New hotel and nothing ‘affordable’ in amended tower block plan at Abbey Wood
By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter
A new set of tower blocks up to 17 storeys-tall could soon be added to a site in Abbey Wood. The scheme would stretch across four blocks and include nearly 500 co-living rooms as well as a 110-bedroom hotel.
The new buildings, put forward by JMH Group, would be based on Eynsham Drive and contain 487 co-living rooms. The project would also include a gym alongside roof terraces with bird boxes.
Planning documents from Assael Architecture, on behalf of JMH, said: “The scheme will encourage pedestrian flow and improve the pedestrian experience, provide a range of new high quality co-living accommodation, maximise views outwards and create new commercial opportunities at street level.”
The site is currently occupied by a car wash and animal hospital. Planning documents claimed the hospital was consulted on the scheme and would be relocated to a larger facility on the site.
The proposal will be considered by Greenwich council’s planning board at a meeting on Tuesday. The new scheme follows a previous application on the site from JMH in 2018 which was refused by the local authority but ultimately approved by the Mayor of London. The revised proposal has added a hotel to the scheme and changed several balcony features.
Council officers said in their report that the developer had claimed it would not be able to provide the 35 per cent affordable housing provision from the previous scheme due to rising construction costs and interest rates. The developer would instead reportedly contribute £7.3 million for affordable housing units to be sourced off site.
Co-living rooms in the scheme would reportedly include an ensuite bathroom, double bed, kitchenette and television. Communal areas would also include a games room, lounge and bookable dining room.
Council officers said in their report: “The proposed development is considered to deliver a high quality mixed use scheme. It would optimise a brownfield site and opportunity area by delivering a 110-bedroom hotel, 487 co-living rooms and re-provided pet hospital.
“Moreover, it would deliver a payment in lieu contribution that would go towards affordable housing provision elsewhere in the borough.”
Pictured top: A CGI view of the site looking north from Harrow Manorway (Picture: JMH Group/Assael Architecture)
