Bexley aren’t planning to build homes beside Abbey Wood station until 2028

Bexley Council have given an update on plans to build new housing at various sites across the borough via their own development company BexleyCo.

A Cabinet Committee discussed the development pipeline which includes sites in Sidcup, Bexleyheath, Barnehurst, Erith Erith, Abbey Wood and Belvedere.

The biggest proposed site is at Abbey Wood directly next to the station which now includes the Elizabeth line, Southeastern and Thameslink services. A prime spot.

However the council’s company are not planning to start until 2028/29, following in the footsteps of Peabody who plan to leave various sites within walking distance of the station vacant for many years to come.

The site was formerly a car park then in use as a Crossrail worksite during construction work before becoming a car park again.

The authority have in the past issued indicative renders of what may be built, with the intention to do something about the grotty areas under a flyover.

That’d be far better than the dump parts of it now are.

Millions were spent from outside parties on improving public realm yet Bexley have let much of it rot since passing to their control. “Temporary” fencing still remains blocking the path in places alongside various detritus they’ve left abandoned.

The above shot spaces under the flyover which could becoming commercial outlets with car park to rear set for housing.

Land assembly

In preparation an adjacent property at 12 Sedgemere Road was purchased in October 2020 “for the purpose of land assembly for the core Felixstowe development on the Council owned site”.

Since then the property has lost money according to the council report:

“Significant costs were incurred during 2023/24 as a result of the worsening condition of the property.

“The projected cost of holding this asset until 2028/29 when the Felixstowe development is expected to commence has therefore increased by £0.103m from the projection in the 2023 business plan with the total loss now projected to be £0.173m over the period of the business plan.”

The report states an eventual profit expectation of £5.723 million on the site. BexleyCo as a whole is expected to generate £58.08 million profit.

Next door

They also planned to buy 14 Sedgemere Road next door but that’s now on hold.

While it’s a council-owned site and the council’s company is developing don’t expect any “affordable” homes at all. Their previous approved sites generally include none whatsoever.

Thus meaning private developments planned next door will possibly have more “affordable” housing than the councils, and the same as Peabody propose nearby.

Years after Crossrail construction commenced we still have seen very little action on providing new homes near Abbey Wood station, and that doesn’t look like changing soon.

Running a site alone takes time and a fair bit of money. Adverts are far from enough to cover it and my living costs as a private renter.