Large Woolwich town centre shop to welcome new occupant
Fast growing retailer B&M are set to move into Woolwich town centre according to a recent application for one of the town centre’s biggest shop units.
British Land have applied to Greenwich council for changes at the former New Look unit which was most recently a Jobcentre. A covering letter states:
“The area of the development site is 40.6 sqm and is designed to meet the occupier requirements of B&M whilst maintaining the integrity of the existing shopfront at no. 71-77 Powis Street.”
Changes to the outside and interior are to be made for B&M which earlier this year announced 45 new stores.
History
The building was once home to Littlewoods and Index which is about as far back as memory serves. Built as part of a major structure spanning the railway line between Woolwich Arsenal and Woolwich Dockyard it also included an office block home to Morgan Grampian.
A car park including the Sainsburys unit was attached to the office block. One small legacy of the company remains.
The office block was converted to flats.
The car park is used by residents of the flats, though its future remains an unknown. Greenwich Council look set to spend £8 million on repairs to the crumbling structure, though under their Local Plan also consider building new homes on site.
After a long time without any retailer it’ll be a welcome boost for the town, which recently lost WH Smiths over the other side of Powis Street.
Other upcoming changes include the closure of Waterfront leisure centre and the opening of Woolwich Waves on General Gordon Square.
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Great. I like B&M and would find the store useful and a good replacement for Wilko.
You make a good point
God forsaken area. One the hub of South East London, Cuffs, Garrets and a thriving market. The are mentioned in the article was a store selling , televisions, washing machines and many more electrical appliances. Calderwood Street, the above photo, gives an indication of long lost Woolwich. Wooolwich Polytechnic College, houses situated long before Morgan Grampian House and its successor as well as Sainsbury’s.
Born and bred in Woolwich, and live down the road in SE2, the decline in Woolwich, for me, is a testament to Greenwich Council being completely hopelessly inept.
I remember Cuffs Department Store, Garrets, The COOP Department store back in thd day. That was when Woolwich was a thriving town Centre and you could walk around feeling safe. Before Woolwich went in to decline and anti social behaviour became rife in the area especially at night.
However. that said I think seeing this shoppjng unit brought back in to use is excellent news. B&M will be a welcomed addition to Powis Street and the area. As mentioned will be a good replacement for Wiko which has been missed in the town since they closed their Woolwich store.
I hooe B&M get the planning permission granted to open a new store here. I wish B&M e every success for the future.
I hope B&M gets the planning permission approved to open a store at this site which was last used a temporary Job Centre but was previously a large retail unit occupied by New Look..I agree it will help to replace the void left after Wilkos left the town.
Importantly B&M will provide some new retail jobs for local people at the store.
Amazing news for Woolwich! This will be a game-changer for Powis Street. An anchor store taking up a large long awaited empty unit right at the heart of the town. Like others, Woolwich needs this since the closure of Wilko and a short-lived Homebase concession in Tesco. With lots of housing and new flats, this will be very popular and bring more people further down the street. I remember emailing Wilko whether they would reconsider relocating to Powis Street! It’s a positive step in the right direction and now gives us more reasons to visit and shop in our home turf. The town is getting better but we could really do with a Post Office now! It’s mad that there has been no replacement.
Looking forward to B&M and a busier Powis Street!
Yes B&M will be a major boost for Woolwich and Powis Street encouraging more footfall to this end of Powis Street as Phil said.
I also agree with Phil that Woolwich needs a Post Office. Ideally it could be located in one of the bank branches that have closed or due to close in the near future.
As a lot of the equipment needed for the post office woukd already be in place.
Just a thought.
I welcome B&M coming to Wookwich and hope B&M obtain the planning permission they need to open their new store on the site of the old New Look Store. I have to agree it is an excellent suggestion made by Graham. and would make perfect sense to re-ooen some of the closed bank branches as new post offices. As they woukd be easy to refurbish as coukd retain some of the original bank features. Allowing more people to have access to a post office. It is ridiculous that a town centre like Woolwich has no post office.
It is good that B&M. are coming to woolwich Christine
B&M will be a good fit for Woolwich, but I am surprised that it has decided to open a store there given the big one in Charlton next to Aldi. I keep hoping that The Range decides to open a store somewhere in south east London to replace the one that used to be at Surrey Quays. I really liked the range of goods it offered and the homely feel.