Greenwich Industrial Estate and University of Greenwich building approved

Greenwich Industrial Estate

The long-awaited £100m redevelopment of the council-owned Greenwich Industrial Estate will bring 181 flats, 358 student apartments, and a health club to the area next to Greenwich’s DLR and mainline stations between Norman Road and Waller Ray.

Called The Movement, it will also feature two hotels and a new pedestrian street.

But Andrew Steeds from the Asburnham Triangle Association community group warned the Greenwich Council planning board last week about the density of the scheme, which will include blocks up to 13 storeys high.

An artist's impression of plans for Greenwich Industrial Estate

He complained about its impact on the skyline and infrastructure, saying that public transport would be “overstretched” and questioning why only 57 parking spaces had been planned for so many new people.

And he said the scheme was just one of a number of “ill-considered and rushed through developments in the area”.

Alan Bailey from the Greenwich Society told the board: “This is too big, too greedy, and the council ought to ask for it to be reduced.”

Ward councillor David Grant also questioned the height of the buildings but admitted the scheme had “a great deal to commend it”.

But chief executive of the Cathedral Group developer Richard Upton told the meeting that consultation had been carried out every step of the way and the plans were 18 months in the making.

He claimed it was “a fantastic opportunity to create something really special” and would bring “real change to the area”.

Councillors gave unanimous approval to the scheme.

Stockwell Street

At the same meeting, approval was also given to the University of Greenwich’s new £76m school of architecture and construction in Stockwell Street.

Housed on the former village market site, it will feature a library, TV studios, exhibition spaces on a ground floor open to the public and a path linking Stockwell Street with King William Walk.

There had been 27 objections to the scheme if people living in King william Walk complaining the building’s service area backed on to their homes.

The Stockwell Street development

Resident Helen Neilly said: “None of our concerns were taken into consideration despite the fact we attended all the consultation meetings.”

The university’s deputy vice-chancellor Neil Garrod told the board: “This development is pivotal to the university’s long-term success in the ever-changing and increasingly competitive environment in which it operates.

He said: “This proposal is a once in a generation opportunity.

“Purpose-built architecture schools are few and far between. Ones in historic centres and on world heritage sites are non-existent.”

Councillor Steve Offord said: “I think it’s going to be a tremendous asset for the town centre.

But council leader Cllr Chris Roberts said they would “repent at leisure” giving it planning permission.

Criticising the building’s facade, he said: “Try as I might, I can’t like this building.”

The development was passed by six votes to two.

Cutty Sark

At the same meeting, the board also agreed a 9.95 metre high tower could be built next to the Cutty Sark, despite Councillor Hayley Fletcher describing it as “hideous”.