Bexley Council give update on 1,200 homes including beside Crossrail station
Bexley Council’s Cabinet will next week discuss plans to build 1,200-homes by 2030 via their arms-length company BexleyCo.
The main development is a possible tower beside Abbey Wood station on the Felixstowe Road car park.
Renders have been drawn up but no plans submitted, let alone approved.
The advent of Elizabeth Line services is acting as a catalyst to a number of developments in the area, with towers on the Greenwich side of the borough boundary now topped out. That is a private development.
BexleyCo are currently building on a number of sites including a new cinema in Sidcup which will see a library and 32 flats.
Probably one of the most controversial developments is in Erith where the council developer is to build on a park on West Street in a highly populated area. It’s one of the few green spaces around.
No affordable houses are included.
Building on green spaces is occurring while the council fails to update planning strategies such as the Site Allocations Strategy to permit mixed-use development in areas such as a retail park on Fraser Road in Erith within walking distance of Erith station and beside new stops for the 180 bus, offering a direct link to Abbey Wood station for frequent Elizabeth line services alongside Thameslink and Southeastern.
While Bexley do not own that land, it is odd how they’re reluctant to permit building housing above shops (thus no loss of retail facilities no employment) on brownfield land in the same town as building on green space.
Sidcup
Another controversial development is at Old Farm park where 58 homes are being built. Building is expected to complete this month.
Bexley Council expects profits of £4.6 million from the site.
Erith
BexleyCo plan to build 62 flats at the Walnut Tree depot site in Erith opposite Bexley College.
The council’s document states that “planning to be achieved by late Spring 2023, with a target start on site Summer 2024 with the development completed by Spring 2026”.
The Post Office site is also to see housing. They state: “This site presents an opportunity to contribute to the regeneration of the Erith town centre as well as preserving one of the few remaining historic buildings in the area, through the retention of the façade.”
“An initial Funding Business Case was submitted to the Council in April 2022. Key dates to be agreed once this, and the land contract is approved.”
Images show four floors of housing built above the existing structure.
Abbey Wood
The Felixstowe Road site offers by far the largest potential number of homes, sitting right on the borough boundary.
It appears that plans for a bigger development are on the cards with the report noting: “Opportunity to purchase adjacent land to significantly increase the site area to support the regeneration of Abbey Wood and provide a more coherent development.”
Areas under the flyover are currently pretty grim, and improving that would be an upside to development.
Compare to the current view:
Bexley Council’s Cabinet will be discussing the latest plans on 14th June.
