A look around housing developments in Kidbrooke
Earlier this summer I popped over to Kidbrooke to see how the area was shaping up as a number of developments are ongoing.
As is often the case, after taking dozens of photos it went on the back burner and I forgot to write up a post. But alas, here we are quite a few weeks later.
Kidbrooke is a place that intrigues as one of London’s biggest areas of change but which is barely mentioned. It’s a place where a number of different types of development meet, including one of the largest council housebuilding spots in London, a site of TfL’s Places for London venture as well as the substantial Berkeley homes development on the former Ferrier estate.
I have vague memories of working at the Ferrier on the odd occasion shortly before it was demolished. The station was little more than a shack leading onto the post-war estate via a grotty road. That’s certainly changed.
Kidbrooke Village
Walk those same steps now and you exit a new station building (if it’s open) onto the development’s main square. Most blocks are complete now around here and buses recently diverted to head through.
One such route is the relatively new 335 (though it uses some of London’s oldest buses) which heads to North Greenwich. It’s always seemed a missed opportunity not to have this route run through the Silvertown tunnel.
From the square a glimpse of future blocks can be seen rising to the south at phase three.
When all development is complete more than 5,300 homes will cover the “Kidbrooke Village” site. That compares to 1,910 at the old Ferrier estate.
Streetscape here is very good and distinctly continental in feel.
Kidbrooke Square
Crossing to the other side of the station with its again-closed station building (a regular occurrence when I’m there) leads to the station’s other exit beside a 619-home development by TfL’s places for London residential venture alongside housing association NHG.
This station exit on the Kent-bound platform is little more than a gap in a fence with no plans to add anything more substantial.
Given the sheer scale of development across the town (more than 6,000 homes) all Kidbrooke has gained is a small station building which is often shut.
Similar stations in areas of vast housing growth generally see far better facilities and staffing levels than here, which seems little changed from the days of the Ferrier.
Blocks here are pretty basic and very 2020s London. Flat roofs and tacked-on balconies abound.
The red glazed brick structure within a future bus turning circle (calling it a square is a bit much) is nice enough and adds a splash of colour.
If you’re wondering why TfL held land here despite not managing the adjacent railway station it’s because a former bus stop and turning site was located here which was owned by TfL with Network Rail owning other adjacent plots.
Greenwich Builds
This isn’t the only public land being developed here with two plots of public land developed by Greenwich Council.
The above image shows all three major sites with Berkeley homes towers on the left, TfL/Places for London’s blocks on the right and construction ongoing beyond at the Greenwich Builds site.
Another tower is due to rise between the two as part of TfL’s development. It’s currently seeing design revisions. When finished the TfL site will total 619 homes.
Given these images are a couple of months old now a lot more of these buildings will be just about finished externally.
Across two plots Greenwich Council are building 452 homes.
Elsewhere in Kidbrooke Greenwich Council are building a further 100 homes. Add all Kidbrooke’s development sites together and new homes are reaching towards 6,500.
Far from all of “Kidbrooke Village” is complete however. Parts of phase 3 are underway with work set to start on Phase 5 blocks.
Phase 6 hasn’t started yet at all, which runs alongside the railway line in the north west corner of the development.
There’s also a plot of land on Moorehead Way which has seen some proposals over the years but little has happened.
As more homes have completed Pegler Square feels more alive with an increasing number of units occupied.
You’ll also find some food and market stalls with increasing numbers on a weekend.
As for the near future I’ll keep an eye out for future applications as an area seeing such substantial changes often has quite a few proposals knocking about.
And next time hopefully I won’t wait a few months before writing something up!
Excellent article John. Actually route 335 was one of the five proposed routes to run through the Silvertown Town before Sadiq Kan Mayor of London cut the routes back fron 5 to 2 bus routes through the tunnel.
I still believe route 335 has plenty of scope to be extended to serve Eltham, Kidbrooke Vlillage, Blackheath Royal Standard, Charlton, Bugsby Way, Greenwich Peninsula, North Greenwich Station, Silvertown Tunnel and on in to East London possibly terminating at Canning Town, Canary Wharf, Beckton or Stratford.
With a slight re-,routing via Blackheath Royal Standsrd and IKEA with buses running via Charlton Road, Charlton Church Lane (Charlton Station) Anchor & Hope Lane and Bugsby Way.
Would mean route 335 would no longer serve Westcombe Hill which would still be served by freqient bus routes 108 286 422 and route 386 stopping near by.on Westcombe Park Road.
Just a suggestion.
Kidbrooke Village is so much better than the old Ferrier Estate. It looks a really nice placec to live. I hope residents look after their properties and respect their area. So it does not end up the same as the old Ferrier Estate.
I agree the 335 should be extended to serve the Silvertown Tunnel. We could do with a bus service to the Stratford Queen Elizabeth Olympic park or the Excel Centre as well.
There should be a DLR built from Greenwich, Royal Standard and Kidbrooke. Or something more modern between North Greenwich and Kidbrooke.
What is sure, TFL and Greenwich council have not improved the pedestrian crossing at the junction of the A2213 / exit of A2 and Henley Cross. More deaths to come for sure.
Yes that is very true Pierre. Henley Crioss is a busy and dangerous junction in Kidbrooke. Located close to Kidbrooke Village, Aldi and the station.
However, I cannot see a DLR between Greenwich Blackheath Royal Standard or Kidbrooke being built. So the best we can hope for is improved bus routes and possibly some additional train services from Kidbrooke station.
I like Kidbrooke Village I think it is a major improvement on the old Ferrier Estate it has reolaced. Which In its later years suffer from a lot of anti social behaviour and crime.
Many new homes are still to be built on Kidbrooke Village and nearby Rochester Way. I agree with Graham and KM there needs to improvements to amenities and infrastructure including GP Surgeries, shops. Schools and public services improvements including bus service improvements.
I’m one of shared owners that was dumb enough to step into the scheme (which is basically a pyramid scheme) in 2017. Here’s a few things to add: since 2017, with the exception of 1 year, they’ve increased the service charge with more than the rate of inflation each year. It went from 290 to now 500 a month. To make matters worse, the TFL homes are all marketed undercutting the prices we were charged by a whopping 100K, completely destroying shared owners possibility for resales. Mine was on the market for more than a year. The only offer I received was then declined by Moat Homes. I’m trapped in a system designed to bleed of all my savings. Unsurprisingly, my local MP is deaf to our plight. None of the shared owners have been able to sell in the past year and a half and Moat Homes, Berkely Group and Kendall & Rittner all the while post year on year record profits. Relentless greed above all.
Sorry to hear that Emilia. I have experience with Rendall & Rittner and their ever-increasing service charges. Despicable company. Are those really per-month costs???
I have seen some properties permanently listed with generic photos and wondered if they were real. Doing a good job of ramping the price… down.
I think they are prepping phase 5, I see work being done in one of the plots near the main road.
Perhaps the footbridge at Kidbrooke station could be replaced with a new step-free footbridge or is the station already been upgraded with lifts.