Greenwich council has approved a landmark planning application which will see a new town of 15,720 homes built on the north Greenwich peninsula despite continued opposition from residents.

During a meeting of the planning board on Tuesday (September 8) the application by developers Knight Dragon was approved by nine councillors, with one vote against and one abstention.

The £8.4billion scheme includes six different neighbourhoods, office space, a new transport terminal, and a film studio, as well as two schools and a health centre.

But the application has sparked criticism from residents who raised their concerns again during Tuesday's meeting over the scale of the development, its density, traffic and the impact on air pollution.

Katherine Joekes, who spoke on behalf of the East Greenwich Residents Association, criticised the council for a 'pick and choose' attitude over affordable housing allocation which has dropped from 35 per cent to approximately 22 per cent.

She said: "We are extremely concerned about the changes to the proposed scheme for the Greenwich peninsula."

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The Greenwich Peninsula development by Dragon Knight.

The initial scheme was approved in 2004 on a much smaller scale with around 10,000 proposed new homes.

She also raised concerns over the predicted nine per cent increase in rush hour traffic in and out of the peninsula.

Resident Jan King described the masterplan as something of a "dystopian" vision and warned the council against creating a "monster".

She told the planning board: "I'm concerned that we are being duped in to creating something we're going to regret.

"What about the pollution, we know this area is already very polluted.

"Let's keep Greenwich on a human scale, we have got some great thing in Greenwich, let's not squander them."

Greenwich Peninsula has been dubbed the largest regeneration project ever seen in London, involving an area twice the size of Soho with 1.6 miles of river frontage.

News Shopper: Four huge new developments for Greenwich peninsula

Greenwich Peninsula is under development over the next 20 years.

Councillor Danny Thorpe said: "Do I want it to be 35 per cent - absolutely, but we are where we are.

"Under this scheme we can secure a four bedroom house on the Greenwich peninsula for £200 a week."

That figure is compared to Boris Johnson's vision of affordable housing which stands at around £400 a week.

Coun. Thorpe added: "It's really important moving forward that the whole of the peninsula is a place where everyone can live."

In a statement councillor Denise Hyland, leader of Greenwich Council described the application's approval as a "historic day" for the peninsula.

She said: "I know there are very real concerns about the scale of this development and those have been fully considered during the decision making process.

"The board felt that the plans are right for the area and for London as a whole, providing so many new homes at a time of a critical shortage in London."

The application has also been referred to the Mayor of London for approval.