Woolwich Barracks redevelopment: Views sought
Greenwich Council have launched a consultation on the future of Woolwich Barracks after the Ministry of Defence announced plans to vacate much of the site.
Back in 2020 it was announced that a large amount of the land would be sold and now feedback is being sought for the area.
A small amount of land will be retained for The King’s Troop at Napier Lines, Barrack Field and on part of Woolwich Common but much would be sold.
Like much of the MOD’s previous land and building ownership in Woolwich, residential conversion with new build seems the most likely option.
A Supplementary Planning Document states: “In terms of density, development should be compact and utilise the land that has already been built upon, reusing existing protected historic buildings.
“Proposed development should be sensitively designed to respect the sensitive character of the area, surrounding open space and existing heritage assets”
Slow going?
The big question is whether land will be sold off for private developers to sit on for many years, as seen so often with former public sites in the town and borough.
To see local examples in Woolwich look no further than the former Woolwich Poly school site (vacant still after 15 years) as well as the Royal Arsenal site (still not complete 31 years after the MOD left).
Peggy Middleton House – the former home of Greenwich Council – is still vacant land more than a decade after the council moved offices.
Progress has been painfully slow at all sites despite a ballooning population and rapidly rising costs.
Public land owned by TfL in Woolwich is similarly glacial with progression. Three plots around Woolwich DLR are vacant after 15 years after the line opened and there’s no start date on new homes above the eastern end of the Elizabeth line station 11 years after plans started.
Despite a housing crises costing the public purse billions, numerous public plots have fallen into neglect in recent decades in Woolwich alone as little building occurs under governments of all types.
Quite the contrast to what was achieved post-war when former MOD land in places like Abbey Wood was rapidly developed in the late 1950s into 3,000 homes in just four years featuring four schools, two shopping parades, a doctors surgery and dentist, pub, factories and employment space in addition to public parks.
They even managed to add in some now-listed public artwork.
Given the new government appear wedded to 40 years of failed orthodoxy, can we expect a mass land sale to volume builders who then drip feed building for 30-40 years – while the taxpayer and those in need of housing lose out?
With the disposal due in 2028 it’ll be a key test of this Labour government.
The Woolwich Barracks consultation can be viewed here.
The words Greenwich and masterplan fill me with despair. I can practically see the parade ground with a Tesco on one end, wooden bollards on the other and a few Lime bikes scattered while the Council come up with new ways to do nothing. That area has the potential to become a highly sought-after residential district and really pull Woolwich up out of its rut. Personally I think it would make a good university site, a second site for one outside London. Keep it intact and bring lots of students back to the area
Absolutely Charles. Well said.
We also need to.make sure heritage buildings are retained as part of any future developments.
In these dangerous and uncertain times the MOD and Government should be expanding the Barracks along with others around the UK and investing heavily in our Armed Forces by doubling or trebling the amount spent on defence.
Money can be saved elsewhere through natural wastage iand efficiencies in Government Departments and Local Authorities.
Defence must be paramount for the UK
Absolutely most Government Departments and Local Authorities could aford to loose some back room staff in Head Offices and non customer facing roles through efficiencies and natural wastage with very little or no impact to essential front line services.
Defence spending needs to be set ar least 4% or 5%. Defence should be ring fenced from cuts.
It’s ok building new housing etc but it is certainly not for Jo public.the council need to use the place themselves.there is no social housing anymore,just people out to make money off people that are finding it hard as it is.It is ok saying the council cant afford it but i assume the majority of people cant afford to pay their rent as it is and it has to be paid through council housing benefit anyway.My other point is that some of the people that live in Woolwich do not look after the place as it is.i Do know Woolwich and it has been “Done up ” three times in my lifetime and still looks like a shitshow.Look after where you live.
I think it should ve used to house ex service person living on the streets and extended the hospital because the qe is just not big enough
Absolutely agree Mandy 100% Housing for ex armed service personnel and a new Hospital Annexe to extend services at the neighbouring Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Which is always full and services at breaking point.as patients wait longer to be seen in urgent care and all clinics.
A University campus or extension of the hospital is a brilliant idea. Greenwich Council really do seem to be lacking in any plan for Woolwich – it’s crazy to be sitting on so much land with so much potential. Why?
I totally agree with you all, My family going back 3 generations have lived, worked, attend local schools and still live in the area. Nothing is being done to improve Woolwich all RBG want to do is sell off all the land they own to put more money in the councils bank accounts for all the councillors & Top positions in the Woolwich building. Everything RBG has done over the last 20years is apply for lottery funding to bring their housing stock up to decent living standards and get Plumstead high street looking clean.
Come on RBG the council is for us residents who want to live, work, and prosper.
We are getting hit with ULEZ, silver town & Blackwall tunnel charges. Don’t sell off public land it’s for the public not all the development companies to make money from box shape housing big tower blocks with no green areas open for public use.
Absolutely Tina Gosling. You are spot on.
This also why the NHS cannot sell off the Memorial Hospital on Shooters Hill. As local people raised the funds to build the Hospital along with some affluent people of the time. So this building belongs to the public.
When the NHS tried to sell the Hospital site to developers many years ago long with many other Hospital sires in the Borough including St Nicholas in Plumstead, The Miller in Greenwich and the Brook General on Shooters Hill. It was met with huge opposition from local people who fought to prevent the sale of the Memorial Hospital to private developers.
I think homes for ex service personnel must definitely form part of any furture plans for the Woolwich Barracks site. Turning the older historical buildings along side the parade grounds in to new homes for the ex
service personnel. It could even be known as Lee Rigby House in memory of Fusilier Lee Rigby who tragically lost his life in an terrorist attack in Woolwich..
A memorial statue could stand on the parade ground behind secure gates.
Land could be used for a hospital extension to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. University campus or other educational uses. A new public area for thr public could also be created on neighbouring land
I totally agree with you Graham.