlook the playgrounds so as well as blocking out the sun, there are surely serious issues of security and safeguarding for children in the playgrounds. The developers seemed unaware of the potential problems .
Housing beside schools (even mid and high rise) is common the world over. It’s only in the UK really where it’s rare but if housing need is to be met it has to happen in cities, and it is in more and more places now. The old masterplan and already approved 2017 plan had towers by the school and precedent is there.