Work on 558 homes behind Woolwich Waves leisure centre to begin spring 2026

A newly submitted document lays out a timescale for the construction of 558 homes behind the new Woolwich Waves leisure centre.

Developer Hill are leading the project and aim to begin site set-up in spring 2026 according to recently submitted documents.

Initial work will include the demolition of the Bull Tavern pub and Victorian shops next door before the site is developed in four phases.

Former council homes at Troy Court as well as adjacent garages will also come down.

For decades the site was used as a car park behind Viscount House. A number of shops were located on site over the years including co-op and names long lost including Somerfield and Gateway.

Like many sites it’s been slow going. Greenwich Council were planning this long ago and it was covered here almost nine years ago. Work is expected to complete in 2031.

New blocks

Five blocks will be built in total comprising two for affordable housing, two build-to-rent private rented housing and one for private sale.

Recent revisions were approved which increased total homes. Originally the Bull Tavern was to be retained and integrated within new blocks but will now be demolished.

The site is directly beside Woolwich Arsenal station with Southeastern, Thameslink and DLR services.

National Rail did seek funds to help improve station access and sought a contribution from Greenwich Council to part-fund via developer funding. They believed the scale of new developments mean the narrow corner entrance and limited ticket gates could see crowding in future.

This being Greenwich Council, public transport accessibility came a long way behind GLLaB. Network Rail were offered nothing.

It’s not as though combining funds from other Woolwich town centre development couldn’t have helped but the authority show little interest. A short distance away is Woolwich Central where a further 712 homes are rising. I looked at that this week. No funds from that were offered.

Thousands of new homes

Anything offered from revenue due from 801 homes at Woolwich Exchange? The Island Site with 500 co-living rooms and 20 flats? MacBean Street towers? Two student blocks totalling 429 rooms on Beresford Street? 663 homes at “Ropeyards” from Berkeley Homes? Brookhill estate redevelopment with 254 homes?

Nope.

Stations entrances and improved access are not just ignored at Woolwich Arsenal station either. No second entrance is planned at the ever-more crowded Woolwich Elizabeth line station where towers were approved (again) above the eastern end of the station where 575 flats were approved.

Few places see such level of development and such little interest from the local authority on improving station access or pedestrian enhancements.

Network Rail also requested funds for step free access via a new footbridge between more than 700 homes being built in west Woolwich near Charlton. Greenwich, of course, refused. That leaves this as the main link between new and existing homes and buses.

As seen almost every time, the council’s job agency GLLaB did however manage to obtain a substantial amount of developer funds paid to Greenwich Council.