Weekender Plenty of plans in the Works
Celebrating council housing milestones in Royal Greenwich
The Royal Borough of Greenwich recently celebrated two major milestones in its council housing programme: the installation of the 1,000th new kitchen and bathroom, and the naming of a new development in honour of a much-respected councillor who passed away five years ago. Together they form key developments of our Housing Our Greenwich plan to improve existing council housing as well deliver new council housing in the borough.
1,000th home improvement milestone celebrated as resident receives brand-new kitchen
Sheila Hassett received a brandnew kitchen installed by Mulalley, who are working on behalf of the council to help us deliver our biggest council housing investment programme in a generation.
Launched last year, the council’s five-year programme aims to enhance the quality of council homes with new or improved kitchens and bathrooms, new roofs, doors, windows and fire, electrical, gas and water safety improvements.
Councillor Pat Slattery, Cabinet Member for Housing Management, Neighbourhoods and Homelessness, said: “Investing in our homes benefits everyone, and so it was lovely to meet Mrs Hassett as our 1,000th recipient of a brand-new kitchen and bathroom in this part of the borough. My thanks to the teams involved who are helping us deliver for our residents so they can have homes they can be proud of.”
Mrs Hassett, who has lived in her Blackheath home for 37 years, said: “I love my new kitchen! I needed a new kitchen for a while, as I’d had my old one for years, so it had served me well, but this is so much better, and I even got to choose the colour scheme. The contractors kept me up to date, and they were polite, clean and tidy
– nothing was too much trouble for them, I can’t praise them more highly. I think the council’s doing a great job with improving these, and it’s all worked out beautifully - so I’d like to say thank you.”
Across Royal Greenwich, work is ongoing as the council invests over £50 million to make council homes warmer, greener, and more affordable for residents.
Pick of the Week
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Quiz nights at the Trafalgar Tavern
Test your general knowledge at the Trafalgar Tavern with their pub nights in the beautiful Greenwich backdrop. There will even be a £50 bar tab up for grabs for the winner!
Location: The Trafalgar Tavern, Park Row, London SE10 9NW Date: 7th and 21st May
Tickets: No ticket required, £2.50 per person on the door
‘Come and rave with your kids!’
Big Fish Little Fish will bring their family friendly rave to the Fox and Firkin in Lewisham this May. You can expect dance music, crafting, fancy dress, bubbles and balllons. DJ Suddi Ravel will be making an appearance and the fancy dress theme is ‘Pyjama Party’ so you can wear your oodies and onesies and dance the night away.
There will also be an exciting opportunity to win a ticket to Camp Bestival this summer, which will be allocated to one Big Fish Little Fish ticket buyer. There will be a bar for the adults, alongside baby change and buggy park facilities.
Location: Fox and Firkin, 316 Lewisham High St, London, SE13 6JZ
Date: 18th May Time: 2pm - 4pm
Tickets: £12.90
Link: https://foxfirkin.com/event/big-fish-little-fish-x-camp-bestival-family-rave-18th-may-2025/
Sydenham Garden Spring Fair 2025
There will be an outdoor spring fair surrounded by nature in Sydenham Garden. Explore the garden and surrounding nature reserve and help raise funds to support the garden. The Sydenham Garden is a community project, which supports people to improve their wellbeing through creative and horticultural activities.
The fair will have a plant sale, tea and cake, hot food and craft stalls.
Location: Sydenham Garden, 28a Wynell Road, London, SE23 2LW
Date: 10th May
Time: 11am - 3pm
Tickets: Free, no ticket needed
Ed Night: The Plunge at Albany Theatre
Stand up comedian Ed Night will bring his fringe show The Plunge to the Albany. As seen and heard on ITC2, BBC Radio 4, and Comedey Central. It was also one of the best received shows at Edinburgh Fringe 2024. Ed says: “I’ve just come back from the Edinburgh Fringe and soon enough it’ll be time for me to sling a microphone over my shoulder and start hopping on boxcars bound for every corner of this dusty old isle (and beyond, God willing!) to tour my new stand-up comedy show, The Plunge. Won’t you join me in the warm?”
Location: The Albany Theatre, Douglas Way, London, SE8 4AG
Date: 15th May
Time: 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Tickets: £20.50 (£17.50 concessions)
Link: https://www.thealbany. org.uk/shows/ed-night/
Anne
Sebba:
The
Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz
Anne Sebba, an award winning historian, will be coming to Blackheath Halls to share meticulous archival research and exclusive fi rst-hand accounts of the Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz. This will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of concentration camps. The women’s orchestra was formed in 1943 following German SS offi cers’ orders. Fifty women and girls were formed into a band that would play to other inmates and forced labourers. They were also made to perform a weekly concert for Nazi offi cers.
Anne Sebba will explore the role that music played and the effect on the women who owed their survival for participation.
Location: The Hearn Recital Room, Blackheath Halls, 23 Lee Rd, Blackheath, London SE3 9RQ
Date: 14th May
Time: 7:30pm - 8:30pm
Tickets: £10 each
Link: https://www. blackheathhalls.com/whatson/anne-sebba-the-womensorchestra-of-auschwitz/
Big Fish Little Fish x Camp Bestival Family Rave
Getting down to Works
Nick Williams wants to talk about potential. The Director of the creative hub Woolwich Works, based at the Royal Arsenal, has embarked on a flurry of initiatives
© Warren King
“When I first came to have a look, prior to interviews and so on, I sort of didn’t recognise the place”, he told Chris Mullany.
“It had just changed so much in the ten or eleven years since I’d last been down and looked around. I had been aware of Woolwich Works for a long time, but hadn’t really kept abreast of what was happening, what had been completed, what it had set out to do.” The size of it filled him with an ambition to help it realise its potential – but also an awareness of what sort of challenge that would entail.
The organisation had been losing money hand over fist, and as he points out with a rueful smile: “Heritage buildings aren’t cheap, they’re old and things will break. And there are many things you can’t do, such as improve energy efficiency. We have lots of single glazed windows!”
This year, he is confident that for the first time the creative hub will break even or better. After a multi-million pound construction funded by Greenwich Council, a sponsorship deal to the tune of some £300,000, and then a further bailout with a £2 million loan, as reported by Greenwich Wire, Williams now insists that Woolwich Works is ‘entirely free from council funding’.
And whilst in the creative arts industry, funding is never sniffed at, he adds: “We’re quite happy to be independent. There are of course lots of things we do that are aligned with what the council does, and we’re both pushing hard for growth in Woolwich. But it would need to be something significant for it to be meaningful, and we all know that local
authorities have no money these days! So I feel we’re better off being independent.”
The same is true he says for the Arts Council. “We were originally intended as a rehearsal space, and they were never going to fund that – now it would be very difficult for the Arts Council to introduce another organisation into their London portfolio. We do engage with them on project specific issues, but that’s about it.”
So how has Williams, and Woolwich Works turned things around since his arrival back in 2023? “Well, I’m a very good fundraiser!” he says with unashamed honesty. “I’m optimistic by nature and pragmatic about challenges – and I just saw so much potential here, huge amounts of space.”
The Woolwich Creative District Trust that runs the organisation was set up in 2019, and according to Williams the venture was ‘made’ to open in 2021. “So we opened during the pandemic, when the whole arts world was in a lot of difficulty.
“The first thing I did was stop spending money, whilst trying to generate as much money as we could. We are now going through our year-end process and it is significantly better than the prior year. There were a lot of legacy issues that I’ve spent the past eighteen months dealing with, and we’re there now. We’ve agreed with the board a break even budget for the year and that is no mean feat.”
Williams’ fundraising included a ‘substantial’ donation that he will only say wasn’t from Greenwich Council, and for the organisation itself he has pushed
his team to put on a range of ‘publicfacing’ initiatives, but also to encourage private and commercial events.
“We need to be busy, lively, with multiple things on”, he explains. “It might be corporate, it might be performances, it might be food fairs. I don’t want to define this as an arts centre, which can be limiting. We have music, dance, comedy, theatre, we have to be flexible.”
As Greenwich Theatre recently told the Weekender, our local creative hubs saw their whole ticket cycle upended by the pandemic, with booking patterns even changing for good. Williams says Woolwich Works has also seen “some up and down in terms of lead times for bookings, although we’re struggling to find patterns. We just had Jay Rayner and his sextet doing a fabulous jazz of the ‘80s gig with us. A big chunk was sold early, and then it ramped up over the final weeks. Similarly we had the kids’ show The Amazing Bubble Man and lots and lots of kids’ shows book very late. Trying to pre-empt is really hard.
“Since November 5th last year we’ve had quite an interesting narrative playing out in global affairs, lots of news about tariffs and so on. It’s probably not affecting the individual just yet, but people’s confidence drops and that is reflected in the buying of tickets. People worry about their own personal circumstances.”
