Council asks developer to tear down 23-storey towers that are ‘different’ to plans approved

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter

A council has asked a developer to tear down a pair of tower blocks for being “substantially different” to the plans that were approved .

Greenwich council has announced it has taken enforcement action against Comer Homes for a pair of tower blocks up to 23 storeys-tall that the developer built in Woolwich.

The council said in a statement the new buildings in Mast Quay, which contain 204 flats, had at least 26 main deviations to the original planning permission granted for the project.

Design changes included making the building look more “bulky”, different cladding and smaller balconies.

The authority said: “The council’s extensive investigation over the last year has concluded that the completed Mast Quay Phase II built-to-rent development has been built without planning permission and is therefore unlawful because it is so substantially different to the scheme that was originally permitted by the planning permission given in 2012.”

A Comer Homes Group spokesman said the developer was surprised and extremely disappointed by the decision of the council.

They added that the group will be appealing against the enforcement notice and that it plans to correct the inaccuracies and address the authority’s concerns.

The notice issued by the council could force the developer to demolish the project entirely and restore the land to its former condition.

Changes to the building include a lack of promised roof gardens and children’s play areas, as well as “accessible” apartments that include steps to balconies and an inaccessible gym in place of space for shops planned on the ground floor.

Plans for the building were originally sent in 2010, which included two tower blocks that were 14 and 22-storeys tall. The buildings were to include 218 flats and were approved by Greenwich council in 2012.

The Comer Group sent changes to plans for the shorter of the two towers, including extra metal features and grey and orange cladding, in December 2022 o,nce the build was nearly completed.

Greenwich council said it had never issued a planning enforcement notice of this scale to a developer before.

A Comer Group spokesman said: “We are also prioritising the interests of residents at Mast Quay Phase II and we are and will continue to do all that we can to assist them to remain secure in their homes while we respond to the council’s actions.”

Pictured top: The approved plans for the buildings in Mast Quay (Picture: Upchurch Associates/Comer Homes Group/Greenwich council)