A look at major changes between Plumstead homes and nearby station
With a major development bringing 2,000-homes well underway near Plumstead station work on altering nearby streets has commenced making it easier for residents to reach nearby Plumstead station and shops.
With much of it now evident it’s worth a post to show latest progress on site, as wider pavements and a cycle lane are now open.
For those unaware Lombard Square is a major development in a not particularly accessible place, surrounded by a prison, a three-lane gyratory and the raised Southern Outfall sewer.
Yet Plumstead station is near the site yet until recently was only accessible via a grotty underpass or a narrow strip of paving beside traffic on a bridge.
The underpass recently saw some improvement work and that will be covered in a follow-up post.
Traffic lanes have reduced from three to two. Though a nearby one-way road is set to become two-way again. More on that below.
Junction
With Housing Zone funding for improvements available (first awarded 11 years ago) work started earlier this year with it set to be completed by the time residents first moved in (that hasn’t happened).
Still, when it is finished forthcoming residents will find it easier to reach Plumstead station, the many bus routes that call outside as well as a plethora of shops.
The location of a pedestrian crossing is also changing with a move slightly west towards the junction.
The old crossing which led to a pedestrian bridge is gone, and the pedestrian bridge here is set to be gated off and closed for good.
In time other street changes will be made outside the station itself as well as further west where it’s often a bit of a parking-free-for-all disrupting stopping buses.
In the past more than 100 bus drivers signed a petition calling for action.
Other changes include reversing changes made in the 2000s when a two-way road became bus-only in the eastbound direction.
Further changes include a short length of bus lane leading to stops just after entering Plumstead High Street.
The below plan drawn up by Greenwich Council shows forthcoming changes.
With a fair bit going on at various approaches to the junction work is expected to complete in early 2027.
By then many hundreds of new residents should be living at Lombard Square, and we may see some action on the next phase.
Situated on the other side of the gyratory, it includes a taller structure near commercial units.
The above image isn’t particularly clear and does its best to hide the road network, but imagine the McDonald’s on the right behind the structure.
See the image below. It’s on the right.
One of the best elements of the project will be when the space outside Plumstead station is changed.
Finally out with the cluttered, ugly mess outside that’s been in place for decades.
I am a tad fond of that sign showing Royal Arsenal East though. It’s been closed for 30 years.
It used to be worse when Greenwich went on one of the there street clutter frenzies but did get a tidy up a few years back.
Future transport improvements
This project isn’t the only improvement for the area. There’s also the delayed Bus Rapid Transit scheme.
That £23 million project is now delayed to 2029 and will pass the site. There’s space for a new stop directly outside housing offering quick links to Woolwich, Charlton and Greenwich. That’ll surely happen.
The recently introduced SL11 Superloop doesn’t stop outside along with numerous other major new developments now completing or underway.
And finally, with 2,000 new homes at Lombard Square and hundreds more nearby at sites such as LSEC college, with Plumstead station see an improvement in staffing levels?
Like many Southeastern Metro stations in the midst of housing growth it sees limited staffing numbers and times.
I thought the BRT was scheduled to start in 2027 with a phased implementation with completion due in 2029, at least that’s what the last TfL plans said.
Also could have sworn the top of the bridge was still going to have 3 lanes, just squished up a lot. Need to go back and check those plans.
I hope the BRT does happen this time. It was first supposed to be introduced about 20 years ago now. With the project being cancelled and delayed several times.
It will better serve new housing developments along the proposed route from Thamesmead to Greenwich via Woolwich and Charlton.
They should never have axed the 472 bus route as the SL11 does not serve a lot of the bus stops used by route 472 neither does it serve some of the new developments consisting of hundreds of new homes.
The new developments by Plumstead Bus Garage and Plumstead Station are progressing well..But we need to ensure Greenwich Council put safety for pedestrians at the top of their list along with improved street lighting and public realm. They also need to sort the issues of parking out by the station and the nearby Mosque often you see cars double parked which can also cause issues with traffic and delay buses..
I agree with C. TFL should never of axed the 472 bus route. The 472 needs to be reintroduced again has a local daily bus route with a possible extension to Gteenwich and Lewisham to replace the link lost when route 180 was re-routed to North Greenwich Station
The 472 will be needed to serve stops and new developments not served by the SL11.With thousands of new homes and student accomodation being built in Thamesmead, Woolwich; Charlton and Greenwich. We need major investment in infrastructure including local bus services. IAlong with improvements to Health Care Services including more GP Surgeries, Dentist and services for the elderly and disabled etc.
Public realm has always been an issue in Greenwich where public realm is neglected and not well maintained. Again i agree witb C that pedestrians safety must be paramount around the new developments which are bringing much needed new homes for local people.
Three thoughts:
1. Residents and a council officer brought up, with Berkeley Homes during consultation, the pedestrian service tunnel that links the underpass (the “curly-whirly”) with Platform 2 at the station. Berkeley Homes pleaded poverty as a reason for not widening it.
2. Berkeley Homes were going to reduce the gradient of the path leading up to the Ridgeway (sewer bank) to encourage the residents of Lombard Square to patronise businesses in the High Street. It was one of the reasons RBG clamped down on dodgy businesses at Ridgeway end of White Hart Road). Is the work still going to happen?
3. Why is it called Lombard Square? Residents made numerous requests for a name that linked it to the history of the immediate area.
The new homes will hopefully help towards regeneration of the area around this part of Plumstead and Thamesmead. Which is in need of improvements to pavements, public realm, lighting and crossings. Making pedestrain access to the station much easier and safer for residents moving in to the new home.
I agtee with the other comments. TFL should never of axed route 472 to teplace with the express superloop route SL11.
We also need to see the bus link to Lewisham restored via Lower Charlton and Greenwich lost when the 180 was rerouted
The new widened pavement has been a much needed improvement, there’s a lot more pedestrian activity along it, much safer than the underpass too.