Hundreds of new homes to be built on Grade II listed buildings
By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter
Plans to redevelop a set of Grade II listed buildings into more than 500 new homes have moved forward.
The project, submitted by PPM Planning Limited, would include 485 co-living rooms alongside 20 flats in Woolwich town centre.
The homes would be spread across six blocks and stretch up to six storeys tall, with space being reserved for community and office use, shops and restaurants. A public square is also planned which would connect Thomas Street, Polytechnic Street and Wellington Street.
Access to this new space would be improved by demolishing two buildings on the site in Thomas Street and Wellington Street.
The site includes seven locally listed structures as well as the Grade II listed original building for the University of Greenwich. The structure, known as the former Woolwich Polytechnic Building, dates back to 1891 and has sat empty for more than 20 years after teaching ceased in 2002 following the university’s move to the Royal Naval College three years earlier.
Two Grade II listed extensions to the original structure, the Gymnasium and Rotunda, also sit on the site and date back to the late 19th century and early 20th century respectively.
Designs for the project have been informed by consultations with the Greater London Authority and various council departments. Greenwich council officers noted in their report that the scheme could cause some harm to the historical fabric of the area, but felt that the renewed use for the building outweighed such concerns.
The 20 flats in the project are planned to be made available for social rent, with the developer offering an additional £5million to the authority for affordable housing to be sourced elsewhere in the borough.
The proposal will be considered by Greenwich council’s Planning Board at a meeting on November 12.
Pictured top: A view of the site as seen from Wellington Street (Picture: BB Partnership Ltd / PPM Planning Limited)