He also says ‘sub-sectoral’ inflation is much higher – “lots of contractors have put their prices up by ten percent or more, so our cost base has gone up. But there
is some sensitivity with local audiences about what they’re going to pay. As in, ‘why would I pay that much to watch something in Woolwich?’ But actually it’s the same show as elsewhere, but five pounds less! If someone wants to put on a show, it’s up to them what they charge, but with our own shows we want to be really affordable to local audiences.
“We very deliberately slightly undercut Starbucks down the road and local pubs –it’s a good narrative to have the cheapest coffee and pint on the Arsenal” he admits. “And we do an awful lot of free activity too – and of course free activity is never free for us, so how do you pay for it?”
The answer to a lot of this has been their corporate programme, which he freely concedes is the ‘economic engine, which keeps the lights on’. “Nearly all of it is not public facing – conferences for different communities of interest, or brand related, so for customers or staff. We have a couple that are public facing, like the Blue Earth Summit.”
Williams has been in theatre for over twenty years, starting out ‘as we all did’ at Edinburgh Fringe, and then moving into fundraising at the Royal Court, Hampstead Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company. He then worked at the Arts Council London, looking after various venues and projects and oversaw investment for outer London touring and the development of new musical theatre. This led to his involvement with the Actors’ Touring Company and he spent five years helping to put on performances in places as far flung as Iraq and India, before he returned to run the Coronet Theatre in Notting Hill Gate.
“From there I went up to Perth in Scotland
to run their theatre and concert hall – they wanted a producing CEO. They were struggling, their redevelopment project had taken a long time and audiences had drifted away. In total they had 2000 seats a night to fill – in a town of 55,000 people. It was very tough, but in a way the pandemic gave an opportunity to force some difficult decision making that probably wouldn’t have happened otherwise. Although I have to say there is nothing more spooky than an empty 19th Century theatre building…!”
And then from Scotland to Woolwich, armed with this range of experiences and a decent knowledge of what it takes to turn around struggling creative venues.
“I’m always keen to point out that creative organisations are businesses and if you forget that at any point you will fall over very quickly. It’s all very well and good if you want to be a producer, but being a producer is actually about making it work financially. If you can’t do that, be a director or writer.”
So, given how much he has done, can we still expect to see him at the helm of Woolwich Works for the foreseeable future?
“Well, I’m not a keeping things ticking over person”, he replies candidly.
“But I can see a pathway where the Trust starts to build multiple things around Woolwich and I have some thoughts and ideas around that. Our name says we are a creative district – it’s not just a building and the building next door.
“There are lots of different space opportunities for different constituency groups that are always looking for space, and I could see us being very much a part of that. There’s a lot more regeneration coming in Woolwich, and that is really exciting.”
And then, full of energy and enthusiasm, Williams is off, looking for the next potential opportunity for Woolwich Works...
Outside Space
Family homes over HMOs - the debate played out on one Woolwich Street
A Woolwich resident warned “there will be mental health problems” for neighbours before plans to add a sixth occupant to a house in multiple occupation (HMO) were approved, writes Cameron Blackshaw, Local Democracy Reporter...
Greenwich Council has approved a planning application to have a sixth occupant and a rear extension added to 17 Moordown—an end-of-terrace home on a residential street between Woolwich Common and Shrewsbury Park—which garnered 50 objections from local residents.
Despite approving the application one Greenwich councillor said: “We are losing family homes that we really can’t afford to lose.”
Objectors took issue with the potential precedent the approval could mean for the creation of more HMOs in the area as well as the potential traffic issues, noise concerns and the “increased chance of disputes between residents” that an influx of six people to the street could cause.
Plans to change
the use of the single family home into a five-person HMO were approved last December. The application to add a sixth went before Greenwich Council’s local planning meeting Tuesday April 22, where it was approved at three votes to one.
Several Moordown residents opposed to the plans attended the meeting to share their views. Michael O’Sullivan said: “Nobody in our stretch of the road wants this HMO. I’ve spoken to some of the people who are in close proximity to the HMO and I’m telling you there are going to be mental health problems.
“People are very stressed and they are fearful of what’s coming down the line for them and I think that needs to be considered.”
Another Moordown resident and objector Helen Palmer wanted the
council to acknowledge her fear that the proposed occupancy of six could double to 12 at any time if friends or partners of tenants wished to stay over.
She said: “As it stands, the demographic of Moordown consists largely of families, often with young children, and/or elderly residents. There is a really strong feeling of community cohesion, especially since Covid.
“The applicant has suggested in their proposal that a house of multiple occupancy is no different to a family
© Google Maps
residence. We know that this is not true and if you are in any doubt, you just have to ask yourself what each social group will be doing at 10pm on a Friday evening.
“Having brought up a young family myself I can tell you that the children will be asleep and I will be on my computer trying to catch up on work I haven’t had time to do while they’re awake.
“As a single adult having worked all week, this would have been my time for socialising, drinking, playing music, going out to the pub, club, event and coming back in the early hours of the morning maybe.
“Both groups are entitled to their lifestyle choices but they are not compatible, and if you put them next door to each other, literally by bringing one in you will eventually start to force out the other.
“I know we are facing a housing crisis, but changing small family homes into smaller units is not the way to solve it.”
Despite these objections, Greenwich planning officers recommended that the application at 17 Moordown be approved for a number of reasons, including that the HMO would contribute to local housing needs and that it “would not result in any unacceptable impacts to the amenity enjoyed by neighbouring occupiers”.
Cllr Asli Mohammed voted in favour of the approval as she said “the
application meets all the relevant planning criteria and regulations”. However, she was critical of the applicant and those on their behalf as she believed that they had not done enough to consult with Moordown residents.
Cllr Mohammed also lamented the loss of family homes in the South London borough at the planning meeting.
She said: “We are losing family homes that we really can’t afford to lose. We have to balance family homes against HMOs; how many family homes are losing, how many HMOs are we creating.
“We have to balance that and that is something for the council to review.”
Cllr Pat Greenwell voted against approval of the application which resulted in a round of applause from the public gallery. She said:
“The people who are here tonight, the objectors, have come along and they’ve said their piece.
“It was full of emotion and emotion to me is not just emotion but people’s living conditions and how they feel is part of their amenity.
“It’s not just a building. People are going to have their amenity destroyed because of this HMO. Their lives destroyed, that’s their amenity. I’m sorry but I will not be supporting this application. I just can’t.”
Hitting fly-tippers with £1,000 fines Southwark, Lewisham, Wandsworth, Bromley and
Bexley councils come down hard on offenders
More than half of London’s councils have revealed that they will increase fly-tipping fines to £1,000, in a bid to cut litter levels across the capital, Writes Noah Vickers Local Democracy Reporter...
At least 17 boroughs which previously charged fixed penalty notices (FPNs) of £400 have confirmed that they are, or have already, increased the fine by 150 per cent.
It comes as BBC London reports that some boroughs are also increasing the number of environment officers patrolling the streets to deter offenders.
According to data from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), London saw the single largest number of ‘fly-tipping incidents’ of any English region in 2023/24.
Of the 1,152,617 incidents across England, 444,519 (about 39 per cent) were recorded in the Greater London area.
Since 2023 Southwark residents were among a number of boroughs to allow residents to report fly-tipping as well as graffiti and potholes through a ‘FixMyStreet’ online app and web service.
Users can use the online service, available on desktops, Google Play or the App Store, to send photos of street maintenance issues to Southwark Council.
Cllr Catherine Rose, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Parks, Streets & Clean Air, said: “Our new online tool is the most direct way to report anything to us that needs fixing, cleaning or clearing on Southwark’s estates and streets. In a short few clicks, you can easily alert the council to an issue and receive an update once it’s been resolved.”
Southwark Council said the platform has performed well in other boroughs, saving money, reducing response times and easing pressure on call centres. The new app comes after an East Dulwich mum created a similar app aimed exclusively at tackling dog muck.
Lawyer Jenifer Swallow, 46, and her sons Thomas, 10, and Jacob, 11 created ‘Turd Alert’ because they were sick of stumbling across dog mess each time they left the house.
Bexley Council reportedly issued nearly 1,500 fines for illegal fly-tipping offences a year before increasing the fine to £1,000 last summer.
The authority also gave out over 950 fines for littering in the same time period. Conservative Councillor Cameron Smith said at a Bexley Council meeting last November that £232,000 of funding was being used to add 526 new litter bins to the borough.
The capital’s worst affected boroughs for fly-tipping were Croydon (35,470 total incidents), Camden (34,786), and Hackney (33,464). The least impacted were Islington (1,347), the square mile of the City of London (2,315), and Kingstonupon-Thames (2,935).
Fly-tipping is a criminal offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The ability for councils to increase the maximum fly-tipping FPN from £400 to £1,000 was granted under Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Government in 2023.
