Royal Arsenal shops and housing at Woolwich’s Carriage Store nears completion

Major changes to a listed Woolwich building bringing 1up to 146 homes and shops alongside a courtyard are nearing completion.

The Carriage Store sits near the new Woolwich Crossrail station and has seen a block of flats built above half the site which is all but complete.

The ground floor area less so:

Much to do inside

Ground floor space is set to be opened up with shop units on site.

Commercial space facing square

Commercial space would joining existing units facing the square including Tesco Express and craft beer outlet Salt, which was formerly Hop Stuff.

Other units were planned inside along the courtyard though this has been been reduced in scope:

Proposed commercial units in pink facing new courtyard to be removed under this plan

This work is still someway from completion:

Looking into Building 11

The Carriage Store dates from 1728 and is Grade II listed. It also goes by the name Building 10, facing directly opposite the Officers’ House or Building 11 which Berkeley Homes sought to demolish for a taxi rank and car park.

That faced stiff opposition and instead the listed structure was converted to residential use above commercial space.

Officers’ House threatened before local opposition saw Berkeley change their mind

Berkeley stated the reduction of commercial space at Building 10 now under construction was due to less footfall predicted than originally thought.

Housing block appears all but complete

A major development named Armourer’s Court is proposed directly next door from Berkeley and Transport for London which would bring footfall. I’ve covered the gestation and evolution of this project a number of times over the years.

Armourer’s Court plan. Low rise warehouse alongside

More housing would be possible if Greenwich Council pushed for low-rise warehouses nearby to become mixed-use development including residential. Given those warehouses don’t see heavy industry but uses such as storage of BMW’s it would be far, far better for mixed-use development on site with housing located above businesses such as a nursery or car storage (if necessary).

The site is just a couple of hundred metres from new railway station.

Unfortunately Greenwich Council’s recent Site Allocation Strategy which determines land usage again ignored the chance to do so. So much for transport-oriented development.

I’ll repeat as it’s so odd; vehicle storage is being retained in a planning strategy instead of badly needed new homes near an £18 million railway.

Courtesy Google

An authority does of course need to plan for industrial usage, though when there’s ample land at the purpose built White Hart Triangle industrial estate in Thamesmead and the authority are encouraging change of use from industry to residential in Charlton in areas some way from rail or tube station, it makes little sense to prevent mixed-use so close to Woolwich Elizabeth line station.

Warehouses a short walk from Woolwich Crossrail station

Anyway, for now they’re there and so footfall from the east is expected to be moderate.

I’ve been keeping tabs and as yet there’s no applications for any commercial units within the new development.

Royal Carriage Works

Berkeley Homes state that residents will begin moving into the Royal Carriage Works – Building 11 – this month.

 

 

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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.

2 thoughts on “Royal Arsenal shops and housing at Woolwich’s Carriage Store nears completion

  • There are quite a few empty retail units in the estate. There is a prime spot next to Woolwich station that remains empty. The unit behind the station was supposed to be occupied but remains empty. I wonder if anyone will eventually move it.

    Reply
  • Where can you check on applications for commercial units? I am a local resident and interested to follow this – thanks!

    Reply

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