A residents’ group has said concerns “still remain” following a meeting over a major regeneration scheme put forward for Woolwich.

Speak Out Woolwich has been lobbying over plans to demolish buildings in Spray Street – flattening dozens of businesses – as part of radical redevelopments.

The group organised a meeting earlier this week with local historians, shopkeepers and residents attending to air their concerns to council leader Dan Thorpe.

An application for 740 homes, a cinema, shops and a nursery was submitted in January by Spray Street Quarter LLP, a joint venture between developer St Modwen and Notting Hill Housing Trust.

If the application gets the green light, existing buildings, including the historic 1936 covered market, would be knocked down in place of a new town square, several new buildings – the tallest of which would be 21 storeys.

More than 300 people have backed Speak Out’s petition against the development, and spokesman John Edwards said the the development continues to raise concerns for residents.

He said:  “We have concerns about the number of social housing, the impact on black and minority ethnic businesses, the levelling of the whole area, including the market. The development should be more sympathetic, keeping the market for example.”

Mr Edwards said it was unacceptable that according to the equality assessment submitted to the council, there was potential for 173 jobs to be lost – mainly from the BME community.

“It was a good meeting, but the concerns remain”, he said.

“There are businesses that have no idea what will happen, where they will be or if they can continue – the equality assessment is completely flawed.

“This needs to be more of an inclusive development, we all want to see the area developed, there’s no question about that, but these proposals need a complete rethink.

“We want to see the council robustly look at these proposals. The council has policies, it has policies for housing, so they need to be looked at when considering this development.

“We need them to be sufficiently robust, and we will keep up the pressure. There’s a long way to go yet.”

The spokesman added the Twentieth Century Society, a heritage safeguarding charity, was working to get the market listed, which if successful could push back the application.

Council leader Danny Thorpe said he recognised people’s concerns about the development.

He said: “I totally hear the concerns people have that’s why I’ve been out engaging, many months ago – not just at this meeting.

“I have been speaking to residents directly affected by the development, and people do clearly have concerns.

“Some people are happy to leave so it is important to recognise that there’s a mix of opinion in there, and all businesses would get independent advice on what would be best for them.”

The council leader said nothing has been finalised over who would be able to move into the shops included in the scheme.

He said: “It’s important to remember there would be retail space for  businesses, and no discussions have been finalised in terms of the ownership and tenancy.

“For example, nothing has yet been finalised with how we could negotiate discounted rents for the businesses who want to remain.

“That kind of thing is all up for discussion as part of the process. I am very aware one of the challenges is providing space for businesses affected by regeneration.”

A spokesperson for Spray Street Quarter LLP said: “Following over two years of community consultation, we submitted a planning application in January to transform Spray Street Quarter and deliver 742 new well-designed homes, as well as new places to meet, shop, eat and drink.

"To deliver maximum benefits to the local area the site needs to be comprehensively regenerated.

"Spray Street Quarter will include a new cinema and workspaces, create around 475 new, full-time equivalent jobs and 260 new affordable homes – which together will provide an anticipated £6m boost each year to the local economy.

“We have worked with residents and businesses throughout the planning process. We continue to underpin the council’s work with GL Hearn and Tree Shepherd in order to build an in-depth understanding of existing occupiers' needs. This work will help us and the council to develop robust options for how their businesses can be relocated locally.”