Hounslow Council meanwhile confirmed in a press release on Thursday that they will also be making the change, bringing the total to at least 17 of London’s 33 local authorities.
Hounslow’s cabinet member for public safety, regulatory services and enforcement, Raghwinder Siddhu, said: “It makes our borough look unsightly, the fly-tips are potentially hazardous, and otherwise it is the law-abiding residents
that must pay to clean it up.”
The Labour councillor added: “It is simply not acceptable for people to do this. It would be much easier to either take it to the dump or throw it in a bin.
“So, you either look for a bin, or look over your shoulder, because if you fly-tip or litter in Hounslow, you will risk being caught and you will be fined.”
According to the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, fly-tipping is defined as the illegal deposit of any waste on land that does not have a licence to accept it. Allison Ogden-Newton, from Keep Britain Tidy, told BBC London: “Fines going up is a really good idea because we need a disincentive to the criminals that are carrying out this act, but we also have to catch them, which is no small matter.”
She added: “We’ve been asking for a review of the sentencing guidelines, because although sentences could be much harsher for those that are convicted of fly-tipping, magistrates tend not to issue severe fines and even prison sentences, which they can, because they perceive this to be a victimless crime.
“Anyone who is living in a community that is regularly fly-tipped knows this is not a victimless crime.”
THE FOLLOWING BOROUGHS TOLD THE BBC THIS WEEK THAT THEY ARE, OR HAVE ALREADY, INCREASED FLYTIPPING FPNS TO £1,000:
• Bexley
• Brent
• Bromley
• Camden
• Ealing
• En�ield
• Hammersmith and Fulham
• Harrow
• Hillingdon
• Kensington and Chelsea
• Lewisham
• Redbridge
• Richmond
• Southwark
• Tower Hamlets
• Wandsworth
Human remains found in bags of gravel during a community clean-up, as children played metres away
Human remains were found in gravel near a Lewisham playground last week as children played metres away. Horrified residents made the grim discovery during a community cleanup event at the playground on Saturday, April 13, writes Kevin Quinn...
Police were called at around 2.08pm after members of the community-led Church Grove project raised the alarm, when a jaw and fragments of an arm were spotted in bags of gravel delivered to the Church Grove estate.
A crime scene was in place as investigations continued. While the Met said the remains were of “interest” they added that they believe them to be ‘non-recent’.
A new play area for local families was being created when a witnesses said the body parts were uncovered
while residents were spreading gravel — with one person reportedly seeing a jaw fall from a bag. No arrests have been made, and detectives are continuing to work to identify the remains.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “On Saturday, 12 April police were called at 14:08hrs to Church Grove, SE13 following reports that human remains had been unearthed in a garden.
“There have been no arrests at this stage and officers are working to establish an identity, although the
remains are thought to be nonrecent. Enquiries are ongoing and a crime scene remains in place.” Parents living nearby were left shaken by the incident, with one mother describing the horror of children playing just feet away from the remains.
“Tiny kids were playing right next to literal bits of human arm,” she told The Sun. “You see this stuff on the news, but it was right outside our front door.
Her husband added: “It was just crazy, it is usually very wholesome vibes here. We all pitch in and grow our vegetables in the shared eco garden — it’s just mind-boggling, completely shocking.”
Church Grove is home to a community housing project run by the Rural Urban Synthesis Society, which is committed to creating sustainable, communityled neighbourhoods and affordable housing across London.
“It’s so much more immediate, you just never think something like this will happen so close to you. We are extremely shaken, I think the whole community is.”
Crimscott Street site in Bermondsey hit by flytipping in 2016
Summer in the Park returns to Greenwich & Bexley
Free family-friendly festivals run until August
A collection of free festivals hosted in parks and squares across Bexley and Greenwich is set to return this summer. Local families can expect live music and theatre performances, dance and craft workshops, and a wide range of street food across numerous events, writes Lily Erwood...
Venues hosting the Summer in the Park picnics include Danson House, Maryon Park, Gallions Park, and Greenwich Park.
Hosted by Arts Trust, who aim to provide positive, accessible activities for young people, each event is free to attend.
Summer in the Park picnics
The first of the series of picnics will take place from 11am – 4pm on the 22nd June, in Bexley’s Danson House.
Maryon Park Picnic: from 1pm – 6pm on Sunday 29th June
Gallions Park Picnic: from 1-6 on Saturday 5th July
Kids can improve their plate spinning and tight-rope skills with circus
workshops held on the 22nd June, 29th June, and Saturday 5th July.
Greenwich Park Picnic: held on Saturday 12th July and Sunday 13th July from 10am – 6pm
Attendees of the Greenwich Park picnic will receive performances from Aiden Grimshaw, Jamie Grey, She’Koyokh and the Askew Sisters.
Families are encouraged to bring their own refreshments, blankets and
chairs to enjoy alongside open air theatre and music performances.
Each Summer in the Park picnic will take place outdoors and the events are not ticketed.
Free rollerskating lessons and silent disco
The flagship Silent Disco ‘SkateJam’ and Street Food festival will return at a larger scale this year, taking place over four Sundays from May to August in Cygnet Square.
Beginners of all ages and abilities are encouraged to join in. Free skates are provided and professional skaters will be overseeing the operation!
This grassroots initiative won the 2025 London Sports Community Impact Award, recognised for its work in contributing to a 25% drop in youth-related crime during programme weekends, as well as enhancing fitness and reducing social isolation.
THE KEY DATES TO ATTEND THE FREE SKATING EVENTS ARE:
Sunday 18th May from4pm-8pm
Sunday 15th June from4pm-8pm
Sunday 27th July from4pm-8pm
Sunday 24th August fromfrom4pm8pm
Straight through people’s houses...
Mary Mills
Well I thought this week I should get back to the civic procession around the Greenwich boundary in 1853. I’ve been rather putting off this next section because I found it very difficult to follow on the map.
I’ve now found – thanks to help from Julian Watson – that some of the street names given in the report are spelt wrongly or differently and so I’m wondering if the newspaper reporter or the editor wrote it from memory or without checking it up. And – as Julian said – “the churchwardens who organised that perambulation probably exploded with rage when they read that sloppy account”.
The last article on this was four or five weeks ago and I left the procession at the entrance to what was Loat’s Pit in Lewisham Road. The current Greenwich and Lewisham boundary this is calibrated from goes straight up Lewisham Road until it gets towards the end near Sparta Street, where it goes off to the right. The boundary in the 19th century did very much the same, except that the section immediately before reaching Blackheath Hill seems to have been simplified a bit now, as we will see.
So we begin at the entrance to Loat’s Pit in Lewisham Road and as I explained in the previous article it’s very unclear exactly where the entrance was - so I’m making my first guess here. The report says that they then went along Lewisham Road to where there was a stone and also in the past an ‘Elm Pollard’ –well clearly we can’t look for trees which died 150 years
or so ago! They then went on to the ‘first abutting house on the left’ and then all proceeded to go round to the rear. It is not really clear which house they mean, because turning left gets them somewhere different if they faced the entrance to Loat’s Pit than if they were faced forward to walk down the road. Whatever, it seems they had ‘to take the best line ... by going through the ‘boys at the back of the houses’ – do they mean ‘bays’ or is there some old meaning of ‘boys’ which I don’t understand? It’s very unclear ro me how they did this – do they mean the procession with all the Civic officers, the choir boys and the schoolchildren were all traipsing along in people’s homes and back gardens?
The Ordinance Survey map from the 1860s shows the boundary going along the Lewisham Road and nowhere near its back gardens. However I guess it went far as the corner of what is now Sparta Street - but in those days it was called ‘King’ Street. The report doesn’t actually say it went there, but there is nowhere else it could go.
The procession then ‘crossed over Birling Street’ – this completely threw me because I couldn’t find a ‘Birling Street’ anywhere on any map or any reference to it at all. It’s thanks to Julian who said it’s spelt ‘Burling Street’ and he had found it marked on a map – but a map I had never seen.
Burling Street was a small side road that ran from Blackheath Hill down to Sparta Street and it would have been somewhere near the area which is now called Robinscroft Mews. The Mews is on the footprint of the old Greenwich Park Railway line – so a railway has come and gone near to where Burling Street once ran.
Next, the report says that the procession went into the back premises of a house in ‘Morden Street’. This threw me even more because Morden Street is some distance away to the west of Lewisham Road and I couldn’t see how you could get there from the corner of Sparta Street. However, following the boundary on the Ordnance Map shows that the road adjacent to Burling Street was ‘Merton’ Street. So I guess that’s another mistake in the report!
All of these little side roads between Blackheath Hill and Lewisham Road have long since been rebuilt with blocks of flats, some of which are very recent, and I can’t imagine there are any remains left there now from the 1850s.
