New factory setting for 350 homes near Thames Barrier

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter

Revised plans for more than 350 new homes near the River Thames have been sent to Greenwich council.

The scheme, sent by Landsec U+I, would see hundreds of homes built on the site of a former Siemens factory, next to the Thames Barrier in north Charlton.

Faraday Works, as the scheme is known, will see the Grade II listed factory on the site refurbished to provide 359 new homes. The structure was built in 1910 and was used as a factory for the manufacture of copper cables before closing in 1968.

Planning documents from Egret West Studio, on behalf of Landsec U+I, indicate that the site has remained largely unused for more than 20 years, except for about six tenants in the building.

The project involves adding extensions to the existing buildings, as well as constructing two additional 10-storey blocks for the new homes, bringing the total number of buildings in the development to six.

The proposal was revised again in June 2021 to include 374 dwellings. The current scheme includes 16 affordable units across the development. These include 12 flats for households on Greenwich council’s waiting list, while the remaining four would be available to London Living Rent.

The project is also expected to create more than 830 new jobs. It forms part of Greenwich council’s Charlton Riverside Masterplan, which will see 7,500 homes built and 4,400 jobs created in the area.

Planning documents said: “The vision for Faraday Works offers an opportunity to benefit the existing place and people, introduce a new community of residents and workers, alongside widening the accessibility to the legacy of the Siemens Brothers and Company.”

The brief also said: “Alongside delivering much-needed homes, we want to harness this historic business success and make it relevant for modern-day industry and add to the appeal of Greenwich.

“Not only do we believe that our project will set exemplary design and placemaking standards for the wider Charlton Riverside area, but it will deliver the kind of buildings that will nurture market-leading innovation opportunities for world-class start-up and scale-up businesses, driving long term growth.”

Pictured top: A CGI view of Bowater Road, looking west (Picture: Landsec U+I /Studio Egret West/Coffey Architects)