1,200 new homes approved despite warnings from air quality expert

By Kiro Evans, Local Democracy Reporter

The view of the River Thames is set to change forever after 1,200 new homes in Charlton were approved last night.

The huge project by London Homebuilding Partnership and Hyde Group will see the dramatic transformation of the area of Greenwich.

The plans were approved by the Greenwich council planning board after a knife-edge vote which saw chair Stephen Brain cast the deciding ballot.

It came despite opposition from councillors and residents over the height and scale of the redevelopment and the air quality of the area due to a nearby asphalt plant.

Developers Hyde will build 718 new flats in Herringham Road and New Lyndenburg Street close to the Thames in blocks that range from four to 10 storeys high.

Other outlined proposals were approved which will see a further 494 flats added after the initial phase. Forty per cent of the homes will be affordable according to the planning papers.

A Hyde spokesperson told last night’s meeting: “Hyde’s core purpose is to deliver high-quality, safe, decent homes. Hyde are here for the long term and will continue to manage these properties for many, many years to come.

“Our objective has always been to realise Charlton Riverside’s potential as a new mixed-use community, underpinned by quality, affordable homes.”

Air quality expert Gordon Allison advised against the plans.

He said: “In my 25 years in the industry I’ve never seen a proposal where the building will be hit by a plume from an industrial chimney stack. It’s not a sensible proposal – when the wind blows, it will hit the nearest building.

“It’s too close and the buildings are too high. It’s not that [a development] can never happen, but you shouldn’t put buildings that are taller than a chimney stack close to that chimney.”

Regarding the smell from the asphalt plant, he said: “I find it nauseating, even though I’ve worked in the industry my whole career.”

When asked by councillor John Fahy if the health and well-being of the residents will be “compromised” due to the existing plant, Mr Alison replied: “Yes, that’s my opinion.”

Greenwich planning officer Alex Smith responded: “We’ve had significant conversations with the applicant, wharf operators and environmental health colleagues.

“It’s been concluded by our environmental health team they consider the mitigation measures and robust conditions will ensure the protection of the residential properties.”

Councillor Nigel Fletcher raised concerns about the density and height of the project. He said: “There is a reason why we don’t want to see the same levels of density and height in this part of the borough as there are in the peninsula and in Woolwich.

“There is a very clear vision not just for this site but also for the way it interacts with the rest of the borough. There is a clump of tall buildings in Woolwich and  the peninsula. This is the intermediate part between it.

“Once you lose that, the whole idea of there being a difference between the peninsula and Woolwich goes.”

Local residents groups, including Charlton Society and Charlton Together, raised concerns and the noise and size of the project.

Pictured top: CGI impression of how the new redevelopment could look once completed (image: Greenwich council)