Thamesmead housing blocks beside Southmere lake now well underway
Image courtesy Peabody
Work on new homes beside Southmere lake in Thamesmead is now well underway with concrete cores and frames taking shape.
This part of the original Thamesmead estate was formerly known as Binsey Walk before demolition took place around five years ago.
Homes were built in the early 1970s with an excellent 1971 image here on the brilliant Thamesmead Archive site showing construction.
In their place will be mansion blocks with a taller structure to the north beside an elevated roundabout and close to the Lakeside centre.
Upon completion 329 flats will sit on this phase of Thamesmead redevelopment.
Of seven stages of development in total across south Thamesmead this is the second to commence. It’s running late with completion originally expected in March 2024.
While this site has been critical of Peabody’s slow progress it’s welcome to see a site a hive of activity.
Residents will have a great view of man-made Southmere Lake. It could be a tad bleak on the old Binsey Walk and I’ve vivid memories of going to a friend’s house there on a dreary, wet and windy winter’s day. The building’s gloomy entrance and stained concrete combined with winds whipping in across the lake wasn’t the best.
Still, the flats and homes were great inside with large windows and balconies offering great views on a sunny day.
Karakusevic Carson are behind the design. Affordable housing is 18 per cent at London Affordable rent tenure.
Thamesmead’s future stages
Peabody state in their latest magazine edition there are seven plots in Thamesmead leaving five more to develop.
The below image shows the site of each. Phase 5 and 6 has seen controversy with protests and some residents refusing to move out.
Phase three doesn’t look like starting anytime soon and was levelled some years ago. No detailed plans have been revealed let alone approved since. Peabody previously stated some vacant land wouldn’t be developed seconds form Abbey Wood station until the mid 2030s or later.
Peabody also possess two sites in Abbey Wood which are again seconds from Abbey Wood station and Thameslink, Southeastern and Elizabeth line services totaling 20 trains per hour
One being beside Sainsbury’s which was supposed to see Cross Quarter stage 2 but little has been heard for a decade. In addition they own the former Harrow Inn pub site.
That totals seven plots to be developed across south Thamesmead and Abbey Wood near excellent existing transport links.
Peabody also have acres of vacant or underused land in north Thamesmead and again there’s not even the sniff of any plans, be it outline or detailed.
