Bexleyheath’s 518-home Eastside Quarter takes shape
It’s been a couple of months since I last took visited and took photos of a large new development rising in Bexleyheath town centre, so I thought I’d head over to check progress.
Phase one appears to have topped out with brick cladding starting to appear on one block.
The next phase, which is now underway, is the tallest block near Sainsbury’s. Little is visible above hoardings but groundwork is ongoing.
And here’s how it will appear:
The site includes retail space at street level with Sports Direct taking on a large unit.
Bexley Council will see a windfall of income. These include:
- £4.2 million to Bexley Council through the Community Infrastructure Levy.
- An additional £3.1 million from the New Homes Bonus.
- £790,000 per year in council tax income.
- Nine retail units are included, including Sports Direct, which will bring in £79,000 in business rates.
Affordable housing levels at just 20 per cent. Bexley borough has a very poor record on affordable homes and a new post will look at that soon with last year’s figures just released.
The expectation is many buyers will utilise Crossrail and use the new 301 bus to reach Abbey Wood, which commenced over the summer.
It’d make Canary Wharf around 30 minutes from the site. Twenty minutes on a bus (perhaps slightly optimistic…) then a 10 minute rail trip from Abbey Wood to Canary Wharf.
So where is the new school and Drs going to be ? To cope with the extra residents.
Schools are already being expanded. Bexley has longer GP waits than boroughs with far higher housing. You never know, drs may even move here. Do doctors never move to new builds throughout history?