Next Woolwich housing block could start on the former Albion pub site

Work on a Woolwich Church Street block could be moving forward as reserve matters are submitted.

The 13-floor development sits on the former Albion pub site as was initially refused in part by Greenwich Council due to being near a listed chimney, though their own redevelopment site next door at the former Morris Walk was around the same height and not lacking in bulk. The rejection was overturned on appeal.

Now reserved matters have gone in covering landscaping and play equipment.

When work does begin we can add it to the list of developments in this area which also includes the aforementioned estate redevelopments comprising 931 homes as well as a nearby site on Eastmoor Street just over the town boundary in Charlton.

One block has recently completed and cranes are now up on for 188 homes at a site directly beside.

Bus cuts

TfL recently reduced buses calling at stops beside many new homes when they axed the busy 472 route and introduced Superloop route SL11 which skips thousands of new homes, while calling at quieter and less populated locations. Greenwich Council supported the move.

An express bus was welcome but unlike with all other Superloop introductions seen across the capital this is the only one where TfL entirely removed an existing route in the busy 472.

It seems quite odd that both TfL and Greenwich Council had little idea of the mass housing growth along the route – or ignored it – so thousands of new homes see a net reduction in stopping buses (see also beside new homes now in south Thamesmead  where 329 units beside more than 500 recently built, Plumstead and Greenwich).

Needless to say remaining bus routes such as the 177 are now busier and ever slower on many journeys as they take on the load from the 472.