17-storey Abbey Wood tower blocks with hotel approved

The new development will see four new blocks being added to the site on Eynsham Drive, just a seven minute walk from Abbey Wood Elizabeth line station.

The project, submitted by JMH Group, will deliver 487 co-living rooms with communal areas such as a gym and roof terraces.

A CGI view of the site looking north from Harrow Manorway (Credit: JMH Group / Assael Architecture)

A lack of affordable housing in the scheme has also been offset by the developer contributing £7.3 million to the council for affordable housing units to be sourced off site.

The topic was unanimously approved at a planning board meeting for Greenwich Council on October 8.

Clive Mardner, a former ward councillor for Abbey Wood, said he was not against development in the area but was concerned about the number of elements in the proposal. He also emphasised that he would like to see the affordable housing contribution for the site being put towards housing in Abbey Wood.

Labour Councillor ‘Lade Huphzibah Olugbemi said at the meeting that she was worried about the number of homes in the development.

She noted that there were already extensive works being carried out by Peabody in Thamesmead to deliver up to 2,000 new homes.

The councillor said: “I’m very concerned about the impact on our existing infrastructure… For me, it’s the concept of creating another ghetto, that’s the truth. I’m extremely concerned about this number of units.”

Planning consultant Richard Quelch said the project would help address the authority’s pressing need to deliver housing.

Félicie Krikler, director at Assael Architecture, said at the meeting that the homes had been designed to a high standard, with the co-living concept helping to reduce loneliness for people in the borough.

Ms Krikler said: “This is delivering good rental homes that are well designed and managed to a much higher standard than the existing local private rental sector… It’s not a ghetto.”

The site is currently occupied by a car wash and animal hospital run by the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA).

The new development will see the hospital retaining its current practice while construction is carried out and moving into a larger facility in one of the blocks once initial works are complete.

Dave Thompson, head of estates for the PDSA, said at the meeting that the charity had been providing services in the borough for over 100 years and that 9,250 animals were treated at the Eynsham Drive site each year.

He said that the current practice was no longer suitable and was causing difficulties for the service operationally.

He said: “In order to continue to provide this vital service to the local community, it is essential for us to upgrade those facilities to provide an accessible, available, environmentally sustainable, attractive facility to serve the existing residents in the borough who are eligible for our charitable support as well as new residents in future years.”