Plans for five-storey block of flats criticised

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter

Residents have criticised plans for a new five-storey set of flats.

Greenwich council has received changes to plans from Southern Housing for the new set of 20 flats in Greenwich High Road.

The development will include space for a shop on its ground floor, with up to 14 new jobs being made as a result.

A three-storey office building previously on the site has since been demolished in preparation for the project.

The plans for the building were originally approved by Greenwich council in August 2020.

Council documents said the amendments included minor changes to windows and the height of the building, as well as making all flats in the development “affordable,” when previously only half were planned to be.

The physical changes were reportedly done to avoid delays to the project as a partition wall agreement with a neighbouring property had not been reached.

The plans have received 64 objections online from Greenwich residents. One objection outlined concerns that the roof terrace planned for the development would become a site for “all day and all night parties”.

Residents were also reportedly worried that vehicles in a neighbouring car park would be vulnerable to “stuff being dropped” from the new building’s balconies.

Council officers said in their report that it was not uncommon to have balconies beside neighbouring boundaries and public footpaths.

Officers also praised the application for its improved emphasis on fire safety, with the layout of the building’s lobby being altered to allow the shortest possible escape route for residents.

Regarding the concerns for parties on the roof terrace, officers said in their report: “Communal roof terraces are not uncommon in residential developments, with several adjacent developments featuring such amenity space. As it is a communal space, shared between residents, it is unlikely to be used for excessive parties.”

The amended design will be discussed at a planning board meeting for Greenwich council on Tuesday of next week.

Council officers said the physical changes to the plans would likely have no significant impact on the overall appearance of the development, and the additional affordable housing would provide enhanced public benefits.

They added: “Overall, it is considered that the revised proposal maintains a positive contribution to the townscape and would represent a significant improvement in comparison to the previous office building on site.”

Pictured top: The development in Greenwich High Road was originally approved by the council in August 2020 (original plans shown). (Picture: Create Design and Architecture / Southern Housing)