Greenwich locals ‘furious’ over 26-storey skyscraper plans

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter

South London locals are “furious” that a set of tower blocks including a 26-storey skyscraper will be built in their neighbourhood, arguing the new homes will attract crime to the area.

At a planning meeting for Greenwich council on Wednesday, plans were approved for a new set of towers containing 523 new homes to be built in Woolwich.

The buildings, developed by Berkeley Homes and Transport for London, will be beside the area’s new Elizabeth Line station and will stretch up to nearly 90 metres tall.

At the meeting, Marcus Cummings, vice-chairman of the Greenwich Safer Neighbourhood Board, said he only found out about the plans yesterday from a neighbour in Woolwich Arsenal.

He said: “A lot of people are very furious that this meeting was taking place without any confirmation. The information was that there were 1,000 residents that were informed.

“I’d love to know who these 1,000 people are because nobody seems to know about it whatsoever.”

On the alleged lack of consultation for the plans, planning officer Lesley Agyekumaa-Sasu said neighbours of the area received individual letters about the plans for the buildings.

Council officer Jean Riddler then said that the plans had been on the council website since December last year.

Mr Cummings also said that the greater number of people in Woolwich would attract crime to the area.

He said: “My main problem is regarding crime. So if you have too much density, of too many people, crime will increase.”

Paul Pritchard from Berkeley Homes said that there will be CCTV in the area linking that will be monitored by managers.

Councillor Gary Dillon then told Mr Cummings: “There’s a CCTV network that covers quite a large majority of the Arsenal site, including the new development, and it’s linked. If they’re not operating then you can report that.”

James Pargeter, director of Gunnery Property Limited, said he was in support of the plans, but was concerned that the bins for the new flats would block the footpath to a nearby business centre the company owns.

Mr Pargeter said: “The mayor wants healthy streets, this is an unhealthy street. It’s not like it’s a small site, they’ve got two acres.”

Speaking in support of the plans, Councillor Denise Hyland said: “I’m very happy to support this. I think it’s a very well designed estate. I think it’s going to improve what currently is a station box. Berkeley have always been good, in my view, at landscaping, and we can see that yet again with this design.”

At the end of the meeting, the planning board approved the plans for the new buildings.

Cllr Dillon told Mr Pritchard that more detail was needed from Berkeley Homes on the waste management plan for the buildings.

Pictured top: Marcus Cummings speaking at the Greenwich planning meeting (Picture: Greenwich council meeting)