Greenwich site no longer likely to see Queen’s boat moored as part of Morden Wharf

A proposal for the Queen’s rowboat Gloriana to be moored in Greenwich is now unlikely according to recently submitted planning documents.

There was mention of the vessel heading to Greenwich for the Morden Wharf development when it was submitted some years ago before approval.

It always looked like a load of PR guff – and thus it appears to be.

A notification hidden amongst a new submission that it is now “unlikely Gloriana boathouse will be located at the site” is included within a newly submitted development plan for the site which recently changed hands.

Galliard Homes bought the site in 2023.

Slow going

The most recent application offers timescales for development with no work expected on residential blocks until late 2028.

Yep, another site taking an age. No sweat. There’s no rush.

Overall the development itself has been the source of much controversy with local MP Matt Pennycook (who is now Housing Minister) coming out strongly against despite it offering 300 homes for those on the ever-growing council waiting list. In the meantime much taxpayers money is being spent on extremely expensive private accommodation due to a very lack of said housing.

Greenwich have been spending millions on emergency housing and recently revealed up to £5 million spend on a Greenwich hotel.

I recently asked Pennycook (and he never responded) that if we don’t gain homes via developments like this how else do we provide homes for those on council and social waiting lists if government – his government – shows little interest in funding? He had no answer – and it appears neither do his bosses in government like Chancellor Rachel Reeves

It’s all well and good in opposition saying this and that while objecting to homes at a tenure even the Labour London Mayor states is social housing, yet then in power see new Chancellor Rachel Reeves ape previous Tories in office and offer little no alternative.

In Labour’s own manifesto they said they’d stick to Conservative spending plans on council and social homes. Yep, because that’s been a resounding success. The lack of council and social homes is taking numerous councils to the brink and costing taxpayers billions. Fiscal responsibility I think they call it.

Penny wise and pound foolish.

So what is it for Labour in government and MPs like Matt Pennycook? Offer no additional grant funding for social and council homes and still seek to block private developments that offer some (in Morden Wharf’s case it’s 300) as a by-product?

That way sees madness and social conditions the like we havn’t seen for many years as homelessness goes off the scale.

It’s easy to play to the gallery – but harder to tackle the problems we have all too present here and now.