Blackwall Lane housing development in Greenwich sees crane on site

Work to build new homes at a former MOT centre on Blackwall Lane looks firmly underway with the arrival of a crane on site.

Hexagon Housing Association are behind the project which is just one of many developments in the local area.

Last year Hexagon sought approval to change bricks to a rather drab grey. As yet it appears undecided.

The original brick tone was designed to match neighbouring Rothbury Hall.

Despite being approved back in 2019 no Section 106 agreement has been uploaded by the authority onto the planning website – which isn’t great in terms of transparency when it comes to how the authority are spending developer income.

The flats will sit beside the Meantime site which is to end brewing production.

Meantime now sees the location as more of a marketing/bar location and plans to revamp the exterior were approved in 2023.

Wider area

Blackwall Lane has seen many developments over the past decade along its length of which the Hexagon Housing block is just the latest.

The above shot shows two such examples of relatively recent change either side of the road at the junction with Woolwich Road.

At the northern end where Blackwall Lane meets Tunnel Avenue things fall apart in terms of public realm.

Reaching the peninsula (and vice versa in terms of those on the peninsula reaching east Greenwich) isn’t enticing.

Here’s the stretch around the flyover as seen last week.

Many homes are also underway to the north of the flyover as is visible above. This spot is where new residents would traverse to reach shops, amenities and transport links in east Greenwich.

Highway Engineers (or at least those who installed the current layout many years ago) still expect pedestrians to take long detours rather than logical routes from A to B despite changes all around on both sides of the road.

Bus changes

An increasing number of people on foot may soon be forced through this grim environment after TfL announced plans to change a bus route.

This would force pupils at two nearby schools to traverse a pedestrian-unfriendly space underneath the flyover as well as routes either side.

TfL undertook consultation in January 2024.

They seek to divert route 188 onto Tunnel Avenue which is another area that’s seen a number of developments including the soon-to-complete distribution depot covered last week sitting opposite a relatively new hotel.

Below we can see those walking the quickest route rather than the long detour.

The quickest route on foot doesn’t have a crossing of any description. It’s littered with railings in an attempt to force people here and there rather than where is logical to walk.

Of course many people won’t walk long detours and will instead head via the shortest route despite a lack of paving and/or crossings and chance their luck.

In particular teens heading to school aren’t likely to wander all over the place if running late.

Thus the bus diversion if approved will force students to take a pretty dangerous and grim route – which despite the sheer number of developments (including this very latest on Blackwall Lane) including other housing, schools, commercial spaces, shops and industrial units is still as bad as ever for pedestrians.

Running a site takes much time and cost a lot of money. Adverts are far from enough to cover it and my rent.