Council house building program underway across Greenwich borough

In welcome news a program of council house building will begin across Greenwich borough. The plan is for a number of blocks and terraces at various locations with homes for the over 60s. However the numbers built will be very small as central government places heavy restrictions on council’s building much needed homes, and Greenwich Council has one of the lowest caps in London.

Data out last week showed the private sector housing starts in London fell by a third from 25k to just 17k in 2016. Even 25k a year is far less than what is needed at 60k per annum. Since councils were effectively banned from building in the early 1980s UK home building dropped from around 300k a year to 200k in a good year. 150k was the level last year – some of the lowest for 100 years. Germany and France build at least 300k a year.

Private builders and Housing Associations build far less than needed even in good economic times and pitiful levels in bad times. That’s where the state needs to step in to maintain supply and skills which happened in the 1930s, in the 1950s during post-war austerity under Churchill and MacMillan and the 1970s with a three day week and IMF assistance.

So welcome though these schemes are, they’re a drop in the ocean. Firstly, by Maze Hill station there are plans for 15 homes at two sites on Lemmon Road and Woodlands Park Road currently occupied by garages.

council-building-garages

The planning reference is 16/1629/F

maze-hill-housing maze-hill-housing-render

These designs are far better than the poor quality homes put up around five years ago during previous council house building rounds which have aged poorly. Unfortunately poor designs did their best to re-affirm some people’s negative views of public house building.

council-houses

Thankfully things have much improved with these new designs by Peter Barber Architects.

maze-hill-housing-render-2

There’s also a valid argument to be made that these new builds, along with the previous homes beside are an under-utilisation of land directly beside a station that is 15 minutes away from Zone 1 stations such as London Bridge. There’s scope at the site for 4-5 storey buildings which could double density, which is much needed given housing pressures.

Over in Abbey Wood a garage site sees plans for 11 homes on Bevan Road. The planning reference is 16/1621/F. It’s at another former garage site seen on the right below:

Broken walls all too common on council maintained communal areas
Broken walls all too common on council maintained communal areas

council-housing-2

10 homes are planned in Charlton near Harvey Gardens. Planning Ref: 16/1622/F

hervey-court-council-housing

At Rochester Way in Eltham 29 homes are planned on the site of Rochester Way Social Club. Ref is 16/1579/F

rochester-way-social-club-site-2 rochester-way-social-club-site

The Conservative government released a new housing white paper last week that finally recognised the massive problems that exist. However a belief that the private sector can fix problems is a complete fallacy. Even with sharp price rises landbanking and slow build rates have been all too common.

And this has cost taxpayers many billions year in year out as rising rents and house prices spiral the taxpayer funds the difference, now to a tune of £25 BILLION a year and rising. Vested interests are costing taxpayers, buyers and renters dearly. A third of MPs are landlords.

Garage Sites

It’s good to see disused garage sites used at some sites, particularly at areas like Maze Hill which has plentiful public transport on the doorstep. There’s plenty more sites that can be looked at to provide more much-needed homes but Greenwich’s plans to consult, originally expected in October 2015 has still not happened:

garage-strategy

Ideally Greenwich Council would be able to use these sites but with central government blocking them, they could partner with developers or use their own Meridian Homes organisation.

And higher density must be pursued where permissible. They have recently built some homes on old garage site near Elverson Road DLR station. Great news, but on a site a stones throw from the DLR they commissioned low rise housing.

DLR station seconds away on right
DLR station seconds away on right

Around the corner is more recently built housing. Again it’s not really utilising the site for suitable density and the design is extremely poor. It’s aged terribly in just five years.

RBG housing 2

 

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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.

7 thoughts on “Council house building program underway across Greenwich borough

  • I’d agree that the private sector isn’t the only solution that will come in and save the day, but the private sector certainly wouldn’t be building brand new bungalows 3 minutes walk from Maze Hill Station. I tried to express this view and it grained exactly zero traction and zero sympathy from anyone. Residents, Council, the Commissioned architects. “Why did I hate old people that need these bungalows.” Why they couldn’t simply occupy the ground floor flat in a mid rise block I don’t know – there was no conversation.

    Until there is a communication language and a building design language that makes new medium housing appealing and desirable for existing residents, it’ll always be this way. The work by Create Streets is interesting. I don’t know how much traction they are getting but it’s something to at least stand behind as a viable direction that might start to solve some of the endemic persistent issues. What if the simple idea of new housing in your area was desirable – is that achievable? If we got to that place, everything else just comes together naturally.

    ’15 new houses’ is a joke. Just enough to make a headline for the council. Zero impact to supply, and therefore reducing housing costs for all.

    There is a large scale organised community group in West Greenwich fighting the conversion of a disused police car park into 3 flats. The amount of wasted human energy in all directions – over 3 flats.

    I then read these pseudo intellectual articles stating that housing supply is not an issue in the UK at all – and at that point I want to just jump off a building. Nothing will reduce house prices more than a major increase in supply. Sorry – I’m ranting!

    Reply
  • these figures are really laughable if you see in the context of the promises made during the mayor election

    Reply
  • Draft charlton masterplan now on greenwich consultation page

    Reply
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