Developer buys site near planned Woolwich development Electric Works

A developer planning a  major Woolwich town centre development is to build more accommodation after purchased a nearby site.

The plot was sold by Legal & General to Re:Shape earlier this year and they’ve just announced ownership of another nearby site.

The initial plan saw 1,200 rooms split between student housing and co-living housing – which is pretty much student housing for those who aren’t students. An occupier has their own room and shares communal kitchens and social areas.

The site on MacBean Street was formerly home to a Victorian school which was home to Woolwich Poly before closure and it being sold. For many years now the land has sat vacant and neglected.

Blocked

L&G did submit one scheme which Greenwich’s Planning Board rejected.

That proposed to demolish one of the few buildings on site which is now to be retained.

I’ve been hunting around trying to find the exact land purchased. It could be over the other side of Beresford Street next to the former Catholic Club which Re:Shape are also developing as student housing.

So far it’s been very tricky to gain confirmation but I’ll keep looking. This is the land comprising the L&Q site sold earlier this year.

And here’s one of the few images showing the site overview with what is now proposed.

It appears to generally be the same with four taller blocks along Beresford Street.

Block E in the former plan now includes existing buildings instead of a new build.

Much like the first proposal there’s a link between Powis Street and Beresford Street via Murray’s Yard.

This will become a busy thoroughfare between Powis Street and new homes to the north.

Forward thinking?

I’m not entirely sure the current Powis Street works have really taken it into account given the amount of street furniture proposed around there.

It’s something I picked up from the very first plan for the town centre but Greenwich Council never really seem to have addressed or given it much foresight.

Street work will see extensive street furniture and landscaping which looks nice in images but could well obstruct and create pinch points for pedestrians.

Being a student and co-living development this site will avoid the recent modest increase in Community Infrastructure Levy income recently implemented in the borough.

A full planning application is expected this autumn when I will take a close look at documents.

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.