Greenwich, Westcombe Park and Blackheath
3.17. Greenwich, Westcombe Park and Blackheath form the northwestern portion of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, stretching along the Thames and encompassing a rich mix of heritage, open space, and vibrant town centres, including Greenwich and East Greenwich District Centres. The Greenwich, Westcombe Park and Blackheath area is bordered by the London Borough of Lewisham along its western boundary, with Deptford Creek to the northwest, part of the Blackheath District Centre to the west and Kidbrooke and Middle Park to the south and southeast. The area is bounded by Charlton to the east, Greenwich Peninsula to the northeast and the River Thames along the northern border. The Greenwich, Westcombe Park and Blackheath spatial area covers the wards of Greenwich Creekside, Greenwich Park, Blackheath Westcombe and East Greenwich.
3.18. Greenwich is a globally significant heritage destination, home to the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, the Royal Observatory, and the Prime Meridian. Greenwich is recognised in the London Plan as an Opportunity Area (Deptford Creek/Greenwich Riverside), a district centre, and a designated Night-Time Economy location. The town centre
plays a central role in the borough’s identity and economy, offering a diverse mix of cultural, educational, retail, and tourism functions, and is home to Greenwich Market, a Royal Charter market dating to 1700.
3.19. East Greenwich is a diverse and evolving neighbourhood with a layered urban character, including Victorian terraces, post-war housing, and newer mixed-use schemes. The East Greenwich District Centre acts as a key community hub, supporting leisure, health, and library services, with ongoing improvements to public realm and connectivity.
3.20. Blackheath and Westcombe Park are distinctive residential areas defined by their heritage value, conservation status, and access to expansive open spaces. Blackheath, jointly managed with the London Borough of Lewisham, under the London Plan (2021) is a designated district centre and a Night-Time Economy location, known for its open heathland, acid grassland habitats, and proximity to the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. Blackheath’s large swathes of open space serve as a vital green space for the borough and wider London. Westcombe Park features Edwardian and Victorian housing, tree-lined streets, and
elevated views, extending to Vanbrugh Park and the Angerstein Estate. Both areas are designated conservation areas and contain many listed buildings and other heritage assets.
3.21. The wider area benefits from strong transport links via DLR, National Rail, and bus routes, with active travel infrastructure being enhanced through Cycleway 4 and Thames Path connections. The Thames Path provides a high-quality, traffic-free walking and cycling route along the northern boundary, linking to strategic cycle corridors through East Greenwich and Charlton.
3.22 The Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site is internationally recognised for its outstanding universal value, reflecting its pivotal role in the development of astronomy, navigation, and royal architecture. The site encompasses a unique ensemble of historic buildings, landscapes, and riverfront setting. The site and wider surrounds are home to a high concentration of Grade I and Grade II Listed Buildings, as well as ancient monuments, including the Old Royal Naval College, Queen’s House, National Maritime Museum, the Royal Observatory and the entirety of Greenwich Royal Park.
3.23. Surrounding the site is a designated World Heritage Site Buffer Zone which provides another layer of protection to the site. Uses and development are carefully managed within the buffer zone so that they do not affect the immediate setting of the site, important views and other areas or attributes that are functionally important as a support to the site, its protection and preservation of its Outstanding Universal Values. The Local Plan seeks to ensure that development within and around the site preserves its significance, enhances its setting, and supports its continued cultural, educational, and tourism functions.
3.24. Reflecting its Opportunity Area status, the Creekside East and Greenwich Creekside area—straddling the boundary between Royal Greenwich and Lewisham—has undergone significant regeneration. Former industrial sites have been transformed into mixed-use developments with residential apartments, creative studios, cultural facilities, and public spaces. This revitalisation has delivered new squares, pedestrian and cycle routes, and landscaping that improves public access to the creek.
3.25. A significant extent of Greenwich, Westcombe Park and Blackheath is covered by seven conservation areas: Ashburnham Triangle, Greenwich Park, East Greenwich, Greenwich, Westcombe Park, Blackheath Park and Blackheath. These conservation areas collectively reflect the borough’s rich architectural and historic legacy, encompassing Georgian and Victorian residential streets, royal landscapes, maritime heritage, and planned estates. These areas are protected for their distinctive townscape qualities, historic buildings, and cultural significance.
P1 - Greenwich, Westcombe Park and Blackheath Spatial Diagram - KEY
Oppor tunities:
Main streets and urban road corridors enhancement
TFL roads (frontage enhancement)
Public realm enhancement
Connections improvement
Proposed cycle routes
Proposed or improved quiet routes
Waterfront route improvement
Junctions improvement
Proposed and improved crossing/bridge/underpass
Existing Features and Plan Designations:
Royal Borough boundar y
Sub-area boundar y
Oppor tunity area
Town Centres
District centres
High Streets / local centres
Open Space
Water space
Conser vation Areas
Heritage landmark
Site allocations
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site Buffer
Safeguarded whar ves
Rail Lines stations
DLR Stations
River Ser vices
Schools and Universities
Healthcare facilities
Motorway
Existing cycling routes (tfl)
Pedestrianised
Greenwich, Westcombe Park and Blackheath Vision
Greenwich, Westcombe Park and Blackheath will continue to thrive as a network of distinctive neighbourhoods and centres, each celebrated for their rich heritage, exceptional green spaces, and strong local character. Greenwich will remain a globally significant heritage destination, anchored by the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site and a vibrant town centre offering a diverse mix of cultural, retail, leisure, and night-time economy uses, supported by flexible and creative employment spaces.
East Greenwich will grow as a dynamic mixed-use neighbourhood, with the East Greenwich District Centre serving as a key hub for leisure, health and community services, alongside development that enhances public realm, connectivity, and inclusive infrastructure. Westcombe Park will be strengthened as a well-connected residential area with strong conservation value, while Blackheath will retain its village character and open heathland
setting, with sensitively designed development supporting local amenities and a balanced mix of uses.
Across the area, development will respect and enhance historic and architectural significance, preserve unique character, and support sustainable growth that improves amenities, infrastructure, public realm, connectivity, and environmental resilience. Development will also foster jobs and economic opportunities for local enterprises and creative industries. Highquality design, active travel improvements and resilient infrastructure will underpin a greener, healthier and more dynamic future for residents, businesses and visitors. The open space network will be carefully managed to protect its character, enhance biodiversity, and support recreational use in ways that respect its ecological and historical value.
