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From the
https://www.newsshopper.co.uk By Cameron Blackshaw, 13 September 2025.
Woolwich redevelopment project to get homes instead of pub.
More homes and affordable housing have been added to a large
redevelopment project in Woolwich at the expense of a pub now set to
be demolished.
The first phase of the town centre regeneration scheme is nearly
complete and will culminate in the opening of Woolwich’s new leisure
centre later this year.
Planning permission for the leisure centre project on the southeast
side of General Gordon Square was granted in 2022, but developers
have recently added 75 new homes to the plans, increasing the number
of residential units from 482 to 557.
The changes will also result in the complete removal of The Bull
Tavern and its adjoining buildings on Vincent Road, a pub that
according to CAMRA has been closed since 2024 and was expected to
re-open following the completion of the project.
The new Woolwich leisure centre—dubbed Woolwich Waves following a
public vote—will boast a 25m eight lane swimming pool, flumes and
slides, a health suite and spa, a large gym, sports halls, squash
courts and several other community amenities.
Greenwich Council has not yet announced its official opening date.
In terms of housing, the project’s developer Hill Residential
Limited has added 75 homes, introduced build to rent units into the
scheme and increased its affordable housing provision from from 35
per cent to 38 per cent by habitable room.
All 188 of the affordable units will be social rent.
Greenwich Council, which partnered with Hill Residential in 2022 to
deliver the new homes and leisure centre, announced in June that the
scheme’s affordable housing provision would be increased.
Back in June, a council spokesperson said: “The intended changes to
the scheme include an increase in the number of affordable housing
units and a change to the nature of these so that the majority will
now be let to people on the council’s housing register; previously,
only 30 per cent fell into this category.
“To enable this, all the affordable housing will now be delivered by
a registered provider (formerly known as a housing association);
previously 70 per cent of the affordable housing, all in the form of
shared ownership units, was to be delivered by a registered
provider.
"This means the council will save on the cost of buying 51 units in
the new scheme, but residents will still benefit from the new homes
to let.
“We feel this is the best option to make sure the development still
delivers positively for the local community on what will be a
landmark leisure development that attracts visitors, creates jobs
and provides a boost to the local economy.”
Of the 188 affordable units, 48 of them will be one-bed properties,
115 will be two-beds and the remaining 25 will be three-beds.
As part of the new plans, 267 of the project’s private properties
will now be offered as build to rent units and the other 102 will go
on market sale.
The increase of housing provision in the project also means that the
heights of some of the proposed five tower blocks have also
increased.
The tallest block has risen from 18 to 20 storeys, while two others
have grown from 15 to 17 storeys and 9 to 14 storeys. The two
remaining towers remain at heights of 9 and 11 storeys respectively.
The updates to the plans were largely brought about after the
Government published new guidance in its building regulations for
tower blocks in March 2024, specifically introducing the need for
second staircases in these sorts of buildings.
In planning documents, Hill Residential said: “The need to amend the
residential phases of the approved scheme to respond to these
matters has also presented an opportunity to better optimise the
site to deliver additional homes, refine the design and
architectural detailing, and improve public open space and
landscaping.”
Greenwich Council still needs to rubber stamp and approve Hill’s
planning application before these additions are confirmed.
A CGI view of the proposal from General Gordon Square. Credit:
Hill Residential Limited.
A CGI view of the proposal looking southeast down Vincent Road.
Credit: Hill Residential Limited. |
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