The report then says that the procession got into ‘Morden Street’ from ‘Birling Street’ by ‘passing through No.1’. Do they seriously mean that the entire procession - school children, choir boys and all walked right the way through this unfortunate person’s house from the back door to the front door to get into the next street? It says that this house was opposite ‘a stone marked L&GP’ and they also passed ‘through the house on which this stone stands’. So that’s another house which has the dubious honour of the whole procession walking through it.
Once through the house they got to a brick wall which also had a stone which was ‘marked on each side GP’. What happened to all these stones? Are they still embedded in somebody’s wall and need to be recorded? Or, more likely, did some contractor throw them all into their skip? Someone has
They then proceeded up the ‘centre of Blackheath Hill to opposite the Green Man Tavern’ from where everything becomes much more straightforward.
The Green Man was one of the most important public houses in Greenwich, but it has sadly been out of all our lives since it was demolished in the early 1970s - it had existed since at least 1629 and probably unrecorded for years before that. It was an important stop for coach traffic where horses could be changed before taking on, or having survived, the highwaymen and the ascent of Shooters Hill. It was also used as a postal collection point.
emailed me and told me about one up in Blackheath, which I will get to in a couple of episodes’ time. There must be more and so please can I encourage people who know about them to tell me and I can include them in these stories.
Next the procession ‘crossed the garden of what were formerly Mr. Latham’s premises but now said to be the Rev.Mr.Russell’s’. Both Mr Latham and Rev. Joshua Russell were associated with what was known as the Bunyan Chapel - a Baptist Chapel in Lewisham Road, on the corner with Orchard Hill. I am not sure what this Blackheath Road or Morden/Merton Street premises was and wonder if it was perhaps the clergy house or maybe just the home of ministers working at the chapel. Next they went ‘in front of a new infant school’ – actually Blackheath Hill Ragged School – and then to a blacksmiths; and then to ‘a loft ... with ‘GP’ on the wall ... over which some of the boys are passed.’ All of these buildings were in Blackheath Hill.
From there they went up the rear of the houses in Blackheath Hill and ‘boys were passed over the garden fence into Mr Hatch’s garden’. This was William H. Hatch at 3 Blackheath Hill. I do not know Mr Hatch’s occupation but this was a substantial house plus a shop, but over the years it does seem to have had a fairly brisk turnover of residents. Mr. Hatch had not been there long and a year after the procession went through the garden the house and shop were up for auction.
They then took ‘a corner of Mr Oliver’s house diagonally to the centre of the steps at the front entrance’. This appears to be William Oliver who was to die, aged 37, only four months later - to be followed by his 84 year old father, George Oliver, within a year. They appear to have been ironmongers described (by Professor Crossick) as ‘residents of wealth and standing’ and they certainly appear to be so from the large number of charitable donations for which both Olivers are listed.
Equally importantly the Green Man seems to have been used as a public meeting place where semi official bodies and others held their meetings. For instance it was used for many, many years for the meetings of the Walscott Committee, which ran the Greenwich Peninsula before 1889. It was sometimes used by the justices and for many Vestry meetings. As such it was more than just a local pub but a centre for many activities - for example the Royal Blackheath Golf Club had their headquarters there. Later on in the 20th century it was a centre for many sports and there was a boxing club there; it was also used by Blackheath Harriers and a School of Ballroom Dancing. It was often used as a centre for large scale activities on the Heath.
In 1854, the bowling green at the rear of the pub was developed into what is now Dartmouth Terrace. In 1868 the pub was demolished and rebuilt with a large function room, which was used as a meeting place and also for entertainments. It continued to be used by quasi official bodies and entities like the Round Table and Rotary. It had the capacity for bodies to host large dinners and similar events.
In the early 1960s the Jazzhouse Club met here. Artists who played there included ... Graham Bond ... Tubby Hayes ... Tony Coe ... Ronnie Scott ... Manfred Mann ... Sam Kidd ... Jon Hiseman ... John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers ... Kenny Ball ... the young Rolling Stones. Paul Simon himself played an early solo concert there and a sixteen-year-old David Bowie (billed as David Jones) played his first professional gig there.
A popular attraction was an Olde Time Music Hall – started to raise money to open Greenwich Theatre. This was packed out and used to feature a lady singer who in her final song apparently and, unfortunately, every week, lost control of the buttons at the front of the blouse revealing missing underwear. I can’t imagine that happening now.
All now gone. In 1970, the pub was demolished and replaced by Allison Close, a block of flats. It still seems amazing to me this very important and well used pub was closed down and not replaced. In any case it was obviously just the place for the 1850s procession to get to.
The report doesn’t say if they stopped at all but it would have been a good place for a breather before the long and really rather boring stretch across Blackheath.
Green Man Blackheath
Stanford map of area covered
STATUTORY NOTICE
TO ESTABLISH A LOCAL AUTHORITY RESOURCED PROVISION (LARP) FOR COMPLEX NEEDS ASD AT FOSSDENE PRIMARY SCHOOL
Victoria Way, Charlton, London, SE7 7NQ DFE NO. 203/2228
Notice is given, in accordance with Section 19(1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 and The School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013 and having regard to the Department for Education’s (DfE) latest statutory guidance for Making significant changes (prescribed alterations) to maintained schools (March 2025), the Royal Borough of Greenwich in partnership with the Governing Body of Fossdene Primary School intends to make a prescribed alteration to:
• Establish a Local Authority Resourced Provision (LARP) at Fossdene Primary School for up to 16 children who have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan with the primary need of autism and severe learning difficulties, effect from September 2025.
The proposed LARP will have its own dedicated classrooms, outdoor space, resources, and staff and will have no impact on the resources and spaces available for mainstream pupils currently in the school.
Within four weeks from the date of this statutory notice publication, any person may object to or make comments on the proposal by either:
a) Writing to: Admissions, Place Planning & Capital Projects Service
Royal Greenwich Children’s Services, First Floor, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, London SE18 6HQ. OR
b) Emailing: school-place-planning@royalgreenwich.gov.uk.
Responses must be received by 5pm on Wednesday 4 June 2025 when this statutory notice and the representation period expires. In line with the requirements of Schedule 2, Paragraph 18 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 (as amended by the Education Act 2011), a decision must be taken by the decision maker no later than two months following the expiry of the representation period. Therefore, the Council must decide on this proposal by 4 August 2025, otherwise, it must refer this decision to the Schools Adjudicator.
Further details of the proposal are below. A copy can also be requested by emailing (above) or accessing the proposal on the Council’s consultation website: https://fossdene-greenwich.commonplace.is/
STATUTORY PROPOSAL
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSAL: The Royal Borough of Greenwich in partnership with the Governing Body of Fossdene Primary School seeks to establish a Local Authority Resourced Provision (LARP) at Fossdene Primary School for up to 16 children who have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan with autism and severe learning difficulties.
The proposed LARP within the school will provide places for pupils aged 4 – 11 years who have a diagnosis of autism in the context of severe learning difficulties. The LARP is a dedicated space designed to meet the needs of children who require the support of a small unit with specialist input during all or most of the school day and delivers specialised teaching, interventions, and facilities to support pupils. Pupils will be on the school roll and join mainstream activities where appropriate, while receiving individualised or small-group support in the provision.
CONTACT DETAILS:
The Proposer
The School (this is a community school maintained by the Council)
The Royal Borough of Greenwich (the Council) Admissions, Place Planning & Capital Projects Service
The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, Woolwich, London SE18 6HQ
Email: school-place-planning@royalgreenwich.gov.uk Website: www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk Consultation website: www.fossdene-greenwich.commonplace.is/
Fossdene Primary School Victoria Way, Charlton, London, SE7 7NQ Telephone: 0208 8585 585
Email: admin@fossdene.greenwich.sch.uk Website: www.fossdene.greenwich.sch.uk
IMPLEMENTATION: If the proposal is agreed, the implementation of the LARP at Fossdene Primary School will be from 1 September 2025.
THE LINKED STRATEGIES: This proposal is linked to the following Council Strategies shaped by the child’s voice:
1) SEND and Inclusion Partnership Strategy 2024 -2029 - Please refer to AMBITION 2: “We want schools and nurseries to support us better and have enough places so we can go to the “right” school for us.”
2) Accessibility strategy for education settings in the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
REASON FOR THE PROPOSAL: This proposal is a direct response to the lack of specialist school placements in the borough. It also follows the school’s formal expression of interest to the Council to provide a LARP for operation from September 2025. Fossdene was selected by the Council due to the school’s inclusive ethos, staff expertise and spare classroom capacity it currently holds as a result of falling birth rates and the permanent closure of its nursery provision.
