A look at a changing Bexleyheath town centre
One of Bexley borough’s biggest housing schemes is now well underway in Bexleyheath town centre bringing more than 500 new homes and a number of shops. I popped down to take a look.
Currently work is focused on the south of the site nearest Sainsbury’s Lidl and Cineworld.
This render gives an impression of how this view will appear upon completion:
Bexley Borough’s Civic Centre was housed on this site before council departments were moved to the former Woolwich building society building.
For me the worst buildings in this development are seen on the left of this indicative view from Sainsbury’s car park:
Work is yet to begin on the tallest block.
The evening render looks much better. Quality of materials will be key here. It appears reflective. In reality could it be drab grey cladding such as zinc?
You may notice a pedestrianed area on the right. That’s now scrapped.
A number of retail units will be located at street level. 520 flats will provide ample new customers to the cinema and restaurants in the area – and Lidl too. It opened a couple of years back bringing more people to this end of town – which will only increase with more shops and homes.
One hope for developers seeking buyers is that many newcomers will commute to Abbey Wood’s forthcoming Crossrail station. A brand new and direct bus route to Abbey Wood named the 301 starts next week. It’s quicker than the existing B11 and will have more capacity and higher frequencies.
Assuming the new bus route can reach Abbey Wood in 20 minutes,then that makes it a reasonable trip to major centres of employment such as Canary Wharf which is only 11 minutes from Abbey Wood on the Elizabeth Line when it finally opens.
That will appeal to many younger couples across London in well paying jobs. And of course they wont be short of leisure and shopping activities on their doorstep.
How should Bexleyheath change, if at all? What do you value about the town, and what are your aspirations for its future?
Influence the Council’s emerging Bexleyheath town centre masterplan at the Community Workshop: http://www.tinyurl.com/BTCMworkshop
Always makes me smile how these artists impressions always show the Northern face of these buildings basking in bright sunshine. We can even see the shadow of the cinema from across the street in this one.
Here in the Northern hemisphere the sun will be in the south. The northern face will be in darkness, as will the other side of the street, from the hulking shadows this thing will cast.