Work starts on 350-home North Woolwich station development

Work has commenced on 348 new homes in North Woolwich on part of the old North Woolwich station.

Approval was given in 2023 for Newham Council’s development company Populo to build five blocks ranging from eight to thirteen storeys alongside public realm improvements and changes to Pier Road.

Work doesn’t cover the former station building itself but former sidings. Land which has sat vacant for decades and partly used as a rail museum for some time until closure in 2008.

One of the Elizabeth line portals passes underneath part of the site.

The line itself to North Woolwich saw out its days under the old Silverlink franchise with an infrequent service.

That ceased operation in 2007 in advance of the Woolwich Arsenal DLR extension which opened back in 2009. North Woolwich gained King George V station a short distance north of the former North Woolwich station.

In recent years another development has been built beside the forthcoming Populo plot. Named Stories Wharf, it stalled for some time before a new contractor completed the job. That totals 163 homes.

Foot tunnel

We can’t cover this area without mentioning the years-long saga over Woolwich foot tunnel.

The lift on the northern side has been out of action for around four years now. Work dates have continued to be pushed back though the latest is that work will complete later this year.

Let’s hope so as it’ll be a key link for new residents – as well as existing of course – to reach Woolwich town centre with its many transport options, shops and amenities. There’s far more in Woolwich than anywhere near North Woolwich.

Of course people can cross on the ferry which is what I did when taking photos for this post, though it’s not exactly swift. I had to wait about ten minutes, then get on, then wait for vehicles to drive on before we set off and the process of docking began.

After all that I could have gone via the foot tunnel and been on Powis Street before setting foot south of the river.

Buses

One transport benefit for residents in North Woolwich is the Superloop route SL2 (which is also of use to those south of the river who head across).

This runs to a number of major town centres and transport links.

From North Woolwich it’s limited stop to Barking station for interchange with c2c rail, London Overground and tube lines before reaching Ilford where there connection with the Shenfield branch of the Elizabeth line.

Then its on to Gants Hill and Walthamstow for further transport connections.

Unfortunately the SL11 south of the river doesn’t stop near the Woolwich ferry or foot tunnel for people to connect. Then again the SL11 is just bizarre all round in terms of its gestation and stopping points.

I’ve noted it many times but TfL managed to create a new route that skips nine new housing developments comprising thousands of new homes while calling at far quieter areas.

Which wouldn’t perhaps be so bad if unlike any other Superloop route introduced in London TfL didn’t fully cut an existing route in the 472 which did serve those developments.

The latest new housing plot skipped on the SL11 route – in south Thamesmead – is now externally complete bringing 329 new homes. The first residents have just moved in.

That’s next door to 534 homes built in stage one beforehand.

Bus cuts

It’s still baffles how Greenwich Council’s ruling Labour party (save for one Labour councillor in Charlton) not only raised no objection to bus cuts serving new developments but actively cheered it on.

On the other hand in Bexley borough, both the ruling Tory council and Labour opposition raised concerns. Reading replies to the consultation suggested transport and forthcoming housing knowledge was far greater that side of the border across party lines.

But then when it comes to the DLR Thamesmead proposal we see time and again some rather odd thinking from the Greenwich side and a lack of understanding of both Thamesmead and beyond.

As for the new blocks at North Woolwich, they are expected to complete around 2028-29. Hopefully with a functioning foot tunnel tunnel lift by then.