Plans to build more than 1,500 “much needed” homes in Thamesmead have been given the green light.

Hundreds of properties - ranging from one-bedroom apartments to four-bedroom townhouses - can now built on the doorstep of the new Elizabeth train line in Abbey Wood.

The scheme - one of the largest developments to be given the go-ahead in London this year - was agreed by Bexley Council’s planning committee on Tuesday.

Run by housing association Peabody, which says it is investing £1 billion in Thamesmead with £47.5 million funding from the Greater London Authority, the development will begin in 2017 and is expected to be completed by 2024.

Teresa Pearce, MP for Erith and Thamesmead, welcomed the project which she says will offer new “affordable” homes to local families.

She said: “After a lengthy consultation with residents and stakeholders, it is great to see this scheme come closer to a conclusion.

“With this investment and the new Crossrail station due to open in late 2018, there is exciting opportunities for Abbey Wood and South Thamesmead.

“I welcome the scheme which will deliver a significant amount of much needed new homes and commercial and community spaces.

"It is also pleasing to see that a significant amount of the development will be affordable housing.”

Bexley Council leader Cllr Teresa O’Neill said: “I am delighted that Thamesmead has reached such an important milestone in its history.

“We know that London faces significant housing pressures and are committed to being part of a future that makes quality places where people choose to live and work.

“Essential to this is infrastructure, which is why we are lobbying to ensure the Elizabeth line doesn’t stop at Abbey Wood but continues into Kent, stopping at Belvedere, Erith and Slade Green, adding further to our growth potential.”

But leader of the Labour group Cllr Alan Deadman said the homes should have been built long before now.

He said: "It's about time these houses were agreed on, it is something that the Labour group have been pushing for more seven years.

"Affordable homes are definitely needed and there will be a certain amount of social housing there too but not enough.

"As I understand it the houses will also be segregated and they will all have different doors, so the social housing occupants will enter through a different door to the other condos.

"They are saying they will stop people from renting out the affordable housing as a second home they sell, but I can't see how they'll do it.

"If you get a fair percentage of homes that people could buy at reasonable prices then it could work out quite well.

"As long as they deliver on what they're saying then it'll work out well for everyone but there are not enough homes and these houses should have been built years ago."

The development marks the first phase of a huge regeneration project which could deliver up to 20,000 new homes in an area bigger than Old Oak Common and Nine Elms combined.

In May four applications were submitted to Bexley planning team following months of consultation with local residents and business.

These were for 1,500 homes on four sites, with Southmere Village due to begin next year.

At Southmere, Peabody will build 525 new homes, 230 of which will be affordable, a new library and roughly 40,000 square feet of commercial floor space for cafes and shops.

The scheme, which Peabody claim will also create new jobs and opportunities, will be centred around a new public square on the banks of Southmere Lake and offer more space for outdoor activities.

Further applications for Binsey Walk, Coralline Walk and Sedgemere Road will deliver around 1,000 homes plus a new walking and cycling route between Abbey Wood station and Southmere Lake.

Click on the image below to view a larger aerial view of the development:

News Shopper: Aerial view of Thamesmead regeneration project

Southmere Village

  • 525 new homes
  • New public lakeside square
  • New neighbourhood square with play facilities for the community
  • Library, cafés, convenience store, community facilities
  • Outdoor activity spaces

Coralline Walk

  • More than 500 homes
  • A new pedestrian and cycling route linking Abbey Wood station and Southmere Lake
  • Cafés, community uses and flexible workspace to cater for a range of users

Sedgemere Road

  • A new gateway to and from Abbey Wood station centred around a new arrival square
  • More than 200 new Homes
  • Offices
  • Retail
  • Cafés
  • Job opportunities

Binsey Walk

  • Around 250 new homes
  • Waterfront location
  • Recreational activities
  • Improved landscaping and public realm
  • Access to Southmere Lake

Peabody’s executive director for Thamesmead, John Lewis, said: “Receiving planning permission to create more than 1,500 new homes in South Thamesmead is a huge milestone in the regeneration of Thamesmead.

“As well as creating much-needed, quality new homes, the development will create thousands of new jobs and will attract new businesses too.

“This is just the start of our commitment to Thamesmead residents at what is a really exciting time, with the Elizabeth line opening at Abbey Wood station in December 2018 and the DLR extending to Thamesmead in the next ten years.

“Thamesmead will be better connected, opening up new opportunities to residents and to businesses looking to invest.

“We hope this will be the catalyst for Thamesmead fulfilling its promise as London’s new town.”