Custom House Crossrail station: Redevelopment and 700 new homes proposed nearby

Plans to rebuild a large area of housing and shops near Custom House station in east London have taken a step forward after a scoping report was submitted.

The report shows 700 new homes alongside 60 refurbished units close to Custom House station.

Newham Council have long planned the redevelopment of this area, though work was paused in 2020.

Buildings may rise to up to 16 floors.

The station has long been served by the DLR though now has Elizabeth line trains calling. Like most others, this is acting as a catalyst for major development.

Custom House was the station I visited on day one of the new line as firstly I’d never been there and secondly the area has long been projected for major redevelopment.

The area is post-war housing along the London County Council model. Much of it similar in design to areas such as Abbey Wood estate, parts of Woolwich Dockyard and even west Greenwich.

A shopping parade runs along Freemasons Road from the station.

It’s set to be demolished in future.

As an aside, currently the area is absolutely stuffed full of unneeded street clutter.

It’s always somewhat odd how poorer areas often cannot see money for basic maintenance or small efforts to make attractive environments to live in, but when it comes to street furniture, it’s everywhere.

Anyway, the overall program will see other sites nearby lift total homes to nearer 900.

Detailed designs and applications are expected to follow soon.

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.