Nearly 400 new apartments and leisure centre to replace Woolwich Wilko store

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter

A new multi-purpose leisure centre has been approved in the centre of Woolwich, replacing a run-down sports centre that was “hard to get to” on the edge of town.

The new development will also include a set of residential buildings, as well as a new community square and commercial space.

The new leisure centre will be located between Vincent Road and Wilmount Street, which is currently occupied by Viscount House and a former Wilko store.

The planning permission for the new development was approved by Greenwich council’s planning board on Tuesday.

Woolwich Leisure Centre is set to replace the current Waterfront Leisure Centre, which sits north of Woolwich High Street, disconnected from the town centre.

Additional facilities in the new centre will include a spa, a splash pool, and more sports courts and swimming lanes.

The new set of residential buildings will include a total of 482 new apartments, built by the council’s development partner, The Hill Group.

Andy Hill, chief executive at The Hill Group, said: “This landmark scheme will deliver significant improvements to the built environment, which will benefit the mental and physical well-being of the local community.”

Waterfront Leisure Centre is planned to close upon completion of the new space, with last year’s local plan saying the old centre “has a detrimental impact on the surrounding area”.

Construction of the new leisure centre and additional facilities will begin early next year with the demolition of Viscount House on Vincent Road beginning in October.

Pictured top: Site of the new leisure centre (Picture: Google Street View)