Campaigners celebrated in Woolwich as councillors blocked a 27-storey skyscraper that would have stood as an “icon for social division” from being built.

Residents blasted Meyer Homes for prioritising profit in proposals to build more than 800 homes across three blocks in the centre of Woolwich, with a huge centrepiece towering over General Gordon Square.

The plans would have created 804 homes, a cafe, shops and a community room – but protesters said the scheme was designed for the rich, not for the community.

The 27-storey skyscraper was not earmarked to have any affordable homes, which instead would have been spread across smaller blocks – a move that upset protesters who feared a luxury tower would price out the community.

Icon for division

Speaking to the planning committee, John Edwards, organiser of protest group Speak Out Woolwich, said the scheme had left residents angry.

He said: “Woolwich has a lack of social housing – this scheme offers three options ranging from nine to 17 per cent.

“None of those are good enough. Meyer Homes says that is the best it can do – it is not. There is a target profit of £57 million.

“The 27-storey tower would stand as an icon of social division in Woolwich, that is why there is so much anger. None of the flats in the luxury tower would be for social housing.

“The higher the tower, the more profit. It’s overdeveloped, it is cramming too much into too small a place. This would destroy the character of that part of Woolwich. It’s designed for short-term profit.”

 

Community

A petition backed by more than 1,600 people called for the tower to be scrapped, and more than 200 people also objected online.

The developer had proposed three affordable housing options, all of which disappointed councillors for being low.

Councillors echoed concerns outlined by campaigners, with Cllr Linda Bird telling developers they were promoting themselves on a housing formula not accepted by the council.

Adel Khaireh, a councillor for Glyndon, said: “You said you’re working with the community but it’s a community with a 1,600 petition and 200 objections refusing your development, how are you working with the community when the community is against it?”

The developers 

Meyer Homes said the scheme would benefit Greenwich, a borough that has more than 17,000 people waiting for a home.

Jamie Pearson, speaking on behalf of the applicant, said: “We feel our offer is compelling in terms of policy and a need of affordable housing. This offer provides a mix of London living affordable rent, living rent and shared ownership.”

 

A Community infrastructure levy of just under £7m would have gone to “much-needed projects”, Mr Pearson said.

“We believe refusal would be a missed opportunity to complete the permitted masterplan which offers so many public benefits.

“We’ve carried out four days of consultation and had nearly 500 people through. We’ve looked at the public benefits of this scheme – this is the right place for a landmark building.”

Mr Pearson said the developers had found it difficult to work with planners at the council, but insisted the proposals had been supported by “all other stakeholders”.

Unanimous 

The developers said the scheme was supported by an outline planning permission – but councillors argued this had lapsed and was no longer relevant.

Officers had called the building domineering in their report prior to the meeting, and councillors unanimously supported their recommendation to reject the controversial proposals.