Greenwich to approve Waterfront demolition and decide site’s future soon
With a new leisure centre set to open in Woolwich town centre it’ll soon be time to say goodbye to the Waterfront.
So long to those views of the river from the pool and heading down the slide which briefly leaves the building before heading back in with a splash.
Farewell to the tidal wave machines in the pool.
Yet despite the imminent closure no plans have yet been decided – publicly at least. It’ll certainly be demolished – see this notice on the council’s website – but what happens then with the prime riverside piece of public land?
Greenwich Cabinet look set to decide in coming months. Either it’ll sold off by the council like the adjacent car park or developed in-house either via Greenwich Builds or Meridian Homestart – with profits from market sales reinvested into council services and/or affordable homes?
Almost certainly the former if land set to be developed as part of the Woolwich leisure centre is a guide. The council partnered with developer Hill there much like it partnered with Lovell at Woolwich estate rebuilds.
Previously the adjacent car park was sold to Berkeley Homes – a company this week given the chance to pay a minimal token sum to avoid investigation into anti-market practices – who slowly built six towers over many, many years.
It’s funny how in this country major developers can pay their way out of investigations. In the case of news this week Berkeley Homes will pay £14.2 million. Barely a hit when last year’s profits totalled £528.9 million compared to £557.3 million the year before.
Taxpayer loses again?
The worst of all worlds would see the taxpayer funding expensive demolition costs before land then sold off cheaply with the promise of a sprinkling of “affordable” homes as a result.
But given prior activities, it’s one we could well see in the near future. The new government too have made it very clear they aren’t keen on the public sector building and want public private partnerships (and we know who mostly benefits from them).
It’s likely the council’s Cabinet meeting will shortly green light any proposals brought forward and I’ll be keeping an eye out for what they contain.
The old Waterfront Leisure Centre site would be an ideal location for new social housing homes for local people on the housing waiting list. Possibly with a shop and or GP surgery at ground floor level. As we need to improve amenities and infrastructure around new developments.
John, Is right in what he said in the article the new Labour government are not keen oo public sector building and want public/private partnerships.
Even when a decision is made on the site it could be years before we see planning applications approved and further delays before any construction starts on a new development..
As witb some empty sites around the Borough earmarked for new housing some of the sites are eft undeveloped for 10 years or more.
Personally I think the Government’s new house building targets are not realistic and will not be achievable by 2029.
Developments on the Greenwich Peninsula is a prime example where sites earmarked for development stood empty for 20 years or more where planning permission granted but then lapsed before any construction was even started. Some sites seeing developers pulling out and new developers having to be found all adfding to.long delays which can take several years before a single foundation or brick can be laid.
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Is there any chance they’ll give hare street access to the riverfront like it used to be?
That would be nice. Get rid of that gritty crossing point and show-off the foot tunnel building.
Opening up a link was mentioned some time ago so hopefully a connection to the Thames is included.
I’m not sure the ugly crossing and the entire, dated length of Woolwich High Street will see much as Greenwich seem loath to improve outdated streets in the area. See how they ignored using funds on this area derived from the six Berkeley towers, nearby Ropeyards sites approved recently, Callis Yard tower, Riverside House conversion to student blocks and a hotel, other Arsenal development, MacBean Street plans AND the new student blocks.
EDIT: Oh, and the Mortgramit tower proposal will bring in more revenue. Plus the Mast Quay Phase two site is nearby and the appeal brought in millions extra income. Expand a bit further and all the Woolwich town centres sites bring much more £££. Have Greenwich once bothered to look at improving Woolwich High Street? Nope.
Few places see so very much activity in one spot with resulting S106 income yet manages to continually ignored improvements to ugly streets and public realm. Greenwich don’t seem to care.
We don’t want more n more ahrsin on ere withahrt the GPs, schools n all them things. Wass the point of buildin n buildin if you can’t get a GP or dental appt near where you live dahn our gaff.
I agree that is why they must Improve amenities when building new homes like GP Surgeries, dentist, schools etc along with transport improvements.
Developers only seem interested in building high rise blocks.