More shops will be coming to the historic Royal Arsenal site in Woolwich, it was decided last night.

Developer Berkeley was given permission in 2017 for shops and more than 110 flats in the historic ‘Building 10’ at the Arsenal site but came back asking for more commercial space.

The developer will now have 3,215sqm of shops – up from the previously agreed 1,747sqm.

MORE - Woolwich's multi-million creative district to rival South Bank set to start opening next winter

Councillors were meant to make a decision in December, but pushed it back over fears a crane girder would be lost in the development.

The crane is from the post-war era, thought to be the late 1960s, and replaced a more historic structure.

Despite some concern that the historic building could be damaged, officers at Greenwich Council said there were more benefits of bringing the empty site back into use.

“It is recognised that retention of the crane girder acts as an additional symbol of the former life of the building, providing local distinctiveness meaning and quality to the interior space of Building 10 and giving context to the retained gantry,” officers said.

The scheme was approved unanimously with a condition imposed retaining the crane.

MORE COUNCIL - 'I've been spat at': Eltham school gets expansion go-ahead despite neighbours' parking misery

Berkley’s plans for the Arsenal site include hundreds of homes, shops and a courtyard across Building 10 and 11.

It comes as the council continues developing the Woolwich Creative District, which will see listed buildings at the Arsenal renovated into a cultural quarter of venues, studios and rehearsal space.