Erith housing block near station submitted
Bexley Council developer BexleyCo have submitted plans for 70 flats on Walnut Tree Road near Erith station.
The site sits beside Bexley College and will also see space for a shop.
Despite the housing shortage and high costs for taxpayers via councils and national government owing to a lack of social housing, zero is proposed. As the application states, “BexleyCo is wholly owned by the London Borough of Bexley.”
The application mistakenly states trains run to London Charing Cross, London Bridge and London Cannon Street. They no longer go to Charing Cross.
Thameslink services also do not stop at Erith.
Affordable housing
The Viability Assessment included within the application states zero affordable homes are possible. Not just zero rents at social rent levels but of any description including those at higher rents or shared ownership.
The latest excuse is inflation. Funny that when inflation was far lower, BexleyCo found other reasons for zero affordable homes at another Erith development on a nearby park.
Yes, this is the same council that has seen budget pressures due to a lack of social homes. Those pressures also transfer across to central government who are paying vast costs for temporary housing owing to a lack of social homes.
Despite this, the council and national government refuse to build truly affordable housing at scale while billions are paid by taxpayers towards expensive private temporary accomodation.
Other sites are used in the application to justify zero affordable housing such as flats in Slade Green some way from the nearest station. The Erith site is right beside a station which offers trains taking five minutes to the Elizabeth line. It’s not comparable.
Yes, Southeastern services has seen cuts but it’s still an appealing prospect.
By the way, that Sade Green site used to compare only offered 25 per cent affordable. Any more wasn’t viable of course.
Erith masterplan
This plot has long been allocated for development. The Bexley Growth Strategy stated “Erith will provide the opportunity to deliver an exciting and well-connected urban riverfront destination of up to 6,000 new homes, with the area supporting up to 2,000 new jobs through a shift to new engineering and manufacturing activities.
Car parking is set at 15 places. Perfectly fine given proximity to station. Don’t like it? Don’t move to a predominantly car-free development.
Plans can be viewed on Bexley Council’s website by clicking here.