Like most London Local Authorities, Royal Greenwich has been experiencing falling rolls in the mainstream sector of the primary phase. While it is anticipated that rolls will begin to stabilise overall, there are some variances between local areas in the borough. In the local planning area of Fossdene Primary School (PA3), the population of primary school aged children has reduced by 4% over the last five years and is anticipated to reduce further by just under 1% by 2028. To help manage this, the school has now planned to reduce its Published Admission Number (PAN) by one form of entry (30 pupils) from September 2025 which will support capacity for this proposal.
Further information and analysis on the school place planning areas, birth trends and the significant and growing demand for specialist SEND provision within the borough can be found in the latest School Place Planning & Capital Programme Report 2024/25 - 2026/27 (April 2025) and the Appendix A Primary Schools Data Annex 2024-25.
PROPOSED ADMISSIONS AND PLACEMENT PROCESS: If the proposal is agreed, children with an EHC Plan will be placed at the LARP by the Council through its existing SEND Admissions Panel process and in line with the statutory requirement for placing children with and EHC Plan whose primary need are autism and severe learning difficulties for primary school aged children (ages 4-11 years).
Admissions to the LARP is completely separate to the school’s mainstream published admissions arrangement.
FUNDING THIS PROPOSAL: Revenue funding will be provided to the school through an SLA agreed with the Council to finance placements at the school.
IMPACT OF THIS PROPOSAL ON PUPILS: The proposal will have no impact on the resources and spaces available for mainstream pupils currently in the school as the new LARP for children with autism and severe learning difficulties will have their own dedicated classrooms, outdoor space, resources, and staff.
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ROYAL BOROUGH of GREENWICH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 – SECTION 14(1) BLOOMFIELD ROAD PLANNED ROAD CLOSURE (ORDER)
1. The Royal Borough of Greenwich intends to make this Order in exercise of powers under section14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. This is to facilitate works by Thames Water whoneed to carry out sewer cleaning.
2. The Order will come into operation on 15/02/25 and would continue to be valid for 18 months.However, the works are expected to take 2 nights. The duration of the Order can be extended withthe approval of the Secretary of State for Transport.
3. The effect of the Order would be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from entering, exiting,proceeding, or waiting (including waiting for the purposes of loading orunloading) in BLOOMFIELD ROAD, between the junctions of PLUMSTEAD COMMON ROADAND FREDERICK PLACE between the hours of 2200 -0530.
4. Whilst the Order is in operation traffic will be diverted via the placing of theappropriate signage Prohibitions remain in force; pedestrians are not affected, and vehicle accesswill be maintained wherever possible.
5. Nothing in this Notice will apply to anything done with the permission or at the direction of apolice constable in uniform or traffic warden, to emergency service vehicles, or to vehicles beingused in connection with the works.
6. The restrictions described above will apply only during such times and to such extent as shall beindicated by traffic signs as prescribed by the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions2016.
7. Queries concerning these works should be directed to the Royal Borough of Greenwich’sDirectorate of Regeneration, Enterprise & Skills on 020 8921 6340.
Ryan Nibbs Assistant Director, Transport. The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, SE18 6HQ
Dated: 25/02/25
ROYAL BOROUGH of GREENWICH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 – SECTION 14(1) EARLSWOOD STREET PLANNED ROAD CLOSURE (ORDER)
1. The Royal Borough of Greenwich intends to make this Order in exercise of powers under section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. This is to facilitate works by Thames Water who need to carry out trial holes as part of the preparatory works for mains replacement.
2. The Order will come into operation on 12th May 2025 and would continue to be valid for 18 months. However, the works are expected to take 10 days. The duration of the Order can be extended with the approval of the Secretary of State for Transport.
3. The effect of the Order would be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from entering, exiting, proceeding, or waiting (including waiting for the purposes of loading or unloading), in Earlswood Street between the junctions of Walnut Road to Woodlands Park Road.
4. Whilst the Order is in operation traffic will be diverted via the placing of the appropriate signage. Prohibitions remain in force; pedestrians are not affected, and vehicle access will be maintained wherever possible.
5. Nothing in this Notice will apply to anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or traffic warden, to emergency service vehicles, or to vehicles being used in connection with the works.
6. The restrictions described above will apply only during such times and to such extent as shall be indicated by traffic signs as prescribed by the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016.
7. Queries concerning these works should be directed to the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s Directorate of Regeneration, Enterprise & Skills on 020 8921 6340.
Ryan Nibbs Assistant Director, Transport. The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, SE18 6HQ
Dated :05/02/2025
INTERNAL REF - EM/ LA483269 FN742 /LIC No 72753
ROYAL BOROUGH of GREENWICH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 – SECTION 14(1) NORMAN ROAD PLANNED ROAD CLOSURE (ORDER)
1. The Royal Borough of Greenwich makes this Order in exercise of powers under section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. This is to facilitate work by Tideway East who need to carry out maintenance on the DLR.
2. The Order will come into operation on 6th May 2025 and would continue to be valid for 18 months. However, the works are expected to take 4 days. The duration of the Order can be extended with the approval of the Secretary of State for Transport.
3. The effect of the Order would be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from entering, exiting, proceeding, or waiting (including waiting for the purposes of loading or unloading), in Norman Road at the rails bridge.
4. Whilst the Order is in operation traffic will be diverted via the placing of the appropriate signage. Prohibitions remain in force; pedestrians are not affected, and vehicle access will be maintained wherever possible.
5. Nothing in this Notice will apply to anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or traffic warden, to emergency service vehicles, or to vehicles being used in connection with the works.
6. The restrictions described above will apply only during such times and to such extent as shall be indicated by traffic signs as prescribed by the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016.
7. Queries concerning these works should be directed to the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s Directorate of Regeneration, Enterprise & Skills on 020 8921 6340.
Ryan Nibbs Assistant Director, Transport. The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, SE18 6HQ
Dated: 07/02/2025
INTERNAL REF - EM/ LA483585 FN744 /LIC No 72789
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Royal Borough of Greenwich
Town & Country Planning Act 1990 (AS AMENDED)
Town & Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 Planning (Listed Buildings & Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (AS AMENDED) Planning (Listed Buildings & Conservation Areas) Regulations 1990 (AS AMENDED)
Notice is hereby given that application(s) have been made to The Royal Borough of Greenwich in respect of the under mentioned premises/sites. You can see the submissions and any plans at http://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/planning.
If development proposals affect Conservation Areas and/or Statutorily Listed Buildings under the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Area) Act 1990 (As Amended) this will be shown within the item below.
Anyone who wishes to comment on these applications should be made in writing to Development Planning within 22 days of the date of this notice.
Please quote the appropriate reference number.
Date: 30/04/2025
Victoria Geoghegan
Assistant Director - Planning and Building Control
List of Press Advertisements - 30/04/2025
Publicity for Planning Applications
Applicant: Tribe Greenwich Quay Limited and Redington Developments (GQ) Limited 23/3847/F
Site Address: GREENWICH QUAY, CLARENCE ROAD, LONDON, SE8 3EY
Development: Demolition of existing structures and construction of a building comprising student accommodation (Sui Generis), office floorspace (Use Class E), together with associated landscaping, public realm improvements, access works, cycle parking, refuse recycling stores and associated works.
[Re-consultation: Proposal has been amended]
Further detailed explanation of the proposal (not forming part of the description of development set out above): 598 student bed spaces; 229 sqm commercial floorspace; Two blocks 17 storeys (59.005m AOD) and 13 Storeys (48.60m AOD).
Applicant: Mr & Mrs Delahunty 23/3987/HD
Site Address: 13 GLENLUCE ROAD, BLACKHEATH, LONDON, SE3 7SD
Development: Retrospective construction of a part 1, part 2 storey rear extension, lower ground floor rear extension, land level alterations within the rear garden to create additional terraced levels incorporating retaining walls, new garden steps, boundary treatment, alterations to rear openings and associated external works (Amended Plans)
Conservation Area: WESTCOMBE PARK
Applicant: Miss Claire Cooper 24/3790/HD
Site Address: 143 SHOOTERS HILL ROAD, BLACKHEATH, LONDON, SE3 8UQ
Development: Retrospective replacement of boundary hedge with timber panel fencing, associated landscaping and all other works (amended description)
Conservation Area: SUN IN THE SANDS
Applicant: Ms Samantha Lambourne 25/0672/F
Site Address: 1 ENNIS ROAD, PLUMSTEAD, LONDON, SE18 2QR
Development: Demolition of existing rear garage to allow the construction of a two-storey dwelling in the rear garden of No.1 Ennis Road, in addition to the provision of an outdoor courtyard with new boundary fence, alterations to the existing boundary fence to incorporate a gate, provision of cycle and refuse storage and all other associated alterations
Conservation Area: Adjacent to Plumstead Common
Applicant: Foreman 25/0922/HD
Site Address: 258 PLUMSTEAD COMMON ROAD, PLUMSTEAD, SE18 2RT
Development: Restoration of previous timber porch to the front, construction of single storey side infill extension with glass roof & rooflights, and replace rear window with timber or metal sliding doors and associated works.
