Eltham to see more flats in proposed development near High Street
A developer behind an Eltham housing development is looking to convert approved commercial space into flats.
The site on Pound Place saw plans go in back in 2020 – and covered here – for the site which once was home to Stacks.
Five years on and revised plans would see commercial space ditched with the addition of five more flats taking the total to 41.
Not viable
According to the new application: “The viability of the commercial space has been challenged, with efforts made to gain interest in the letting or purchase of the space being unsuccessful.
“As such, the applicant wishes to vary the permission by reducing the quantum of commercial space whilst increasing the number of residential units.”
Changes would also be made to the building’s external appearance and disabled, blue badge parking space would halve from four to two.
Developer income
The development’s Section 106 agreement was only uploaded in April. A quick look there shows no “affordable” homes where included in the first approved plans and instead a £360,000 payment given in lieu.
Given how much the council are now paying Berkeley Homes to purchase homes – and not all are those designated as affordable when approved. In that context £360k won’t even provide one council house.
Elsewhere it’s the same story as GLLaB take most funds.
Improving the appearance of the local area (the High Street is looking tatty as – you guessed it – they didn’t maintain an expensive £6m upgrade) or, say, health? Zero.
Greenwich have however allocated £10,800 for car clubs – yet it was revealed last week that car club members are to see extremely hefty price rises from July which far exceed inflation alongside parking permit increases for others.
Business rate increades and increased national insurance contributions for employers are discouraging some businesses from taking on new premises and recruiting new staff.
So converting the building to full residential use will be the best use of the site. The homes new homes should have at 35% affordable. The news homes will be ideally located for Eltham High Street and a short walk or bus to Eltham Station and Avery Hill Park for open space.
As mentioned many times over the years GLLaB is a real drain on Greenwich Council’s finances and is constantly over budget with money being diverted to GLLaB from other projects around the Borough to keep it going year on year.
GLLaB needs to be trimmed down considerably or abolished if unable to keep to their budgets.
As keep topping up GLLAB with money from section 106 and CIL etc is unfair on Greenwich residents and council tax payers who see projects cancelled time and time again and improvements to public realm, infrastructure and day-to-day repairs not being carried out on homes etc due to lack of funds to carry our the works.
Business rate increades and increased national insurance contributions for employers are discouraging some businesses from taking on new premises and recruiting new staff.
So converting the building to full residential use will be the best use of the site. The homes new homes should have at 35% affordable. The news homes will be ideally located for Eltham High Street and a short walk or bus to Eltham Station and Avery Hill Park for open space.
As mentioned many times over the years GLLaB is a real drain on Greenwich Council’s finances and is constantly over budget with money being diverted to GLLaB from other projects around the Borough to keep it going year on year.
GLLaB needs to be trimmed down considerably or abolished if unable to keep to their budgets.
As keep topping up GLLAB with money from section 106 and CIL etc is unfair on Greenwich residents and council tax payers who see projects cancelled time and time again and improvements to public realm, infrastructure and day to day repairs not being carried out on homes etc due to lack of funds to carry out the works.