Greenwich office block demolished for new homes

A walk along Norman Road last week revealed that an office block on the corner of Greenwich High Road is no more.

Shortly before demolition begun

When I last passed the site Norman House was surrounded by hoardings indicating imminent demolition. Well, the post-war building is now gone with piling already on site for a new block of flats.

Piling on site

So what’s coming here? You won’t be too shocked to hear it’s a block of flats approved in March this year.

North Pole pub on the right

The tallest block will be 12 floors and the entire development will comprise 63 flats. As for developer income to the council through Section 106; £63,000 will go to GLLaB. None is allocated to safer streets for pedestrians or cyclists nor the crumbling estate on Norman Road.

Courtesy Google

This estate would certainly meet the criteria for funds given proximity to the new housing block and potential use by pedestrians as a cut through towards Greenwich town centre.

Ignoring public realm is why Greenwich are 31st out of 32 London Councils when it comes to utilising developer income to top up funds given by TfL for improving streets and public spaces.

Dated design at estate entrance off Norman Road

Greenwich have allocated just £208,000 over the next three years from Section 106 (and Community Infrastructure Levy funds) to top up annual TfL money though the Local Implantation Plan. Here’s a snapshot of how much other London Labour boroughs have committed to:

  • Hammersmith & Fulham: £27 million
  • Hounslow – £5.2 million
  • Lewisham – £4 million
  • Lambeth – £3.9 million
  • Ealing – £2.3 million
  • Brent – £6 million this year. Next 2 years TBC

Compare that to £206k in Greenwich borough. Sums allocated to fitting out the Woolwich Crossrail station box allocation does not explain this vast disparity – and neither does funding the Freedom Pass as all other councils do.

Looking towards site from Greenwich station exit – office block still standing here

Such small sums then see the authority stating to residents they cannot carry out certain projects and to ask TfL. Well, TfL are giving millions each year to every London authority but the borough is failing to top up sufficiently with income from developers.

Out of 63 flats at this new development just one unit has been allocated towards social housing.

The wider site is a bit of a building site at the moment with nearby Thames Tideway work well underway. The housing block site should complete in 2021.

 

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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.

4 thoughts on “Greenwich office block demolished for new homes

  • What the…? GLLab again? It is a huge funding black hole, of which no one I’ve ever known has been successfully placed into employment through them!
    I’m absolutely sure it’s being used to payoff political IOUs!

    Reply
  • Just 1 flat out of 63 given for social housing? That’s a shameful figure, but I’m sure the council will simply buy several at full market rate to top that number up…

    Reply
  • An absolute disgrace, our Public Realm is neglected again, so are Safety for pedestrians, and our crumbling infrastructure and estates that clearly need regeneration.

    Our Roads,pavements, housing estates, New street lighting and parks should be benefiting hugely from Section 106 but yet again Labour misrule and mismanagement clearly turn a blind eye! Funding for GLLaB should be limited or stopped.

    Scrap these barmy wooden decaying Bollards! A total waste of money.

    Investment in our Realm and combating illegal parking and raising revenues is the way forward.

    Things you won’t get with Labour

    Reply
  • Disgusting! People coming from abroad to buy up housing and rent out at extortionate prices should be stopped! There should be a law whereby you can only buy 1 house to live in and 1 to rent as they do in some areas of Germany!

    Reply

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