30-storey tower proposed on Trinity Laban’s car park in Deptford

Plans for 390 more flats in Deptford have been revealed at “Creekside Village East” in a public consultation.

The tallest tower will be 30-storeys tall and is on a site partly occupied by the Laban Centre’s car park. The materials used appear to be pretty grey and drab.

This development is a joint venture between Kitewood and Galliard Homes.

In the render this is broken up by plants and greenery on each balcony. How long will that last?

With many new-build flats sold off-site and not being occupied will they be maintained? And come to that, how many occupied flats will maintain plants?

It’s been seen many a time. Lovely lush green areas in renders don’t last beyond a few months upon completion. And then what’s left is a grey, dreary block.

In terms of flats being sold abroad, the government are planning to announce new-builds must be sold in the UK for a set period before being sold abroad. Two things to consider:

1. It’s voluntary
2. If prices are too high you can market them in the UK until the cows come home. If people can’t afford £500,000 for a 1 bed flat they won’t sell here and will then still be marketed abroad after a number of months.

It’s merely a clumsy attempt to win some brownie points with the public that addresses none of the underlying issues of how and why the average price to average wage ratio is far out of sync with most of the past 100 years.

It is between the rising Essential Living tower and Trinity Laban.

One of the big positives is new facilities for Trinity Laban. Their car park is part of the site. They will gain “a 150 seat flexible performance venue, 4 new dance studios, 3 large rehearsal studios and a new public front of house area”.

The grey colour and material palette can be seen above. As ever renders show it on a bright, spring-like day with greenery. Yet imagine this tower on a grey morning. The extensive use of grey will appear bleak, especially at 30-storeys. Use lighter materials and colours. Or even black, which would appear sleeker than this.

Lewisham Council former yard is also part of the site.

One concern is no bridge over the Creek. Earlier plans saw another pedestrian crossing at this point to create a quick link in addition to Ha’Penny Hatch and the swing bridge that opened in 2015.

On the other side of the Creek plans are underway for 145 homes at a skip yard known as Saxon Wharf.

Both sites, alongside other forthcoming plans, should bring in enough revenue for a another bridge.

There’s an “aspiration” of a new creekside path but that was said on the other side and never been opened any time I’ve passed. Though this is Lewisham borough and the other side of the Creek is Greenwich borough.

Running a site alone takes time and a fair bit of money. Adverts are far from enough to cover it and my living costs as a private renter.