Greenwich Council refuses plan for flats next to chimney

Lakeview Estates One Limited wanted to build a 13-storey block of flats on Woolwich Church Street.

The scheme would have seen 48 flats built on the site which is currently occupied by a former pub, The Albion.

Woolwich Church Street with the chimney and current site in view The building functioned as a hostel in recent years and is in a ‘dilapidated’ condition according to planning documents.

Several Grade II listed structures are present beside the site, including Woodhill School, the Edinburgh Castle pub and artefacts from the former Royal Dockyard.

Across the road from the former pub is the 19th century chimney of an old steam factory.

Greenwich Council officers said in their report on the scheme that the chimney dates back to 1837 and the new building would challenge and diminish the local landmark.

The authority’s Planning Board voted to refuse the application at a meeting on March 5 this year, criticising the lack of affordable housing.

Labour Councillor Gary Dillon said at the meeting: “I ask the question, ‘Is your application wrong at your end?’, because I guarantee you, there probably will be a developer that can make a viable development on that site… We are desperate for affordable homes, 27,000 people are looking for homes in this borough.”

Reasons for refusal also included the effect the bulk and height of the development would have on the Grade II listed chimney.

The developer responded to the concerns of the council in an appeal statement, which noted that permission for a similar 13-storey building on the site was granted in a 2017 application.

This consent was never implemented and the application said the new proposal had reworked the scheme to be more efficient.

The appeal statement said: “This is a clear and unjustified departure from the conclusions of the council in their assessment of the 2017 permission where the impact of the proposed scheme, which was taller, was considered to avoid harm to the setting of the listed chimney, as well as its historic value and appearance, which presumably included its proportions and profile.”

The applicant added that consultants The Heritage Practice had claimed the proposal was appropriate in terms of its scale and would provide a sympathetic visual relationship with the surrounding assets.

They added that the scheme would not be viable if affordable housing was included. The appeal application will be assessed by the Planning Inspectorate at a later date.