Greenwich student housing development submitted
Plans are in for student housing in east Greenwich at the former Speedy Hire site.
A total of 190 student rooms will be on site if approved with this plan replacing a prior proposal for 58 flats in 2022.
AVF Developments seek to build a structure up to six floors in height with commercial space at street level. APT are the architects.
Three main blocks with commercial space below interspersed with lower level sections would line this part of Woolwich Road.
Of the 190 rooms, 35 would be “affordable” with the application stating the “provision of high-quality public realm improvements”.
Westcombe Park station sits a short walk away to the south.
According to the application’s Design and Access Statement 28 Higher Educational institutions are within 45 minutes.
London Bridge is 15 minutes away on rail, though unfortunately cuts introduced in 2022 have hit frequencies.
While recently improved, service intervals of 17 minutes remain. Not the best for built up areas of a major city.
The Jubilee line is a short bus trip. Cycling could be popular for students, but reaching north Greenwich remains grim on a bike.
There’s three options and all are pretty poor.
There’s the Angerstein roundabout, along Tunnel Avenue to another route below the A102 or further along Tunnel Avenue to the recently replaced bridge over the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnel approach.
Student growth
Closer to the site sits the University of Greenwich, who have aspirations to increase student numbers from 30,000 to 40,000 by 2040.
In addition the application notes “Existing accommodation in the UoG Avery Hill Campus contains 1,226 rooms, is no longer fit-for-purpose and would require a notable level of refurbishment to meet modern standards.”
The borough has seen an extensive number of recent applications for student housing particularly focused in Woolwich and Greenwich.
Before the site saw its current low-rise warehouse-type unit built in the 1970s it was home to Cecil Rooms, a mission building which fed the poor.
Speedy Hire left the site last year with ownership changing hands after planning approval was given.
The application can be viewed here.
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With so many students in and around London attending Universities and Higher Education Colleges across London. I am sure the new purpose built student accommodation will be welcomed by students studying in London
35% of the rooms will be affordable which will help some students who may otherwise struggle with the cost of renting rooms in other properties.