Greenwich Council has laid out an ambitious vision for the borough's future, identifying key sites for major residential and commercial development from 2026 onwards. The plans, detailed in its Draft Local Plan consultation, range from transforming a supermarket to constructing new tower blocks, aiming to deliver thousands of new homes.
Major Housing Projects in Woolwich and Greenwich
Several high-profile schemes are set to reshape parts of the borough. In Woolwich town centre, developer Berkeley is awaiting a decision on plans to build 575 homes on a former Crossrail works site near Plumstead Road. The council is pushing for half of these to be affordable, though the current proposal offers 35%.
Nearby, the recently opened Woolwich Waves leisure centre will be complemented by a large-scale housing development on the old Waterfront Leisure Centre site. The council hopes to sell this 2-acre riverside plot for a development containing 310 homes in a tower up to 20 storeys. Furthermore, the residential element of the Woolwich Waves project itself has been expanded, with flats increasing from 482 to 557.
In Greenwich itself, a planning application seeks to demolish 141-143 Woolwich Road and replace it with 190 student accommodation beds in buildings up to seven storeys high.
Charlton, Eltham and Kidbrooke Regeneration
The transformation is not confined to Woolwich. In Charlton, the council hopes to see the ASDA superstore site redeveloped into a mixed-use scheme. The proposal would retain the supermarket but add 750 new homes alongside it.
In Eltham, the local authority wants to demolish the Mecca Bingo Hall and have 90 homes built on the land. Meanwhile, the vast Kidbrooke Village regeneration is set to continue. Its next phases promise a significant boost, with phase five delivering 530 homes and a park, and phase six contributing a further 860 homes with commercial space.
Other Key Sites and Future Hopes
The Draft Local Plan also highlights several other opportunities. These include converting the Riverside House office building in Beresford Street, Woolwich, into 209 homes—a plan approved in 2021 but not yet started. The council also lists potential developments on land behind The Woolwich Centre, the redevelopment of the University of Greenwich's Woolwich Campus, and turning a former military building on Woolwich Common into a 70-bed care home.
Greenwich Council states that these identified sites provide a crucial opportunity to meet housing needs and enhance the borough's urban character. With many projects targeting a 2026 start, the coming years are set to be a period of significant change for the area.
