Abbey Wood development rising as Peabody plot remains vacant over the road

A development of new flats in Abbey Wood seconds from the station is now rising.

The site was formerly Abbey Wood’s main post office before closure as another civic building was lost in the area. Next door sits former police accommodation (see the image above) while London Transport’s old bus and tram garage was located over the road.

That closed in the early 1980s when Plumstead bus garage was built. Take a look here for when it housed trams.

The former post office wasn’t a looker and hadn’t been for many years as it crumbled away long before closure but as a Crown PO did provide important services.

It finally shut some years ago.

The new block will provide housing in an ideal public-transport friendly site and enable extra footfall to help local businesses nearby.

Oddly Greenwich Council pushed for ground floor space not to be shop use or another post office instead preferring offices. This was to apparently protect nearby shops, even though it’s right beside them. Rather than detract it’d likely enhance.

Peabody plot

Over the road a Peabody site with approval for a residential development and commercial space was approved some years ago.

Last month planning permission lapsed after five years of inactivity. Another Peabody triumph.

While there was a need for revisions due to altered building regulations that cannot alone explain such lack of action.

This plot formerly housed the 150-year old Harrow Inn pub which was demolished in the early 2010s. A neighbouring shop unit was later demolished.

Since then Peabody have failed to do very much of anything except preside over a sizable site seconds from a major station and shops.

The rate they’re going who knows if a new planning application will now be drawn up. Even if it is that’s yet more delay. How long can they fail Abbey Wood and Thamesmead leaving vacant plots all over the area?

The sooner they sell up – or are forced to give up land – the better for providing new homes, shops and services in the local area. It’s not as if they’re aiming for substantial affordable of affordable housing.

At 35 per cent it’s no more than many private developments. The arrival of the Elizabeth line has done nothing to encourage faster building from the Housing Association giant.

There’s only so many monthly markets and art shows – as nice as they are – they can put on before their complete failure to build at various plots in the area becomes completely untenable.