Royal Arsenal Gatehouse work in Woolwich well underway

Construction work on Woolwich’s Royal Arsenal Gatehouse is now in full swing as part of a town centre Future High Streets project also covering the adjacent Beresford Square and nearby Powis Street.

Most funding comes from central government and specifically allocated for town centre works across the country, and in Woolwich it includes work on a former entrance to the sprawling Royal Arsenal site. Alterations to the structure are being made in advance of the gates being opened for pedestrians.

A wall is being constructed within the structure which limits usable space on foot when the main gates open, in contrast to early proposals which opened the entirety of space between three arches.

Plans had evolved over time with a gallery mooted at one time. That too was dropped.

Which leaves one arch to be usable for people heading from the square to the Arsenal upon completion of work.

A shame more couldn’t be made of such a prominent structure.

Landscaping

Landscaping will be positioned on the Beresford Street side of the structure.

That’ll limit pedestrian space in a busy area set to see higher footfall in future. In the time I was taken these pictures is was already seeing pedestrian flows impacted (look in pic below). Those waiting to cross obstruct those walking along the street.

TfL are reworking the crossing here soon as part of town centre street changes. It includes a cycle lane and altered street layout.

Renders didn’t show landscaping in this area.

Extensive landscaping also extends to the north beside bus stops and forthcoming developments including the site of Poundstretcher with sale of the site announced last week.

Many new developments here will increase footfall around the Gatehouse which raises questions about the wisdom of restricting footways.

As well as Poundstretcher site is the Macbean Street site as well as hundreds of student rooms approved over the road. Plus Berkeley’s recently approved Ropeyards site.

That’s a lot of people heading to-and-fro in the area.

Long term?

Still, even if it hampers pedestrian flows it should look good initially, yet how that pans out remains to be seen.

I recall when landscaping was installed nearby including along the central reservation outside the Elizabeth line station box. It was never maintained, most plants died off and what was left became a litter filled eyesore. It was then covered over.

Let’s hope it’s all a bit different this time around in the long term.

All being well the project should be wrapped up by around summer 2025.

Then work will begin on TfL’s street changes.

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