THE compulsory purchase of businesses to make way for a £200m development will still go ahead despite a review of the plans.

Councillor Eileen Glover voiced her concern over the demolition of Willow Independent Funeral Services and Castlewood Garage in Wellington Street, Woolwich, at a scrutiny call-in sub-committee.

They are being bulldozed as part of the Love Lane Masterplan to regenerate the town.

It will include a new civic centre, a Tesco store, create 1,000 jobs and 800 new homes.

The Greenwich Council cabinet decision, taken on August 22 to make a compulsory purchase order (CPO) on the businesses, was called in on September 13, on the grounds other alternatives were not fully consulted and to ask the council to find an alternative solution to keep the existing businesses within the plan.

A call-in meeting can happen when a councillor wants to challenge a decision made by the cabinet, which can be overturned and referred to full council.

But after hearing the arguments put to the council's deputy chief executive David McCollum and his consultants, the committee noted the cabinet decision and took no further action.

Speaking at the meeting Cllr Gover said: "There is no evidence any other design options have been explored.

"One of the assailant points is Tesco is the main driver of the development. Without a CPO they refuse to support the planning application.

"We ask the council to find an alternative solution to return the existing businesses, which have traded 10 to 12 years in the borough, within the location of the site.

"I don't think that's too much to ask for."

Deputy leader Councillor Angela Cornforth said: "The council is the main driver to see regeneration in Woolwich with the creation of thousands of jobs and a new civic centre.

"I know how difficult CPOs are but the council intends to continue its discussions with relocation and compensation options for the businesses."

Tesco said it was a major investor in the plan but the decision to CPO the businesses was not being led by them.

The decision came out of consultation with the council and public agency the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment.