Woolwich gets set to welcome hundreds of students as new block completes
A new student housing development in Woolwich is set to welcome hundreds of students in coming months.
Blocks on Beresford Street is located on what was the old Catholic Club and sees 299 rooms in the completed block, with a further 120 rooms underway next door.
The image above shows the view from Calderwood Street over the road from Sainsbury’s and near the old library.
Will hundreds more students bring a bit more life to Woolwich town center in the evenings?
It certainly should do, as well as bring added footfall to nearby shops. Though while in town again this week it was telling how the centre changes gone 6pm. Groups of drinking men set up shop around Beresford Square and surrounding areas.
Few women seen. Not many children either out with families despite it being the holidays. Few mixed groups of friends. The contrast to some other towns I’ve been to recently in London and beyond remains stark.
It’s not that welcoming to many with groups of leering, drinking blokes. A complete change from an hour or two before. If Woolwich is ever going to attract a broad range of people back into the centre and see some sort of evening economy, a welcoming space for all is a must.
Whether hundreds more residents by sheer force of numbers achieve that remains to be seen, or they’ll arrive, take a look, and head straight off to other areas.
This is good news for students living in purpose built student blocks
We now need to see the improvements in infrastructure and other local amenities in the area to support an ever growing demand for local services.
I’m hoping the influx of students at this development and the other future student accommodation proposals will generate an appetite for a return of more affordable live music venues in old Woolwich. This was lost when the equitable pub closed its doors due to Covid debts.
The trouble is there is nowhere for ordinary people who want to sit and have a drink or a coffee open in the evening there. And right across the road there are multiple places that offer that just that. Plus loads of food and drink options 7 minutes away in Canary Wharf.
Let’s hope the refurbished pub gets let, although I’m not sure it will at the rent they are asking for.
There are multiple places open late into the evening on Powis Street, less than a minutes walk. I often sit with a late coffee or boba in CUPP, great place, relaxing and lovely staff