Design tweaks for Greenwich tower blocks – with slight height reductions
By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter
A blueprint for nearly 200 new homes in a pair of tower blocks stretching up to 15 storeys tall in Greenwich has been revised.
The two blocks, which would be between 12 and 15 storeys high, have had a series of changes to windows and fire safety elements put forward by the developer of the scheme.
The blocks were originally approved by Greenwich council in March 2021, and come as part of Berkeley Homes’ wider Kidbrooke Village masterplan. The £1 billion scheme was designed to regenerate the former Ferrier Estate, which was knocked down in 2012.
Planning documents from Reddy Architecture + Urbanism, on behalf of Berkeley, said the updated proposal had arisen following meetings with planning officers at Greenwich council.
The changes would see a column of windows on the taller block being removed for structural reasons. Planning documents claimed textured brick would be used instead of the windows to maintain the facade of the building.
This block would also see planters on the upper levels of the structure being removed under the new changes. Several windows and glass doors on the east side of the building would be removed or resized as they were reportedly obstructed by kitchen features in the flats.
The smaller block would see its windows being redesigned to prevent the risk of individuals falling from a height. The developer has claimed that none of the window alterations will affect daylight exposure requirements for flats in the buildings.
The height of both buildings would be reduced under the new plans, with the taller block being 2.5 metres shorter and the smaller block seeing a 1.4-metre reduction.
Balcony doors for flats on both buildings will also be amended to move inwards or slide open instead of swinging outwards. Fire safety measures have been added such as fire escapes being separated from back-of-house services on lower floors, such as bin storage areas.
An original CGI of how the block might look (Picture: CZWG Architects/HTA Design/Berkeley Homes)