Fencing goes up at future Woolwich development site

Fences and hoardings have been installed around a green space in Woolwich destined to see new homes.

The site of Woolwich Central’s future developments sits either side of the Tesco superstore with a 15-storey block facing General Gordon Square.

After a long tussle of building heights a flat-iron type building was blocked with a smaller structure approved.

Green space here was always designed to temporary and lasted far longer than planned. Former landowner Tesco – via its subsidiary Spenhill – proposed their own tower on site to follow the supermarket – though then sold up to Meyer Homes.

If we head back into the midst of time images of Tesco’s original tower proposal can be seen below.

This dates back 18 years.

Images showing fencing around the green were taken a couple of weeks back and have progressed a bit since.

To the rear new signs are also up showing a “launch date” of 2026 from developer London Square, a whopping 20 years since plans first revealed.

Despite the advent of the Elizabeth line numerous sites in the area sit undeveloped. See also MacBean Street where the old Woolwich Poly school was demolished some years ago.

And then there’s the “Island” site sitting untouched. Armourers Court above the eastern end of the Elizabeth line shows no movement and plans have been around for years there.

Years after the station structure was completed, there’s little movement. Other long-empty sites include the sites above and around Woolwich Arsenal DLR station.

TfL signed an agreement for joint-development there back in 2009. Nothing has ever happened.

Woolwich Exchange opposite the Elizabeth line station also keeps being put back. It’s due to start next year now – but will that happen? I recall reading council documents on it around 2006.

A lot of this shows the potential problem with this new government’s housing plan overwhelmingly reliant on private developers. For the majority of sites planning isn’t the issue. Many gained approval – and sat untouched for many years.

Even with excellent infrastructure progress isn’t seen. First the DLR opened in Woolwich back in 2009. Then the Elizabeth line in 2022. Still no news on many sites.

It’s often said poor transport links and planning are holding up housing. While certainly true in places, even where those issues don’t exist too many sites move at a snail’s pace.

Back at the Woolwich Central site and as mentioned before it’s not just green space in front with approved housing plans.

To the rear sits some tightly bunched blocks with 590 homes out of a total of 712 located this side of Tesco.

The so-called “affordable” housing total is 23 per cent.

Formation Architects are behind the design. Let’s see if London Square actually start building. Could it be 25 years since plans were first revealed that it completes?

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.