Conservation Area: PLUMSTEAD COMMON
Applicant: Mr Michael Zimny 25/1031/HD
Site Address: GARDEN FLAT, 16 GUILDFORD GROVE, GREENWICH, LONDON, SE10 8JT
Development: Installation of replacement windows and doors.
Conservation Area: ASHBURNHAM TRIANGLE
Applicant: Mrs Gonzalez
25/1048/HD
Site Address: 147 PARKDALE ROAD, PLUMSTEAD, LONDON, SE18 1RW
Development: Formation of a loft conversion with rear dormer and velux windows to the front.
Conservation Area: PLUMSTEAD COMMON
Applicant: The Royal Parks
25/1076/SD
Site Address: Greenwich Park Bandstand, Greenwich Park, Greenwich, London
Development: Submission of details pursuant to discharge condition 5 (Bandstand's redecoration details) of planning permission reference 23/3704/L dated 14.03.2024
Conservation Area: GREENWICH PARK
Applicant: Greenwich Builds 25/1162/F
Site Address: GARAGES REAR OF 296 TO 342, 2 WRICKLEMARSH ROAD, KIDBROOKE
Development: Full planning application for the demolition of existing garages and the construction of a part 3, part 1 storey residential building (Class C3) providing 12 affordable homes, with associated landscaping, access, cycle and refuse storage, and ancillary works.
Conservation Area: Not Applicable
Applicant: Russell Associates Architect 25/1192/MA
Site Address: 21 CHRISTCHURCH WAY, GREENWICH, LONDON, SE10 9AJ
Development: An application submitted under Section 73 of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 for a minor material amendment in connection with the planning permission 22/2032/HD dated 23/08/2022 for the construction of a single storey rear extension with a flat roof to allow:
- Amendment to Condition 2 (Approved Drawings) where approved drawing 1067-02 to be replaced with 1067-02A, approved drawing 1067-03 to be replaced with 1067-03A, approved drawing 1067-10 to be replaced with 1067-10A and approved drawing 1067-11 to be replaced with 1067-11A to allow the reconfiguration of the internal layout and replacement of a rear ground floor door opening with a window (single storey rear infill extension) and replacement of a rear ground floor window with a door opening (single storey rear extension).
Conservation Area: EAST GREENWICH
Applicant: Mr Gurmit and Ajit Deol 25/1193/F
Site Address: 24 EAGLESFIELD ROAD, PLUMSTEAD, LONDON, SE18 3BU
Development: Change of use from existing single-family dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) to a 5-bed, 5-person HMO (Use Class C4), and all other associated alterations.
Conservation Area: SHREWSBURY PARK ESTATE
Applicant: Ms Susan Gazzard 25/1210/F
Site Address: 40D SHOOTERS HILL ROAD, LONDON, SE3 7BG
Development: Conversion of loft space to habitable room with installation of three rooflights
Conservation Area: BLACKHEATH
Publicity for Listed Building Consent
Applicant: Eltham College Family of Schools 25/0676/L
Site Address: BLACKHEATH PREPARATORY SCHOOL, 4 ST GERMANS PLACE, LONDON, SE3 0NJ
Development: Formation of a new opening through an existing internal wall to link two rooms together and create a new staff common room at first floor level, demolition of comms cupboard and door, replacement of internal doors, removal of existing lighting strips and radiators, installation of kitchenette, new mechanical, electrical and plumbing services and general internal redecoration, and all associated works.
Conservation Area: BLACKHEATH
Listed Building: Grade 2
Applicant: c/o Agent
25/1136/L
Site Address: 30 HYDE VALE, GREENWICH, LONDON, SE10 8QH
Development: Installation of 8no. external and 2no. internal CCTV security cameras and associated works.
Conservation Area: WEST GREENWICH
Listed Building: Grade 2
Royal Borough of Greenwich Notice of Planning Application
Town & Country Planning Act 1990 (As Amended)
Town & Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015
Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (As Amended)
Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Regulations 1990 (As Amended)
Town & Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (as amended)
Proposed Development At: Phase 3 and 4 Woolwich Central, Land at Love Lane, Grand Depot Road, John Wilson Street, Thomas Street and Woolwich New Road, Woolwich, SE18 6SJ
Reference Number: 25/0856/MA
Notice is hereby given that an application is being made to the Royal Borough of Greenwich By: London Square Developments Ltd
For Full Planning Permission in respect of:
An application submitted under Section 73 of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 in connection with the planning permission dated 04/03/2025 (Reference: 24/2023/MA) for "The construction of a mixed-use development (within two phases, known as Phase 3 and 4) comprising residential dwellings (Use Class C3), flexible commercial and business service uses (Use Class E), and community uses (Use Class F2), improvements to public realm with hard and soft landscaping (including new pedestrian link), highways works, car parking at Lower Ground Floor of Phase 4, cycle parking, refuse and recycling storage, plant, external amenity space, playspace and alterations to the roof of existing loading bay to provide amenity space for residents. Phase 3 will include the removal of temporary landscaping” This amendment proposes a modification to Conditions 1, 2, 4, 29, 43, 65, 66, 70, 77, to increase building height of Blocks A, B and C, redesign of stair/lift core and service areas, relocated cycle storage, reconfiguration of refuse storage area, fenestration adjustments, commercial unit size reductions, apartment size/occupancy amendments and landscape updates.
(This application is an EIA development and is accompanied by an Environmental Statement Addendum)
(The development may impact on the setting of the Woolwich Conservation Area, Woolwich Common Conservation Area and the Royal Arsenal Conservation Area as well as nearby Grade I, Grade II* and Grade II listed buildings).
A copy of the application and any plans and/or documents submitted with it is available for inspection by the public at https://planning. royalgreenwich.gov.uk/online-applications/ and by searching via the application reference 25/0856/MA.
Representations to the Council about the application should be made within 32 days of the date of this notice using the above link or to the Planning Department, 5th floor, Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, Woolwich SE18 6HQ stating the full reference number above.
Members of the public can access the Non-Technical Summary, the full Environmental Statement (ES), and related documents in either digital or hard copy format through the following options:
i) Online Access: Visit https://planning.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/online-applications/ and search using the application reference 25/0856/MA.
ii) Hard Copy Requests: Hard copies of the Environmental Statement can be obtained by contacting Iceni Projects via email at impactmanagement@iceniprojects.com. Please note that hard copy requests are subject to professional printing fees. Alternatively, digital copies of the Environmental Statement can be provided free of charge upon request.
Date: 30th April 2025
Victoria Geoghegan - Assistant Director - Planning and Building Control
ROYAL BOROUGH of GREENWICH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 – SECTION 14(1) MASCALLS ROAD PLANNED ROAD CLOSURE (ORDER)
1. The Royal Borough of Greenwich intends to make this Order in exercise of powers under section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. This is to facilitate works by Southern Gas Networks who need to carry out gas mains replacement.
2. The Order will come into operation on 13th May 2025 and would continue to be valid for 18 months. However, the works are expected to take 15 days. The duration of the Order can be extended with the approval of the Secretary of State for Transport.
3. The effect of the Order would be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from entering, exiting, proceeding, or waiting (including waiting for the purposes of loading or unloading), in Mascalls Road at the junction with Charlton Road.
4. Whilst the Order is in operation traffic will be diverted via the placing of the appropriate signage. Prohibitions remain in force; pedestrians are not affected, and vehicle access will be maintained wherever possible.
5. Nothing in this Notice will apply to anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or traffic warden, to emergency service vehicles, or to vehicles being used in connection with the works.
6. The restrictions described above will apply only during such times and to such extent as shall be indicated by traffic signs as prescribed by the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016.
7. Queries concerning these works should be directed to the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s Directorate of Regeneration, Enterprise & Skills on 020 8921 6340.
Ryan Nibbs Assistant Director, Transport. The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, SE18 6HQ
Dated: 21/02/2025
INTERNAL REF - EM/ LA478538 FN751 /LIC No 72928
ROYAL BOROUGH OF GREENWICH
The Greenwich (Free Parking Places, Loading Places and Waiting, Loading and Stopping Restrictions) (Amendment No. *) Order 202*
The Greenwich (Charged For-Parking Places) (Amendment No. *) Order 202*
The Greenwich (Bus Only Routes) Traffic Order 2001 (Amendment No. *) Order 202*
The Greenwich (Cycle Track) (Woolwich Church Street) Order 202*
The Greenwich (No Entry and Prohibited Turn) Order 202*
1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Council of the Royal Borough of Greenwich (hereinafter referred to as “the Council”) proposes to make the above-mentioned Orders under sections 6, 45, 46, 49, 65(1) 124 and Part IV of Schedule 9 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended.
