Greenwich attempt to hide Woolwich eyesores with Heritage Zone cash
Now this is amusing.
Greenwich Council have used Heritage Zone money in a not entirely successful attempt to hide eyesores in Woolwich town centre around the DLR station.
I suppose given the land has sat empty for so many years now they could well now be considered part of the town’s heritage.
If you don’t know the history of these sites then boy is it a fine example of all that’s wrong with housing and development.
When the Woolwich Arsenal DLR extension was nearing completion 16 years ago Transport for London entered an agreement with private developer Oakmayne to build over and around the station box. There’s a number of sites, with one early idea seen below.
The station duly opened – and nothing ever happened in terms of a planning application. Nothing ever has.
Ideal development site
Prime site? You bet. Seconds from shops, employment, DLR, Thameslink, Southeastern and Elizabeth line services.
Yet no housing built. No hotel as mooted. No employment provided. No shops to entice footfall. No residents to provide custom to existing shops.
Eventually after 14 years of silence the plots appeared on TfL’s Places for London development plans.
Given the housing crises and these plots occupy prime publicly owned land both above and around a station what did it say? An imminent build? Consultation soon on public-transport oriented development?
Absolutely not. No start on site until 2029/30. Sigh. More than 20 years after the DLR station opened and land ready to go.
In the meantime various plots continue to present an eyesore with piles of rubbish, hence this weeks amusing attempt to hide. Which doesn’t work.
I’m sure the murals and signs are lovely but come on, this is brilliant trolling to use Heritage Zone funds on such spots.
The icing on a shit show that’s been going on way too long.
They’ve done nothing with these sites and they are very public. No upkeep and those school kid pictures have no relevance to the area. From the DLR entrance to the cashpoints is grim and I loathe having to walk through there. The best thing I’ve ever witnessed there is a trio of pigeons feasting on some drunkards puke, it actually improved that area.
I agree that Woolwich New Road is grim but hopefully the area will improve once works starts on the redevelopment of Spray Street and around the Covered Market.
The site next to and above Woolwich Arsenal.DLR entrance on Woolwich New Road will be ideal for housing being close to the Woolwich Arsenal DLR and rail stations and local shops. Also the new Leisure Centre will be located next to the Station.
So a prime site for redevelopment.
For the life of me I can no longer remember where the chemist shop that went under that yard in the picture. I remember going there with my dad many times as a boy, marvelling at the idea of being able to get from Powis Street to the station. If anyone recalls it please let me know