Coming 2026: Woolwich town centre blocks set to rise
With a new year here I thought I’d repeat what seemed popular least year and cover a few things we can expect to see over the next twelve months.
It’s interesting to look back at what did – or didn’t – happen when writing twelve months ago. One example was the introduction of new DLR trains. They did finally manage to make it into service more than a year behind expected targets before promptly being withdrawn. TfL will hope to fix the problem sharpish as the network has seen shortened trains and cut services for some time now.
This post however will look at Woolwich town centre and a year back one post in early January covered the expected start of work on 801 homes at Woolwich Exchange. A project two decades in the making and yes, not a thing has happened.
That’s despite a prime location opposite the Elizabeth line station with planning permission long approved. Greenwich Council selected Notting Hill Genesis to redevelop the site.
Will anything happen in 2026? I wouldn’t bet on it.
It’s supposed to include the covered market which would see conversion into a cinema. I remember taking photos around the backstreets a few years ago in the expectation demolition of some parts would soon begin.
It never did. Plans are now so far behind schedule whether that cinema plan ever happens remains a mystery.
Ropeyards
This post however will look at a site which does look like it’ll actually happen if planning submissions are a guide. Berkeley Homes look set to build a development named Ropeyards and are now marketing the site.
The former park on site has been cleared and a construction timeline states service diversion works begin in January 2026 with archaeological studies in February.
Forthcoming blocks will see their concrete frames rise from May 2026 with the entire site completed by July 2029.
Long before that a nearby student block will be occupied. One block of 299 room on a former Catholic social club is nearing completion whilst an adjacent block of 130 rooms is rising fast.
Berkeley Homes have branded the development as “Maribor” which is reference to a city in Slovenia twinned with Woolwich, with the former park on site named Maribor park.
Upon completion plans show in place of the former park a green stripe running from near the Royal Arsenal gatehouse to the Thames.
An area closest to the river has long been completed.
Long delays
Outline plans for the site date back to 2013 so this is another site which has hardly sprung out the blocks despite the Elizabeth line being well underway when approved.
It makes me smile when government keep talking about encouraging approvals of new developments near stations as a major part of the solution to new housing. Ignorance? Wishful thinking? Places like Woolwich and Abbey Wood have had a substantial amount of sites approved for many, many years near the Elizabeth line and other stations. Developers havn’t built most.
In fact I could list dozens of towns across London that are similar. Dozens more across the country. Some planned and approved for decades and no action.
Simply awarding planning approval isn’t the biggest issue by a long shot. If it was most of the sites approved for up to 30 years and still vacant would have risen by now.
In Woolwich look no further than the DLR station. Now 17 years since plans emerged and approved. Nothing built. Above the eastern end of the Elizabeth line station? Plans first approved 12 years ago. Nothing has started.
Still, at least this site in Woolwich hopefully won’t sit as a wasteland for years like some. If construction plans submitted in 2025 are correct, work should begin soon.
Hopefully in early 2027 I’m not writing of a year of inaction as seen at Woolwich Exchange.
The Woolwich Exchange development should have been well underway by now. Construction was originally meant to start a few years ago. But has seen several delays.Sadly there is no guarantees the construction on the redevelopment of this site will start in 2026. The area around Wookwich New Road. Plumstead Road and Spray Street is in need of redevelopment it is alo located close to Woolwich Arsenal Station/DLR and the Woolwich Elizabeth Line Station.so ideal for tbe new residents who will eventually move in to the Woolwich Exchange development upon completion.
The Woolwich Tower development by Tesco”s in Woolwich Town Centre chas seen construction come to a stand still over the last couple of months. Not sure if construction will start again in the near future?
Woolwich Tower come to a standstill? Nothing was done other than put up the hoarding and strip out the park features. No actual construction activity ever started.
They cleared the ground – preparatory work. It’s still ongoing at the plot round the back where they have made more progress.
We did the archaeology work on Ropeyards last year, pretty much soon as the hoardings went up, so I’d fully expect it to be on schedule to start building this year. Not sure why the schedule says we’re there February, perhaps just some loose ends, but I’ll ask when we’re back on Monday.