2. The general effect of the Orders would be to:
a) Relocate the following existing Bus Stops:
(i) Bus Stop (D) on Woolwich Road, south side, by 70 metres in a westerly direction;
(ii) Bus Stop (W) on Woolwich Road, south side, by 20 metres in a westerly direction;
(iii) Bus Stop (DC) on Woolwich Church Street, south side, by 42 metres in a westerly direction;
(iv) Bus Stop (DE) on Woolwich Church Street, north side, by 31 metres in an easterly direction;
b) Extend the length of the following existing Bus Stops:
(i) Bus Stop on Woolwich Road, north side, opposite Nos. 382 to 391 Woolwich Road, by 12 metres in a westerly direction;
(ii) Bus Stop (F) on Woolwich Road, south side, by 8.2 metres in an easterly direction;
(iii) Bus Stop (C) on Woolwich Road, north side, by 4 metres in a south-westerly direction;
(iv) Bus Stop (B) on Woolwich Road, south side, by 3.5 metres in a south-westerly direction and 3 metres in a north-easterly direction;
(v) Bus Stop (A) on Woolwich Road, north side, by 2 metres in a south-westerly direction and 5.5 metres in a north-easterly direction;
(vi) Bus Stop (S) on Woolwich Road, north side, by 2.5 metres in a north-easterly direction;
(vii) Bus Stop (V) on Woolwich Road, south side, by 2.5 metres in a south-westerly direction;
(viii) Bus Stop (U) on Woolwich Church Street, south side, by 1 metre in an easterly direction and 8.5 metres in a westerly direction;
(ix) Bus Stop on Woolwich Church Street, north side, east of Mast Quay, by 7 metres in a westerly direction
c) Amend the existing waiting and loading restrictions to allow for the introduction and amendment of bus stops and crossings as referred to in paragraph 2(a) and 2(b) and section 3 to this notice;
d) Revoke all existing waiting and loading restrictions and introduce no waiting and no loading at any time restrictions on the following lengths of road:
(i) Woolwich Road, both sides, between its junctions with Gallions Road and Woolwich Church Street;
(ii) Woolwich Church Street, both sides, between its junctions with Woolwich Road and Woolwich Ferry Roundabout; (iii) Church Hill, both sides, at its junction with Woolwich Church Street; (iv) Kingsman Street, both sides, at its junction with Woolwich Church Street;
(v) Frances Street, both sides, at its junction with Woolwich Church Street;
(vi) Leda Road, both sides, at its junction with Woolwich Church Street; (vii) Pett Street, both sides, at its junction with Woolwich Church Street; (viii) Ruston Road, both sides, at its junction with Woolwich Church Street; (ix) Warspite Road, both sides, at its junction with Woolwich Road; (x) Cleveley Close, both sides, at its junction with Woolwich Road; (xi) Eastmoor Street, both sides, at its junction with Woolwich Road; (xii) Westmoor Street, both sides, at its junction with Woolwich Road;
(xiii) Charlton Lane, both sides, at its junction with Woolwich Road; (xiv) Penhall Road, both sides, at its junction with Woolwich Road;
(xv) Gallon Close, both sides, at its junction with Woolwich Road; (xvi) Anchor and Hope Lane, both sides, at its junction with Woolwich Road; (xvii) Gallions Road, both sides, at its junction with Woolwich Road;
(xviii) Charlton Church Lane, east side, from its junction with Woolwich Road southwards for a distance of 35 metres; (xix) Charlton Church Lane, west side, from its junction with Woolwich Road southwards for a distance of 45 metres;
e) Introduce new one-way cycle tracks with widths of 1.5 metres and converting part of the existing footway at the following locations:
(i) Woolwich Church Street, north side, from a point 14.8 metres west of its junction with Boneta Road for a distance of 17.3 metres in a northeasterly direction, allowing cyclists to travel in a northeasterly direction;
(ii) Woolwich Church Street, north side, from a point 11.2 metres east of its junction with Boneta Road for a distance of 15.3 metres in a north-westerly direction, allowing cyclists to travel in a southeasterly direction;
f) Prohibit Entry except for Cycles and emergency vehicles on the southbound carriageway Charlton Lane at a point 61 metres southeast of its junction with Woolwich Road;
g) Prohibit a Right Turn into:
(i) Woolwich Church Street from Kingsman Street;
(ii) Kingsman Street from Woolwich Church Street;
h) Replace the No Entry except for Local Buses restriction on Charlton Church Lane located 48 metres southeast of its junction with Woolwich Road with a No Entry except for Local Buses and Pedal Cycles restriction;
i) Remove the sections of westbound Bus Lane on Woolwich Church Street, between Warspite roundabout and Prospect Vale and between Kingsman Street and Woolwich Ferry roundabout;
j) Update the map tiles attached to The Greenwich (Free Parking Places, Loading Places and Waiting, Loading and Stopping Restrictions) Order 2018 and The Greenwich (Charged-For Parking Places) Order 2018 so as to reflect the provisions referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) to (d).
3. NOTICE IS ALSO HEREBY GIVEN that the Council proposes, in exercise of the powers under Section 23 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to:
a) Introduce Zebra crossings at the following locations:
(i) Cycle track on the north side Woolwich Road located opposite Nos. 382 to 392 Woolwich Road with a length of 2.5 metres and width of 2.4 metres;
(ii) Cycle track connecting Woolwich Road and Anchor and Hope Lane with a length of 2.5 metres and width of 2.4 metres;
(iii) Cycle track on the south side of Woolwich Road located to the east of Charlton Church Lane with a length of 2.5 metres and width of 2.4 metres;
(iv) Cycle track connecting Woolwich Road and Charlton Church Lane with a length of 3 metres and width of 2.4 metres;
(v) Cycle track on the south side of Woolwich Road located outside Nos. 197/175 Barney Close with a length of 2.7 metres and width of 2.4 metres;
(vi) Cycle track on the south side of Woolwich Road located outside Nos. 103 to 109 Barney Close with a length of 2.9 metres and width of 2.8 metres;
(vii) Cycle track on the south side of Woolwich Road located outside Nos. 6 to 11 Gallon Close with a length of 3 metres and width of 4 metres;
(viii) Cycle track on the south side of Woolwich Road located outside No. 23 Gallon Close with a length of 2.8 metres and width of 2.4 metres;
(ix) Cycle track on the south side of Woolwich Road located outside Nos. 53 to 58 Hickin Close with a length of 2.5 metres and width of 4 metres;
(x) Cycle track on the south side of Woolwich Road located outside No. 62 Hickin Close with a length of 2.5 metres and width of 2.8 metres;
(xi) Cycle track on the south side of Woolwich Road located opposite Eastmoor Street with a length of 2.5 metres and width of 3.2 metres;
(xii) Cycle track on the south side of Woolwich Road located opposite a point east of Eastmoor Street with a length of 2.5 metres and width of 4 metres;
(xiii) Cycle track on the south side of Woolwich Road located to the west of the Church of St Catherine with a length of 2.5 metres and width of 4 metres;
(xiv) Cycle track on the south side of Woolwich Road located outside the Church of St Catherine with a length of 2.6 metres and width of 2.8 metres;
(xv) Cycle track on the south side of Woolwich Road located to the west of Tamar Street with a length of 2.6 metres and width of 2 metres;
(xvi) Cycle track on the south side of Woolwich Church Street located to the east of Tamar Street with a length of 2.6 metres and width of 3.2 metres;
(xvii) Cycle track on the south side of Woolwich Church Street located outside Viking House with a length of 2.5 metres and width of 3.2 metres;
(xviii) Cycle track on the south side of Woolwich Church Street located outside Nos. 128 to 132 Woolwich Church Street with a length of 3.3 metres and width of 4 metres;
(xix) Cycle track connecting Woolwich Church Street (west) with Leda Road with a length of 1.5 metres and width of 2.4 metres;
(xx) Cycle track connecting Boneta Road Leda Road with Woolwich Church Street (east) with a length of 1.5 metres and width of 2.4 metres;
(xxi) Cycle track connecting Woolwich Church Street (east) with Frances Street with a length of 2.5 metres and width of 2.4 metres; (xxii) Cycle track connecting Frances Street with Woolwich Church Street (west) with a length of 2.8 metres and width of 2.4 metres;
(xxiii) Cycle track on the south side of Woolwich Church Street located outside No. 254 Woolwich Church Street with a length of 2.5 metres and width of 3.2 metres; (xxiv) Cycle track on the south side of Woolwich Church Street located to the east of Church Hill with a length of 2.5 metres and width of 2.4 metres;
(xxv) Cycle track connecting New Ferry Approach with Woolwich High Street (on Eastern arm of roundabout) with a length of 1.5 metres and width of 2.4 metres;
(xxvi) Cycle track connecting Woolwich High Street with South Circular Road (on Eastern arm of roundabout) with a length of 1.5 metres and width of 2.4 metres; (xxvii) Cycle track on the east side of Anchor and Hope Lane north of the roundabout with Bugsby’s Way with a length of 2.5 metres and width of 2.8 metres.
