Possible tower designs for Mortgramit Square development in Woolwich

Back in 2016 developer United Living submitted a Screening Opinion to Greenwich Council planners for a large site in Woolwich at Mortgramit Square. A 24-storey tower was part of the plan along with 250-300 homes. For those that aren’t aware of the site, it comprises some very characterful backstreets and alleys behind the former Co-Op and Furlongs Car Garage, with frontages facing onto Powis Street and Woolwich High Street. This parade of shops will go:

Being a pre-application submission, there were no visual renders available to see how the plans might look. I’ve since found these renders from architects MDR.

The tower is an interesting design. The vast majority of designs in London are boxes and variants thereof. It’s good to see something else, but is this the right spot? I can see much concern seeing as t two listed art deco former cinemas are very near, and does this image suggest they will go for a taller design?

A concern with these designs, which are by no means finalised, is the low-rise block facing Woolwich High Street facing the Waterfront. It all looks a bit too similar at either end to a bunch of portacabins stacked together, and in shades of dull grey too. Brick cladding would work better, being beside the listed former Granada Cinema. The existing Furlongs Garage site has some wonderful early 20th Century brickwork.

These plans are far from final however. Here’s an alternative tower plan also seen on the architect’s site.

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J Smith

I've lived in south east London most of my life growing up in Greenwich borough and working in the area for many years. The site has contributors on occasion and we cover many different topics. Living and working in the area offers an insight into what is happening locally.

3 thoughts on “Possible tower designs for Mortgramit Square development in Woolwich

  • The fantastic Edithsstreets site says:
    “Mortgramit Square
    A back alley which once was the site of low grade housing. The name is made up of the builder’s surnames”

    “Dog Yard
    This is a turning off Hare Street, now called Mortgramit Square, which it formerly led to. It had a brewery here in the mid-18th. In 1849 this became the Lion Brewery belonging to Davisson and Bowman. It was owned by W.Woodhouse who was bankrupt in 1854
    Woolwich Borough Electricity Works substation built 1932– with Woolwich arms remaining on the gates”

    Lots more here about the area: http://edithsstreets.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/riverside-east-of-tower-south-bank_27.html

    Reply
  • This is tremendously out of place and out of scale for this area, in my opinion.

    This would have been a better design idea for the Callis Yard site as it has a more stand-alone nature. Or even better, near the riverside (vacant lot near Mast Quay?).

    It is such an awkward design to be surrounded by the cinema with its peculiar design and all the small scale buildings at the end of Powis Street.

    Hope some common sense is applied when passing this application.

    Reply

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