Abbey Wood’s Eynsham Drive tower blocks can go ahead, says town hall
By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter
Approval has been given for a new set of tower blocks up to 17 storeys tall at Abbey Wood.
The developers want to create 500 co-living rooms and a 110-bedroom hotel.
The new development will see four new blocks being added to the site on Eynsham Drive, just a seven minute walk from Abbey Wood Elizabeth line station.
The project, submitted by JMH Group, will deliver 487 co-living rooms with communal areas such as a gym and roof terraces. A lack of affordable housing in the scheme has also been offset by the developer contributing £7.3 million to the council for affordable housing units to be sourced off site.
The topic was unanimously approved at a planning board meeting for Greenwich council on Tuesday.
Clive Mardner, a former ward councillor for Abbey Wood, said he was not against development in the area but was concerned about the number of elements in the proposal. He also emphasised that he would like to see the affordable housing contribution for the site being put towards housing in Abbey Wood.
Labour councillor ‘Lade Huphzibah Olugbemi said at the meeting that she was worried about the number of homes in the development. She noted that there were already extensive works being carried out by Peabody in Thamesmead to deliver up to 2,000 new homes.
The councillor said: “I’m very concerned about the impact on our existing infrastructure. For me, it’s the concept of creating another ghetto, that’s the truth. I’m extremely concerned about this number of units.”
Planning consultant Richard Quelch said the project would help address the authority’s pressing need to deliver housing. Félicie Krikler, director at Assael Architecture, said at the meeting that the homes had been designed to a high standard, with the co-living concept helping to reduce loneliness for people in the borough.
Ms Krikler said: “This is delivering good rental homes that are well designed and managed to a much higher standard than the existing local private rental sector. It’s not a ghetto.”
The site is currently occupied by a car wash and animal hospital run by the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA).
The new development will see the hospital retaining its current practice while construction is carried out and moving into a larger, upgraded facility in one of the blocks once initial works are complete.
It has been going for more than a century and cares for up to 10,000 animals every year.
Pictured top: A CGI view of the site looking east on Eynsham Drive (Picture: JMH Group/Assael Architecture)