b) Introduce signalled crossings at the following locations:
(i) Woolwich Road (eastbound) at a point approximately 13 metres east of its junction with Anchor and Hope Lane with a length of 6.6 metres and width of 4 metres;
(ii) Woolwich Road (westbound) at a point approximately 9 metres east of its junction with Charlton Church Lane with a length of 13.5 metres and width of 4 metres;
(iii) Woolwich Road at a point approximately 43 metres east of the access to Selco Builders Warehouse with a length of 14.7 metres and width of 4 metres;
(iv) Woolwich Road at a point approximately 103 metres west of its junction with Stonefoundry Yard with a length of 14.6 metres and width of 4 metres;
(v) Woolwich Church Street (eastbound) at a point approximately 29 metres west of its junction with Pett Street with a length of 6.1 metres and width of 3.2 metres;
(vi) Woolwich Church Street (westbound) at a point approximately 22 metres west of its junction with Pett Street with a length of 7 metres and width of 2.8 metres;
(vii) Leda Road at its junction with Woolwich Church Street with a length of 11.6 metres and width of 2.8 metres;
(viii) Woolwich Church Street at a point approximately 31 metres east of its junction with Church Hill with a length of 11.4 metres and width of 4 metres.
c) Introduce parallel crossings at the following locations:
(i) Gallions Road at its junction with Woolwich Road with a pedestrian crossing length of 4.7 metres and width of 2.8 metres and a cycle crossing length of 15.4 metres and width of 3 metres;
d) Replace the existing puffin/pelican crossings with parallel crossings at the following locations:
(i) Anchor and Hope Lane (northbound) at its junction with Woolwich Road with a pedestrian crossing length of 13.5 metres and width of 2.8 metres and a cycle crossing length of 15.6 metres and width of 3 metres;
(ii) Anchor and Hope Lane (southbound) at its junction with Woolwich Road with a pedestrian crossing length of 8.1 metres and width of 2.8 metres and a cycle crossing length of 9.5 metres and width of 3.5 metres;
(iii) Charlton Church Lane at its junction with Woolwich Road with a pedestrian crossing length of 13.1 metres and width of 2.8 metres and a cycle crossing length of 14.3 metres and width of 3 metres;
(iv) Woolwich Road (eastbound) at its junction with Anchor and Hope Lane (northbound) with a pedestrian crossing length of 6.6 metres and width of 3.2 metres and a cycle crossing length of 8.4 metres and width of 4 metres;
(v) Woolwich Road (westbound) at its junction with Charlton Church Lane with a pedestrian crossing length of 6.2 metres and width of 3.2 metres and a cycle crossing length of 7.9 metre and width of 4.5 metres;
(vi) Woolwich Road at a point approximately 16 metres east of its junction with Penhall Road with a pedestrian crossing length of 13.9 metres and width of 3.2 metres and a cycle crossing length of 15.3 metres and width of 2.5 metres;
(vii) Woolwich Road at a point approximately 5 metres west of its junction with Tamar Street with a pedestrian crossing length of 13.9 metres and width of 4 metres and a cycle crossing length of 15.3 metres and width of 2.5 metres;
(viii) Woolwich Church Street at its western junction with Frances Street and Leda Road with a pedestrian crossing length of 17.3 meters and width of 2.8 metres and a cycle crossing length of 17.5 metres and width of 2 metres;
(ix) Woolwich Church Street at its eastern junction with Frances Street and Leda Road with a pedestrian crossing length of 16.4 metres and width of 2.8 metres and a cycle crossing length of 16.4 metres and width of 1.5 metres;
(x) Frances Street at its junction with Woolwich Church Street with a pedestrian crossing length of 11.2 metres and width of 2.8 metres and a cycle crossing length of 10.9 metres and width of 3.2
e) Replace the existing puffin/pelican crossings with toucan crossings at the following locations: (i) Charlton Church Lane at a point approximately 8 metres north of its junction with Barney Close with a length of 11.1 metres and width of 4 metres; (ii) Woolwich Road
a plateau length of 12.2 metres and gradients of 1:20 (west) and 1:11 (east) on the section of cycle track connecting Woolwich Road and Charlton Church Lane;
f) A 100mm high raised table with a width of 2.7 metres, a plateau length of 4.9 metres and gradient of 1:25 on the section of cycle track on the south side of Woolwich Road located outside No. 41 Barney Close;
g) A 100mm high raised table with a width of 3 metres, a plateau length of 132.8 metres and gradients of 1:18 (west) and 1:25 (east) on the section of cycle track on the south side of Woolwich Road located to the east and west of Gallon Close;
h) A 100mm high raised table with a width of 2.5 metres, a plateau length of 6.5 metres and gradient of 1:25 on the section of cycle track on the south side of Woolwich Road outside Nos. 53 to 58 Hickin Close;
i) A 100mm high raised table with a width of 3 metres, a plateau length of 9.6 metres and gradients of 1:23 (west) and 1:30 (east) on the section of cycle track on the south side of Woolwich Road located to the east and west of Charlton Lane;
j) A 100mm high raised table with a width of 2.5 metres, a plateau length of 5.7 metres and gradient of 1:25 on the section of cycle track on the south side of Woolwich Road located opposite Eastmoor Street;
k)
l)
p)
q)
plateau length of 9 metres and gradient of 1:15 in Pett Street at its junction with Woolwich Church Street;
ff) A 100mm high raised table across the entire carriageway width, with a plateau length of 10.3 metres and gradient of 1:15 in Prospect Vale at its junction with
entire carriageway width, with a plateau length of 14.5 metres and gradient of 1:15 in Church Hill at its junction with Woolwich Church Street;
5. Copies of the proposed Orders, the statement of reasons for proposing to make the Orders and plans showing the proposals, along with a copy of the
7. Any person who wishes to object to or make other representations about the proposed Orders, should send a statement in writing by 23rd May 2025, specifying the grounds on which
04-2025).
8. Persons objecting to the proposed Orders should be aware that in view of current access to information legislation, this Council would be legally obliged to make any comments received in response to this notice,
Assistant Director, Transport Communities, Environment and Central Royal Borough of Greenwich
Dated 30th April 2025
New homes named in honour of the late Councillor Christine Grice
A new section of a Royal Borough of Greenwich council housing development has been named in memory of the late Councillor Christine Grice, who passed away five years ago.
Christine Grice Gardens was opened at a ceremony attended by Cllr Grice’s husband Chris and members of their family.
The gardens named in Cllr Grice’s honour are part of The Brooks development, which will eventually provide 80 zero carbon council homes, among 1,750 properties being created by the council for local people on the housing register.
The Brooks also incorporates £750,000 worth of improvements to the local area including the creation of two new parks and an overhauled and upgraded local play area.
The first phase of the scheme at Halsbrook Road is now complete and consists of 18 new two and threebedroom houses with private gardens.
Cllr Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: “Councillor Christine Grice’s dedication to the people of Royal Greenwich was an inspiration to everyone who came into contact with her. From the time of her election as a ward councillor in 2014 to her appointment as Deputy Leader of the Council in 2020 she fought tirelessly to
champion fairness and equality for all in our borough.
“We have named part of this beautiful new social housing development after Cllr Grice to honour her memory. The council has built these homes in her former ward for those most in need across the borough, the kind of people Cllr Grice worked so hard to help. These sustainable houses will give people the safety and security they need to build healthy, happy lives, and we hope this is an honour befitting her legacy.”
Tenants, many of whom had spent years in temporary accommodation before moving to the new development, described their homes as “amazing”, “very energy efficient”, “so quiet and warm”, while others expressed their excitement and gratitude, saying “thank you so much
May bank holiday bin collections
Bin collection days in Royal Greenwich will change after the early May Bank Holiday.
We have smaller crews collecting your bins during bank holiday periods, so it may take us a little while to catch up.
We’ll share updates on our social media and WhatsApp channel if we’re running behind in your area. Thank you for your understanding.
Check your collection dates at royalgreenwich.gov.uk/bank-holiday-collections
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for giving us such a wonderful home, I love it!”.
The final two phases of the development are nearing completion, with tenants set to move in later this year. Eight of the 80 homes will be wheelchair adapted, meeting Royal Greenwich’s commitment to make 10 per cent of council homes accessible.
Of the 1,750 homes the council has committed to build, over 740 are either complete or under construction, with further sites submitted for planning consideration.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Anthony Okereke, Mayor of Greenwich Councillor Jit Ranabhat and MP for Eltham and Chislehurst Clive Efford and ward councillors past and present also attended the opening.