Woolwich businesses told to vacate by August 2025 for Woolwich Exchange development

Greenwich Council have announced that business across a large part of Woolwich will need to vacate by 31st August 2025.

Woolwich Exchange is due to be built by Notting Hill Genesis on a site between the A206, Woolwich New Road and Burrage Road featuring 801 homes.

Beside A206

Formerly known as the Spray Street site, it’s been on the cards for 15 years and includes the old covered market which is set to become a cinema.

Some of the site has long been vacant (the old working men’s club) though there’s been no moves by the developer to demolish, let along commence building. Work was supposed to start in 2024 after many year’s delay, though that too was pushed back.

The latest reason given was alterations for fire regulation.

This image from many years ago shows how long this has been around. No buildings above the Elizabeth line station had been built when it was produced.

The extensive Spray Street Quarter site

Businesses had previously complained that alternative sites were far from similar. A newsagent with high footfall between the Elizabeth line and Woolwich Arsenal DLR and Southeastern station was offered a unit on a quite parade some miles away.

Alongside 801 homes the site is set to see retail units and a small public space within the site.

New square

Developer NHG initially wanted to flatten the entire site despite buildings of merit in places. That was thankfully revised with adaptation and extension now planned.

Concerns around the design are monolithic blocks on the approach from the east.

Woolwich Exchange

High density makes sense given the town centre location and excellent transport links, though building massing lumps some blocks closely together in one corner.

The southern side is barely mid rise with all blocks crammed together.

Victorian buildings repurposed rather than wholesale demolition

The market was also due to be demolished in initial plans before being awarded Grade II listed status.

Some years ago an announcement was made that Picturehouse would take it on. It’s been so long since with constant delays that the present status is unknown.

The rest of the site will be demolished.

Set for demolitionThe site sits immediately beside a large expanse of vacant land owned by Transport for London.

It’s sat empty for 15 years since the DLR station opened. In recent weeks TfL have finally given a date for possible building. Five years time.

Public land, housing crises, nothing happening, Same old, same old.

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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.

    9 thoughts on “Woolwich businesses told to vacate by August 2025 for Woolwich Exchange development

    • On the one hand, flatten it as quick as possible but preserve the market.
      On the other, it will be built slowly and will be a noisey eyesore dump for a good 10 years.
      What a choice.

      Reply
    • The area behind the shops is urban decay at its worst and needs redevelopment, but the shops themselves have been an integral part of Woolwich’s multi-cultural character.
      Also, is anyone doing any joined-up thinking? What will be the impact of all this new housing – Woolwich Exchange, Armourers Court, Ropeyards, three new student blocks, etc. – on the provision of public services and especially GP’s ?
      And clearly, with Berkeley Homes having vandalised Maribor Park, none of these people are expected to have any recreational interests or want to enjoy the fresh air

      Reply
      • What is the latest on the proposed housing development next to the new leisure centre?

        Reply
        • Do you mean the one next to the tesco?(infront of the tesco extra) If that’s the one I think it might be happening

          Reply
          • No it’s the one in front of Woolwich market. Near Elizabeth line station

            Reply
    • The noodle bar has been serving consistently good, inexpensive food for the better part of thirty years. It’s one of the few independents that has kept it’s head above water throughout the decades and it’s barely raised prices. Bad enough Powis Street is starting to assemble identikit chain eateries but not this place. Woolwich can lose half it’s butchers and survive but there are precious few places a person can eat a fresh hot meal in a clean, warm and relaxed space.

      Reply
    • I agree the area is in need of redevelopment Hopefully the newsagents and noodle bar can be found new premises in Woolwich. This section of Woolwich New Road looks very ininviting.
      I wish the land owned by TFL could be built on for a small commercial space or at least tidied up to make a small open space. With some seats foliage and lighting. As can be a bit of an eyesore which we only go in to further decline.

      Reply
    • Agreed, that whole area is horrid.

      Many of the shops are delipidated.

      One of the shops on the New Road (a fishmonger?) is still fire damaged. The one thing they really must do with any redevelopment is to make sure the pavements on the New Road are wider as with the street clutter they can’t cope with the peak time footfall between the two Woolwich stations.

      I do hope the quality shops in that area can be relocated elsewhere in Woolwich with the council’s support.

      Reply
    • Totally disagree with these plans…the whole of London is starting to look like one big polished library, all with bland, similar looking, sanitised, bland corporate blocks of flats. I love woolwich because of the people, the diversity, the character, which will go under these plans. I personally don’t go the the pub there (now closed), the fishmongers or fruit shops…but many people do…they need and want these local businesses in their community and will be pushed out by Canary wharf style blocks which will decimate the community for decades. Where can we see and object to these horrific plans?

      Reply

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