New Woolwich leisure centre construction work underway
Construction work is now underway on a new leisure centre in Woolwich town centre.
Piling is underway on site – or at least in the area near General Gordon Square.
A small window in site hoardings allows a peek through at work underway.
The development is also set to include almost 500 homes to the rear, though work there doesn’t appear as advanced.
Over the past year for former Viscount House – which housed Gateway, Safeway, Wilkinson’s and Blockbuster to name just a few – was demolished to make way for the centre.
A total of 27 council homes are also being demolished alongside garages, as well as shops and a pub along Vincent Road.
Out of 482 future homes just 51 are social housing, which means a net gain of 24 or around five per cent of the total.
A target opening is set for 2025 when the existing Waterfront will close and the site redeveloped.
One idea long mooted is to ensure a future development reopens the view from Hare Street to the Thames as long existed.
It was formerly where the Woolwich ferry operated from on the southern bank of the Thames.
The below view will look substantially different in coming years as both the leisure centre rises and work begins on new homes in front of Tesco.
Woolwich Central’s next phase includes this block:
It’s part of 712 homes in a number of blocks approved last September.
